Menopause is a special period in a female life when the menstrual cycle finishes and fertility becomes impossible. The process appears the moment the ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone, hormones, required for fertility. Additionally, to diagnose menopause, a woman should have no periods for over a year. Naturally, menopause happens with age, though there is an induced menopause type, which can be caused by certain treatment, surgery or disease.
Basically, it is inevitable to understand that similar to other health issues, menopause and its specifications are individual and depend much on a patient, her genes, overall health state and a range of other factors. On average, menopause appears at the age of 51, but in certain instances, it can start even at age 40. When this period starts too early, it is called premature menopause, which is determined by genes in an overwhelming majority of cases.
First Symptoms and Disorders Associated with Menopause
When you are approaching age 50-51, you should pay due attention to such symptoms as hot flashes, irregular menstrual periods and others. Once you have noticed abnormal symptoms, you should be ready for a complete stop of periods within the following 4 years. Among other symptoms of upcoming menopause are:
- Headache;
- Frequent mood swings;
- Hot flashes;
- Abnormal sweating;
- Vaginal soreness and dryness;
- Sleeping disorders;
- Painful sex;
- Racing heart;
- Decreased sex drive and others.
Some symptoms can appear rarely, while others can interfere with your health condition permanently. However, there are several effective ways to overcome devastating symptoms and ease the signs of menopause.
According to the medical information, certain lifestyle changes, including a healthy diet, regular exercises and giving up bad habits can help you relieve a whole range of disorders. Besides, the modern pharmaceutical market offers quality and effective drugs for the treatment of hot flashes. Nontraditional methods such as meditation or relaxation techniques may also be helpful.
