Perimenopause, Menopause, And Postmenopause: What Are The Symptoms?

Menopause is divided into 3 phases, with each phase lasting for an undetermined time in each woman. To add to the confusion, each woman will experience menopause differently.

The 3 phases are perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.

Perimenopause starts years before your last period. Little changes may happen without your notice, and then you get a hot flash, which is a wake up call. Menopause is when your period stops completely. When you have had a full year without your period, you have gone through menopause. On average, menopause is around age 51, although some go through it earlier and some later than that. Next, postmenopause is every thing after menopause, basically, the rest of your life.

Here is a list of common symptoms:

One of the first signs you are entering perimenopause is your period becoming irregular, or missing one here and there, sometimes even for a few months in a row. Next will be the occurrence of hot flashes. They may start mildly in the beginning but menopause takes years to go through and eventually the hot flashes will escalate.

Night sweats go hand in hand with hot flashes. You wake up in the middle of the night and your bedding and nightgown are completely saturated. Some women experience night sweats and not hot flashes, or vice-versa, or both or neither; but the odds are you will get at least one of these symptoms.

Vaginal dryness is yet another side effect of menopause. Diminishing estrogen levels cause physical changes in the moisture and elasticity of the vaginal walls and a decrease in the natural lubrication. OTC lubricants can substitute for a while, but eventually it will become too painful to continue, lovemaking hurts too much and avoidance is easier. Ask your doctor about hormone replacement therapy and if it is right for you.

Lack of sex drive and loss of intimacy in your marriage can be frightening. Keeping an open dialog with your partner and an open mind in the bedroom can help both of you during this time. You may also experience urinary incontinence. The incidence of depression increases and can warrant going to a doctor for help.

You may gain weight for no reason at all; it is a side effect of menopause. The fluctuating hormones are to blame as are the trying times you are going through. Keep your eyes on a healthy diet and exercise and it may fix itself soon enough.

Insomnia is also a side effect of lower estrogen levels. With all you have on your mind, it is easy to blame stress but it is a side effect of diminishing estrogen levels. Taking melatonin, starting at the 1 mg size, an hour or two before bedtime may help you fall and stay asleep. Melatonin is a natural hormone produced by the body as day turns into night. It has no side effects and it safe. Take the lowest dose and you will awake refreshed.

Mood swings can take you by surprise. Throw in a hot flash and you can seem out of control. Your memory isn't what it used to be, either. You may worry, but these are all natural consequences of estrogen withdrawal and very common in menopause.

One of the most debilitating physical symptoms is loss of hair, sometimes it seems by the brush-full! This can be scary as your self-esteem and self-confidence are shaken as your hair falls out constantly. Your hair loses the thickness and body you had in your youth. Trying a new hairstyle can be a lifesaver here.

Not all of these symptoms may be present all at once, thank goodness, but you can be sure that a few will be recognizable. Keeping a sense of humor at all times is a great help and looking on the bright side of everyday happenings will help you through this sometimes-difficult time of life.

Ovarian Cysts and Menopause - The Warning Signs

How can you deal with an ovarian cyst, menopause age being a barrier? Is it actually functional? The answer is no. However, gynecologists would not agree on the viewpoint and would insist on performing more tests since it is highly uncommon for a menopausal woman to develop ovarian cysts. Gynecologists, believe that a woman develops ovarian cysts due to her regular reproductive function. Even though the cyst which, is developed after menopause would not be functional it would still require examination to get an assurance that it is not cancerous.

Ovarian cyst developed after menopause can cause terrible pain. It could even alter the operation of the bladder, it can result in back pain, a person might even suffer from constipation. Hence, a person should immediately consult with the doctor if the symptoms persist for longer period of time.

Sometimes doctors prescribe hormone injections to a woman who has developed ovarian cysts; the objective to inject hormones is to dissolve the cyst during the menstrual cycle. If the hormone injections fail to get desired results then the doctors will prescribe surgery to remove the cyst. It is to be noted that an ovarian fibroid, which is developed at the menopause cannot be merely treated with hormonal injections.

Doctors usually order that a sonogram should be, performed on a woman who is experiencing cysts after menopause. A gynecologist needs a clear picture of the size and location of the cyst and for this purpose, a sonogram is required. A doctor might even prescribe blood tests to check if there are any cancerous cells in the cyst, to get an idea of what kind of treatment should be, pursued.

If the person has developed an ovarian cyst, which has the potential to become cancerous then extra care has to be taken especially during the pregnancy years. Ovarian cancer can be fatal in women who develop cysts after menopause especially at the age of 50. Such women are at higher risk of developing cancer and thus require different treatments than the younger ones. It is even possible to increase the chances of survival of a woman if the cancerous cyst is diagnosed in the early stage. This is the precise reason why women who develop ovarian cyst after menopause should immediately contact their gynecologist to lessen the risk.

Usually doctors would prefer performing surgery to remove the cyst in order to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer especially in menopausal women. Usually during the surgery a small incision is made into the abdomen which allows the doctor to remove the cyst easily. The incision is usually small and it does not require hospitalization of longer duration. Hence, women, who develop an ovarian cyst, menopause age being a threat, should exercise extreme caution. As this could pose, significant risk to their health. They should not take any chances and immediately consult the doctor to investigate the matter further and solve it permanently.

Menopause, Weight Gain and Hormone Replacement Therapy

With the onset of menopause, there is a possibility of gaining weight due to the changes in the hormone levels. A few symptoms of menopause include vaginal dryness, sleeplessness, dry skin, hot flashes and bladder problems. To be relieved of these symptoms, one can undergo a treatment or a therapy known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

What is Hormone Replacement Therapy?

In hormone replacement therapy, estrogen and progesterone are given in either in form of pills, skin patches or vaginal creams. Studies have proven that hormone therapy not only reduces the menopausal symptoms but also the risk of osteoporosis and increases the life span. Hormone Therapy can also be administered on a woman who has undergone hysterectomy. However, only estrogen is prescribed for them. For decades both men and women have used this therapy.

There are basically two types of therapy - estrogen and progestogen-estrogen therapy. In estrogen therapy, a low dose of estrogen is prescribed to prevent or relieve the symptoms of menopause.

While in the progestogen-estrogen therapy, combined doses of estrogen and progesterone is given. Progesterone is given in the synthetic form under the name progestin. This therapy is administered for a couple of weeks every month.

How Can Hormone Replacement Therapy Help Me Lose Weight?

A couple of years before the onset of menopause, the hormone levels reduce and as a result there is an increased craving for sugar or for food rich in sugar. As one nears menopause the body produces less estrogen and the body starts using the estrogen stored in fat cells. At the same time, the level of testosterone declines leading to the reduction of lean muscles. Lean muscles help in burning fat. When there is a decline in the lean muscles fat is accumulated leading to weight gain. This weight gain is due to the hormone imbalances and it is very difficult to shed the weight gained at the time of menopause. Only way to avoid weight gain is through hormone replacement therapy. According to ones body condition with the help of a medical practitioner one can choose one of the hormone therapies.

Cardiovascular risk and weight-gain are frequently observed at the onset of menopause. Studies have been conducted to prove that HRT or the hormone replacement therapy tends to reduce weight gain during postmenopausal.

The studies have come to the conclusion that hormone replacement therapy not only prevents weight-gain but also enhances weight loss due to the significant increase in the lipid oxidation. It has also been revealed that hormone therapy favorably influences the plasma lipids, insulin response and energy expenditure.

Perimenopause - Signs to Natural Aging

You see and feel the perimenopause signs, yet you feel that you are not yet of perimenopause age. Is there a specific age that perimenopause should rear its "ugly" head?

As we all know by now, all women - whether you've been good or bad, naughty or nice - will eventually go through this stage called perimenopause. So it would be better if we come at it fully prepared, with the knowledge that whatever we experience, we will go through it and pass with flying colors.

There is no set age where a woman will definitely get it. It can be as late as your mid or late 40s, or it can be as early as 35. Either way, you will still go through it. The symptoms, however are a different matter.

Studies have shown that most Caucasian women experience the pains and discomforts of perimenopause than Asian women. Several speculations have come about leading to soy as the major reason why this is so. If you are planning to change your diet, then include soy as it is said to have phytoestrogens - plant-like substances that mimic estrogen and its effects.

Among those not experienced by Asian (specifically Japanese women) are the following symptoms:

- Hot flashes and flushes.

- Rapid heartbeat or heart palpitations. (These, especially skipped or irregular heartbeats are common in perimenopausal and menopausal women. But if it becomes a bother and is too frequent for comfort, then go to your health care provider and ask for an echocardiogram to have your heart checked.)

- Irritability and mood swings. (Remember that emotional, physical and psychological changes are happening to your body all at the same time. If you feel that your anger or outbursts are more likely to hurt you than the people around you, then consult your doctor. Most women who do this experience less of the effects of psychological changes, as advice from a medical practitioner can help the woman understand what she is currently going through. Anger, anxiety and panic attacks are included in this category.)

- Insomnia. (This is usually caused by hot flashes and flushes leading to night sweats, which will eventually disturb and disrupt your sleep.)

- Loss of libido. (This is often due to vaginal dryness and irritation - the dryness comes from the vaginal walls not being well moisturized and lubricated enough because of the lack of estrogen. Sex will eventually cause the irritation, especially if not lubricated well-enough.)

These are just some of the perimenopause symptoms that look scary, but are completely manageable. And remember, perimenopause is temporary. It is just a transition to menopause which, if successful, will be less trying once you've mastered and gotten through the ills of perimenopause.

Menopause - How to Recognise

The actual menopause is defined as your last period and happens at an average age of 52. However, from the early- to mid- forties, changing and fluctuating hormone production causes subtle physical changes. These may go unrecognized and not everyone has a problem, but for others they gradually worsen until realization finally hits home and help is sought. Some of symptoms are due to the fall in estrogen but many factors such as diet, exercise and lifestyle, medications and attitudes can influence the incidence, severity and impact of symptoms.

Symptoms:

Hot flashes - Classic menopause symptom. For many women, they don't cause much distress, but one in five suffers so badly that flushes interfere with work, sleep and quality of life. Sufferers can experience total body heat, may drip in sweat and wake up several times a night drenched in sweat.

Falling estrogen levels are thought to affect the body's temperature control centre but the exact underlying mechanism is unclear.

Headaches - Palpitations and dizziness are also common.

How long the symptoms last?

Sleeplessness - Insomnia has also been shown to be menopausal symptom, regardless of temperature changes, and may begin a few years before the menopause.

Joint aches - They may affect neck, wrists and shoulders

Weight gain - Another by-product of the menopause as it's thought that the rate at which you burn off calories (your metabolic rate ) reduces.

Breast tenderness - Although estrogen levels overall are falling, a rollercoaster of hormonal ups and downs means estrogen levels can also peak, casing breast tenderness, as well as dip.

Period problems - Most women experience changes with heaviness, irregular, less frequent or more frequent periods. This changing pattern can fluctuate over years before they stop altogether.

Heavy bleeding with flooding - It is one possible result of hormonal upheavals an can be alarming as well as inconvenient. Symptoms need to be investigated to rule out other causes but there are a variety of effective treatments available.

Psychological symptoms - Mood swings, irritability, anxiety, forgetfulness and foggy brain. However, other pressures such as elderly relatives, teenage children, an empty nest and work may also contribute to such ""symptoms"".

The mood changes in particular are often distressing, with many women being concerned about the effect on their nearest and dearest. Some of them agree on a code for their husbands, ""Don't worry, it's just a hormone dip."" It works wonders!

How long the symptoms last? - The average time that the early symptoms of estrogen deficiency lasts is about two years, but some women have none at all and others continue having symptoms for 20 years or more.

What tests should I have? - The best diagnosis is from the history of your period pattern and symptoms. If you have a Mirena coil fitted, you might not know if you're becoming menopausal as you'll have no period pattern to follow. Go by symptoms such as flushes and perhaps by assessing response to a trial of treatment such as HRT. Have general health tests such as blood pressure and cholesterol level.

Natural ways to beat hot flushes - Eat healthily, don't smoke, reduce alcohol and caffeine intake, and exercise. Wear loose, thin layers of cotton clothing that are easy to peel off, and keep your bedroom cool at night by leaving a window open or investing in a fan.

Will alternative therapies help? - Red clover, black cohosh, the pollen extract Female and even acupuncture have been found to be useful, and evening primrose oil and sunflower oil may help reduce breast tenderness.

Signs Of Menopause Starting And What You Can Do

Oprah Winfrey may have had a great show discussing signs of menopause starting on 'how great menopause will be'. But the truth is that menopause means your mid-life has started. Your hair growth on legs slows down, memory starts faltering, skin sags and wisdom sets it - wisdom about realizing the fact that we are sitting on the biggest curves our life throws at us. But remember that mid-life also brings appreciation, and our bodies expand to hold all wisdom and love we have acquired till now. Here are a few pointers about menopause...

What is menopause?

When there is absence of menstrual cycle for a period of 12 months, it signifies the end of menstruation cycle and fertility in a woman. This means that the ovaries have stopped producing eggs and production of hormones like estrogen and progesterone has reduced. While some women feel fine throughout this transition, some women experience hot flushes and mood swings. Menopause occurs after the age of 40, and is marked by stressful symptoms. At this point of time it is important to understand that this is not an illness.

When woman's ovaries produce eggs, it also activates production of estrogen and progesterone. These two hormones are responsible for regulation of menstruation and ovulation. However, when ovarian activity decreases, reduced production of hormones leads to the onset of menopause.

What are the signs of menopause beginning?

Menopause entails many symptoms and some common ones include:

• Irregular menstrual bleeding: In perimenopause hormonal level changes interfere with ovulation. If ovulation doesn't take place, the ovary continues to make estrogen that causes the endometrium layer inside uterus to thicken. This event leads to late menstrual period and is followed by irregular bleeding.


• Hot flushes that are accompanied with night sweat: These are the most common signs of menopause starting. These episodes can happen several times an hour, each lasting for about three to six minutes. It is fully understood why these hot flushes occur, but they happen mostly because of erratic automatic control of our nervous system. This disturbance triggers the skin blood vessels to open, which signal the sweat glands to become active.


• There is vaginal dryness and women experience itching in that area. Some women even get rashes. This is due to lack of oestrogen, which means that glands in your vagina don't produce enough lubrication, causing stinging especially during sex.


• Mood swings: Depression, tiredness, forgetfulness and irritability can be very distressing to you and your family.


• Irregularity in sleep pattern: Sleep disturbances can occur due to restlessness or night time sweat. Women who tend to sweat more often have to change their sheets several times during night.


• Sexual desire lessens: Women often don't feel like having sex, while others may feel that their orgasms are less intense.


• Thinning of hair: Hair thinning can occur both on your head as well as pubic area.


• Breasts lose fullness: Loss of breast fullness is one of the most disturbing signs of menopause. Last year's bra may become loose, and without support your breasts may sag. At the same time you notice more fat in your abdominal region.

Menopause doesn't require any medical therapy. The existing treatments only help alleviating its signs and symptoms. But knowing the signs of menopause starting can help you cope with it.

The End of Menopause - Is it the End of Your Worries?

When does menopause start, and when does the end of menopause occur? Are you feeling any menopause jitters? Are you at the right age to feel this condition? These are just some of the questions that may be concerning you right now.

Menopause has many stages, but the duration for each phase may vary between women. Menopause is basically when a woman experiences amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) for a year.

 

What are the Stages?

 

Menopause rolls around when irregularities of your hormones, namely testosterone, estrogen and progesterone, manifest physically. This stage usually comes around during your thirties or forties. You may start experiencing irregular periods, hot flashes, and mood swings at this stage.

 

Post menopause is the stage in which the menopause takes place after the last period. This is the end of menstrual cycle, and you can no longer become pregnant naturally. There is a possibility that the end of menopause will occur when withdrawal symptoms from irregular hormonal changes start to disappear. For some, it might take a while for the symptoms to wear off.

 

If you experience any spotting even if you're already going through menopause, this might mean that you're still in the perimenopausal phase. Otherwise, it could indicate serious medical condition/s like endometrial cancer. It's very important to see your doctor often to make sure your symptoms are normal.

 

Physical changes

 

As mentioned earlier, there are many physical changes that you might experience during menopause, such as hot flashes and mood swings. During this phase, it can be a challenge for some women to deal with their emotional outbursts, severing social ties in the process.

Your sexual drive may also decline. This is due to the hormonal changes in your body that contribute to the drop in libido. Furthermore, you may experience vaginal dryness, which makes sexual intercourse difficult and painful.

You will also be vulnerable to several health risks such as cancer, diabetes milletus, osteoporosis and heart disease. Ask your health care provider for assistance in assessing and preventing these conditions.

The end of menopause might never end for some. The constant challenges women face during this time make menopause a tough road to travel. However, a positive outlook of this condition can boost your self-esteem and condition your mind to accept this as a part of life. Stay healthy by eating good food and keeping track of your health. Take time to enjoy the pleasures of a fulfilled and happy woman!

Menopause and Constipation - How to Treat Menopause and Constipation

Women, like it or not will get to stage in their lives when all that matters is for them to be able to get some sleep without having to wake in the middle of the night with hot flashes. Once a woman gets close to her menopausal age, she can start expecting incidences such as increased heart rate, unexplainable depression, cold sweats at night and sudden hot flashes. During this period also, she can find it very hard to have bowel movements. When this occurs, she's said to have both menopause and constipation.

The terrible combination of menopause and constipation occur frequently in women approaching their late forties and early fifties. This is as a result of the body's inability to produce estrogen. This hormone's production reduces with an increase in age in women.

Apart from menopause and constipation, there are various experiences a woman can have as she approaches the age of menopause. Some of these are depressions, insomnia, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, anxiety, headaches, aches in the joints, mood swings et.c. All these problems can be solved. In this article however, we'll be looking strictly at menopause and constipation. How are the two incidents related? Do they occur concurrently or is it just happenstance? If you are woman, are you starting to think something must definitely be very wrong with you because as soon as one symptom leaves another shows up?

Menopause and constipation occur in women of age as a result of the GIT's tendency to slow down on its food digestion processes. So you find some women may end up losing appetite more and more as they approach menopause while others eat a lot more. Women at the stage of menopause hardly feel comfortable at all. With all the stress, pains, discomfort, depression, something has got to give. Part of what gives is usually nothing less than the bowels refusing to function maximally. The reasons are not farfetched. Eating under so much stress can cause you to eat the wrong foods. For those who eat a lot, they develop compulsive eating habits which aren't exactly helping matters at that period as the food they eat would end up causing indigestion for them.

When considering options for menopause and constipation, it is best really, to opt for herbal tonic. These help improve bowel movement and at the same time improve the general healthy of the individual. Laxatives may at this point not work well with the system as it is bound to have some side effects like intensive cramping. This would be needless as she cannot bear to add more troubles to her already delicate state. For more clarity, it is best to check in with the doctor before taking any over-the-counter prescription.

Digestive tonics important in the case of menopause and constipation are a huge benefit as they can be slow-acting when compared to laxatives. Unfortunately, people think because digestive tonics are slow-acting they are not efficient. Wrong! As matter of fact, the reason it is best for someone suffering from a combined state of menopause and constipation is because it doesn't hasten the process required for more bowel movements and hence, there is no abdominal cramp resulting from the fast action of laxatives.

Menopause - How to Cope With Menopause Symptoms

Love the thought of never having to suffer through your period again during menopause?

Most women do but menopause can bring a whole new set of challenges. Between the hot flashes, mood swings and insomnia, some women can find themselves wishing they had their period again however there are things you can do to manage the menopause symptoms. In this article, we've got some practical advice for getting through this difficult menopause age.

Menopause is a natural process that happens to every woman as she grows older and is not a medical problem, disease or illness. It is the absence of menstrual periods for 12 months and the average age for menopause is 52. Some women experience difficulty during this time because of the changes in hormone levels and while some women have few or no menopause symptoms, others have many moderate or severe symptoms of menopause. The clearest sign that the change has started is irregular periods and when blood flow becomes lighter or heavier.

The symptoms of menopause such as weight gain, hot flashes and night sweats are different for every woman. Most of the time, these menopausal symptoms will lessen or go away after a woman is post menopause. Research has shown that menopause symptoms can be related to many things including genetics, diet and lifestyle.

Studies show that women who are physically active experience fewer uncomfortable menopause symptoms during menopause age. Exercise during and post menopause has the added benefit of keeping your bones strong, strengthening your heart and burning calories for managing your weight which are all major concerns as your estrogen gradually wanes. Combined with a healthy diet, exercise can greatly help you in treating the symptoms of menopause.

Menopause doesn't have to be a nightmare that you have to get through. With the support of your friends and family, you can enjoy the things that you always have however you do have to take care of your body during this menopause age. Make sure that you eat a diet that is rich with nutrients and get regular exercise to relieve menopause symptoms. By not neglecting your physical and mental health, you'll make menopause the beginning of a whole new life.