Menopause

Medical Service Name – Menopause

Menopause, sometimes known as “the transition of life,” occurs when a woman’s monthly periods end. It’s generally detected after a year without a menstrual bleeding. It’s a natural component of aging and signifies the end of your reproductive years. The onset of menopause generally happens between the ages of 40 and 50. According to studies, the average age of menopause is 51. However, women who have their ovaries surgically removed go through “sudden” surgical menopause.

When menopause approaches, the ovaries produce less estrogen. When this reduction happens, your menstrual cycle (period) begins to shift. It may grow erratic before coming to a halt. Physical changes might occur when a woman’s body adjusts to altered hormone levels. Each stage of menopause (perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause) has its own set of symptoms that your body adjusts to.

Risk Factors

Most prevalent risk factors include:

• Physical Inactivity
• Obesity
• Arterial Hypertension
• Hypercholesterolemia
• Poor Calcium Consumption
• Smoking
• Hot Flushes
• Sleeplessness
• Irritability

Stages Of Menopause

Natural menopause is a gradual process that is divided into three stages for women:

• Perimenopause – Perimenopause, also known as “menopause transition,” occurs eight to ten years before menopause, when the ovaries begin to generate less estrogen. It generally starts in a woman’s 40s, although it can also begin in her 30s. Perimenopause lasts until the ovaries cease producing eggs, which is when menopause occurs.
• Menopause – Menopause is the phase in a woman’s life when she no longer has menstrual cycles. The ovaries have finished generating eggs and most of the estrogen at this point.
• Postmenopause – Many women’s menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, may subside at this period. Some women, however, continue to have menopausal symptoms for a decade or longer after they have reached menopause. Women at the postmenopausal stage are at a greater risk for various health problems, including osteoporosis and heart disease, due to a reduced amount of estrogen.

Signs and Symptoms of Menopause

Women may notice all or some of the below-mentioned signs when approaching menopause:

• Hot flashes (an unexpected feeling of warmth that spreads over the body).
• Sweaty nights and/or cold flashes
• Dryness in the vaginal area; sexual discomfort
• Urinary rush 
• Insomnia
• Mood swings or mild depression
• Signs of dehydration

Women who are still going through the menopausal transition (perimenopause) may have the following symptoms:

• Breast tenderness
• Premenstrual syndrome deterioration (PMS).
• Irregular or missing periods
• Heavier or lighter periods
• Headaches
• Joint and muscular pains
• Libido fluctuations (sex drive)
• Memory lapses
• Weight gain
• Hair thinning or loss

These symptoms might indicate that the ovaries are generating less estrogen or that hormone levels are fluctuating more. Not every woman experience all of these signs and symptoms. Women who have new symptoms such as racing heart, urine abnormalities, migraines, or other unique medical concerns should consult our expert health professionals to ensure that these symptoms are not caused by anything else.