Symptoms of menopause
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Menopause occurs at a different time in every woman. You are likely to go through menopause around the same time that your grandmother, mother, or sister did, give or take a few years. Most women stop menstruating completely between the ages of 50 and 51, however the whole menopausal process can last a number of years. Most North American women begin menopause sometime between the ages of 45 and 55 however, menopause can occur as early as 35 or as late as 60.
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Usually, the body regulates menopause; this is called natural menopause. Some women enter menopause due to other reasons, though. Surgery and certain medications or treatments can force a woman's body to enter menopause. Menopause after hysterectomies, radiation treatment, and chemotherapy has been known to occur. These treatments are also commonly responsible for menopause in younger women, or Premature Menopause (menopause before age 40). Damage to the ovaries or low levels of estrogen can also initiate early menopause.
Menopause symptoms affect almost 70% of women and often begin long before menopause actually sets in. Peri-menopause signals the onset of this transitional period and lasts for a variable period of time. Although most menopausal symptoms, will improve on their own within 2 to 5 years of onset there are a number of things that may help you deal with them.
The onset of menopause signals more than just an end to a woman's menstrual cycle. Every woman will experience this differently, so your menopause may not look like your friend’s. But some symptoms are very common, some less common, and some are serious and should not be ignored. Here is a list of things you may notice as you enter menopause.
Signs & Symptoms that could trigger are as follows:
Hot Flashes & Night Sweats: most frequent symptom of perimenopause and menopause (about 75% of women will experience hot flashes as they go through menopause), flushes, night sweats and/or cold flashes, clammy feeling, Irregular heart beat, Irritability, Mood swings, sudden tears, Trouble sleeping through the night (with or without night sweats), Irregular periods; shorter, lighter periods; heavier periods, flooding; phantom periods, shorter cycles, longer cycles, Loss of libido, Dry vagina, Crashing fatigue, Anxiety, feeling ill at ease, Feelings of dread, apprehension, doom, Difficulty concentrating, disorientation, mental confusion, Disturbing memory lapses, Incontinence, especially upon sneezing, laughing; urge incontinence, Itchy, crawly skin, Aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons, Increased tension in muscles, Breast tenderness, Headache change: increase or decrease, Gastrointestinal distress, indigestion, flatulence, gas pain, nausea, Sudden bouts of bloat, Depression, Exacerbation of existing conditions, Increase in allergies, Weight gain, Hair loss or thinning, head, pubic, or whole body; increase in facial hair, Dizziness, light-headedness, episodes of loss of balance, Changes in body odor, Electric shock sensation under the skin and in the head, Tingling in the extremities, Gum problems, increased bleeding, Burning tongue, burning roof of mouth, bad taste in mouth, change in breath odor, Osteoporosis (after several years), Changes in fingernails: softer, crack or break easier, Tinnitus: ringing in ears, bells, 'whooshing,' buzzing etc.
Recently the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists lists these changes that commonly affect women during menopause:
- Irregular periods, heavy bleeding or periods that stop.
- Hot flashes.
- Night sweats and difficulty sleeping.
- Vaginal dryness and reduced bladder control.
- Thinning, weakening bones.
- Moodiness, diminished memory and reduced concentration.
Exams and Tests
Blood and urine tests can be used to measure changes in hormone levels that may signal when a woman is close to menopause or has already gone through menopause. Examples of these tests include:
A pelvic exam may indicate changes in the vaginal lining caused by declining estrogen levels. The doctor may perform a bone density test to screen for low bone density levels that occur with osteoporosis.
Interesting evaluation of Prescription Drugs Used to Treat Menopause
Conflicting research and advice on the safety of hormones has been rife for a decade. Consumer report incorporates the latest evidence to help you make sense of an often confusing topic as well as Comparison Of Effectiveness, Safety, and Price.
- Article:
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