What is Menopause? What are the Symptoms of Menopause?
What is Menopause? What are the Symptoms of Menopause?
The reproductive cycle in women ends with menopause. Although menopause is a very natural process, the physical and psychological changes experienced during this period can be quite challenging for many women. However, being informed about the subject can help manage menopause more accurately and effectively. You can also take a look at our article, which includes all the details of the process, from the definition of menopause to its symptoms, from its diagnosis to what to do, to learn more about menopause.
What is Menopause?
Menopause is a biological process that marks the end of menstrual periods in women. In order for menopause to be diagnosed, menstruation must not occur for 12 months. The menopause process occurs in stages. Let's briefly discuss these stages:
1. Perimenopause: The perimenopause process can begin 8 to 10 years before menopause and continues until menopause. During this period, the ovaries begin to produce less estrogen. In the last few years of the period, as estrogen levels drop, menopause symptoms may begin.2.Menopause: It is the period when menstrual cycles stop completely.
3. Postmenopause: Refers to the period after menopause. Some women may experience menopause symptoms during part of this period.
What is Early Menopause?
We can define early menopause as the cessation of menstrual symptoms before the age of 45. For example, if you experience menopausal symptoms at the age of 35, this may be a sign that you are entering early menopause. The cause of naturally occurring early menopause is that the ovaries stop producing estrogen on their own.
Early menopause may not always occur spontaneously. Autoimmune disorders, some chromosomal abnormalities, and rarely some infections can affect the ovaries and prevent hormone production, thus leading to menopause.
Treatments such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgeries that require the removal of the ovaries are also among the causes of early menopause. If there is a woman in the family who went through early menopause at a very young age, in her 20s or 30s, this may also increase the likelihood of going through early menopause.
The symptoms of early menopause are no different from natural menopause. Women who enter the early menopause process may experience the symptoms of typical menopause. The age of early menopause can also vary from person to person. It may seem scary to enter menopause before it is supposed to. However, there are medications and treatments for early menopause. With treatment, you may have a chance to stop early menopause.
For your treatment process, your doctor may prescribe you a birth control pill that you will use regularly or may recommend hormone replacement therapy, which involves taking medication, or various hormones, to avoid going into menopause. He or she may prefer different treatment methods or may also recommend some lifestyle changes.
While we are talking about early menopause, let's not forget to mention false menopause. False menopause is defined as the temporary cessation of the menstrual cycle for the treatment of certain diseases. Although the symptoms of false menopause are the same as typical menopause, they can occur more quickly and be experienced more severely. After the treatment process is over, false menopause also disappears.
What are the symptoms of menopause?
Now that we have answered the question "What does menopause mean?" let's talk about its symptoms. The symptoms of menopause may not be the same for every woman. The frequency and intensity of symptoms may vary from person to person. In general, we can list the symptoms of menopause as follows:
1.Weight gain,2. Headache,
3. Slowing down of metabolism,
4. Heart palpitations,
5. More frequent urination,
6. Thinning of hair,
7.Skin dryness,
8. Dry eyes,
9. Dry mouth,
10. Sleep problems,
11. Mood changes,
12. Concentration problems,
13.Night sweats,
14. Hot flashes,
15. Tremors,
16. Change in libido,
17.Vaginal dryness,
18.Vaginal infections,
19. Feeling of pain in the breasts.
There is no cure for menopause, which occurs naturally in every woman. Doctors can prescribe medication to treat symptoms or discomfort caused by hormonal changes if they deem it necessary.
How Long Do Menopause Symptoms Last?
The effects of menopause can last for different women. Some symptoms may last up to 5 years. For some women, the effects can last even longer.
What are Menopause Pains?
During menopause, the decrease in estrogen levels can cause joint and muscle pain. You may experience more pain in your knees, shoulders, neck, elbows and hands than before.
What Does Menstrual Bleeding Like When Entering Menopause?
During the transition to menopause, the menstrual cycle does not end suddenly. Many women may experience irregularities in their menstrual cycle. For example, they may not have a period for a few months and then start again. They may also have shorter periods. Spotting is also common during menopause.
As we mentioned before, if you have not had a period for 1 year, your menopause is complete. If you experience bleeding or spotting even though it has been 1 year or more since your last period, you may need to see your doctor.
How Many Days Does Menstrual Bleeding Last During Menopause?
During menopause, women's menstrual bleeding may last 10 days or longer. Heavy bleeding may also occur.
Can a Woman in Menopause Get Pregnant?
Many women may think that they will not become pregnant during the transition to menopause. However, let us remind you that there is always a possibility of pregnancy if menopause has not yet been fully entered.
At What Age Does Menopause Begin?
Questions such as "What is the latest age of menopause?" and "When does menopause occur?" are frequently asked about the age of menopause in women. Although the age of menopause is different for each woman, the average age of menopause is between 45 and 55. In Turkey, women enter menopause on average between the ages of 46-48.
Exercising before menopause can also delay your menopause. For this, you can prioritize doing 5 exercises that delay menopause, such as yoga, resistance training, stretching, pelvic floor exercises, and rope jumping.
How Is Menopause Diagnosed?
During menopause, estrogen levels decrease while follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels increase. If necessary, your doctor can check your FSH levels by performing some tests. You can also see your FSH levels with a home menopause test, which is similar to a pregnancy test. However, FSH levels rising and falling during your period or other variables may prevent the test result from determining definitively whether you are in menopause or perimenopause.
For a correct diagnosis, it is useful to consult your doctor and share your symptoms. Doctors can usually diagnose menopause without the need for testing by examining your symptoms and health history.
What Should You Do During Menopause?
Some lifestyle changes you can make during perimenopause and menopause can help you experience symptoms at a milder level. It can also contribute to better overall health in the postmenopausal period. So, what is good for menopause?
1. You should follow your sleep routine and get plenty of rest during the day.2. You should create a balanced and sufficient nutrition routine. You can protect your bone health by consuming calcium-rich foods such as cabbage, milk, and yogurt. You can also consume as little sugar as possible during this process, and prevent sudden increases and decreases in blood sugar that increase fatigue levels.
3. You can make sure to exercise regularly.
4. You should stay away from cigarettes and alcohol.
5. You should take care to get vitamin D by spending time outside regularly.
6. You should maintain your ideal body weight and lose any excess weight you may have. This way, you can experience some of your menopause symptoms much more mildly.
7. You should drink at least 8 to 12 glasses of water a day. This way, you can cope with the dryness and bloating that may occur in your body.
8. It can be challenging to deal with the psychological changes caused by menopause on your own. If you are facing such psychological problems, you may want to consider getting psychological support from a specialist. You can also control your stress level with practices such as breathing exercises and meditation.
You can take natural supplements to relieve your symptoms by consulting your doctor. One of the supplements you can choose is Lady Prelox® . With our product, you can overcome the libido changes caused by menopause without affecting your hormone levels. With our supplement, which is produced based on science and reveals its difference with its natural ingredients, you can enjoy pleasure, desire and comfort during your menopause period.
