All About Menopause
Menopause is associated with the conclusion of the Woman’s menstrual cycle. You would be surprise to know that it is a term that has a long history. It stems from the Greek word ‘mens’ and ‘pausis’, meaning monthly and cessation respectively. As a woman grows older, her estrogens and progesterone production diminishes and so does her capability to reproduce. This phase brings with it menopause which is the date of a woman’s last menstrual cycle. It is a very natural occurrence and all women go through it.
Menopause can take place any where between the ages of 40-56 years of age. Generally it happens around the age of 50 years. Menopause is said to have occurred for a woman when she does not menstruates for a year without being pregnant and or without any disease to cause the absence of the menstrual cycle or even maybe without the effect of some medicines which may cause a cessation in the menstrual cycle. Pre-menopause time is the time before the actual menopause sets in. It is during the pre-menopausal years that a woman will start feeling the symptoms of this transitional phase in her life.
Menopause should be taken as any normal body function and a part and parcel of the aging process. It is not a disease, pathological process or an abnormality, as all women have to go through it. However, menopause is also accompanied with some hormonal changes in women. As a result, women find this transition period a little tough to handle. Every woman goes through a different experience. Some don’t have any great symptoms while others have a lot of difficulties with severe symptoms.
The most evident symptoms of the beginning stage of menopause are the changes in the menstrual cycle (different dates) and changes in the amount of menstrual discharge. Other common symptoms are: weight gain, insomnia, night sweats, hot flashes, dry vagina, mood swings, fatigue, aching joints, muscles and tendons, gastrointestinal distress, indigestion, flatulence, gas pain, nausea, difficulty in concentrating, disorientation, mental confusion, disturbing memory lapses, incontinence, especially on sneezing and laughing, hair loss or thinning, and an increase in facial hair among others. Generally, these symptoms attenuate but sometimes they can persist for years. Not every woman lives menopause in the same way; experiencing menopause can be different for each woman, depending on their culture, education and lifestyle.
Menopause and the associated changes that women go through require women to be prepared for this change in their lives. They need family support and at time professional help in combating and facing the mood swings, and the other physical and mental changes that are occurring in them. Some women are lucky and they just sail through this traumatic period in their lives without any major disturbances.
It is important for women to try and not feel sad and take it in their stride. They must remember that all women go through this so they are not facing something abnormal. Being well informed, reading and getting to know more about menopause will go a long way in helping them deal with this problem well. They should also talk to other women who have already undergone this and consult their doctor periodically to make sure that they handle it right. They must take care of their health by taking a balanced diet and exercising periodically. Menopause is no doubt a difficult time for women but instead of being sad, they can make it pleasant with their own and their family’s effort.