Menopause

Why do some women just seem to breeze through menopause, while others have a really hard time?

Menopause (including perimenopause and postmenopause) affects every woman differently. Though it is a very natural event in a woman’s life, it’s often accompanied by symptoms which prevent a woman from feeling normal.

Often a woman will not realize that some of the things she is experiencing are attributable to early, or perimenopause, which can begin two to eight years before actual menopause.. These symptoms may interfere with daily activities and contribute to physical changes and mood swings that may be pronounced or very subtle. Our knowledgeable physicians will help you understand your options in treating menopausal, and perimenopausal issues.

Menopause is a stage in a woman’s reproductive life when she ceases to ovulate and menstruate for a year. On average, this occurs on or around the age of 50, however, some women may stop menstruating in their early to mid 40s, and others may still menstruate into their late 50s.

The symptoms associated by the approaching menopause are caused by a decrease in the quality and number of a woman’s egg supply. As a result of this change, the hormonal regulation of the menstrual cycle will tend to fluctuate. At times, the body may tend to produce too much estrogen and progesterone and, at other times, too little.

At some point the year prior to the last menstruation, estrogen levels will stop fluctuating, and will permanently decline, eventually ending ovulation and menstruation.

Premature menopause can also be caused by chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hysterectomy.

What else can happen during menopause?

In addition to menstrual irregularities such as less frequent and light menstruation, or heavier than normal menstrual bleeding, certain other symptoms may begin during perimenopause. These may not end until several years menopause. They may include:

  • Hot flashes
  • Itching
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Headache
  • Mood swings and Irritability
  • Problems with concentration

How long does all this go on?

Several years after menopause, by the time a woman enters her postmenopause era, most of the symptoms associated with menopause should have declined. Due to the lower level of estrogen however, some women may face new health concerns, including heart disease, osteoporosis, gum disease, and vaginal dryness, and vaginal and urinary tract infection.

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