Today on the blog the good people from Minute 31 are here to discuss the five most common questions women ask about menopause. They have the answers--and a solution--to help ease the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause.
5 COMMON QUESTIONS EVERY WOMAN ASKS ABOUT MENOPAUSE.
The basic information that everyone has about menopause is that it marks the end of menstruation.
While men act like this topic doesn't exist, women tend to streamline it to this: I have seen women in their early 40s and early 50s complaining of how stressful and uncomfortable menopause is. I have heard a woman complain, "The issue I have with menopause is that it is so uncomfortable. It's like puberty at an older stage with more inconveniences. I always thought of menopause as a stage where we would never use tampons again and then count our blessings for our grandchildren. It seemed that simple."
It is simple when you have enough information to tackle the subject. So apart from the fact that menopause is the end of menstruation, menopause has other important factors that you need to know. Maybe you have a friend who is aging gracefully and is enjoying menopause; remember that these things hit us differently; body chemistry and a host of other factors can make it a whole new ball game for others.
Today, we will be answering FAQs (frequently asked questions) on menopause, such as menopausal age, and symptoms of menopause. By the end of this article, you will be much more informed.
Question 1:
WHAT IS MENOPAUSE ALL ABOUT?
Let's begin by saying that menopause is not a disease nor an illness. Going through menopause doesn't mean anything is defunct in your system. It just means that you have stopped menstruation and your body is getting older. This is a completely natural and biological process.
Menopause is pretty much self-diagnosed, and the most accessible way to check is through the menstruation method. If it has been 12 months since your last period, you are menopausal.
Question 2:
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF MENOPAUSE?
You can also use the symptom method to check. Some very common symptoms are:
A. Dryness in the vaginal area- some hormones that ensure natural lubrication and even blood flow no longer work, leading to dryness in the vagina. The effect of this is that it is uncomfortable, and it makes penetrative sex painful.
B. Hot flashes- Some women experience hot flashes. A hot flash is a feeling of warmth, usually sudden, that affects the upper body---particularly the face, neck, and chest. It leads to sweating, and if you lose a lot of body heat, you will feel chilly afterward. For some people, their skin might redden, and it will appear like they are blushing.
C. Night sweats- This is a nighttime hot flash. They can cause so much discomfort that sleeping becomes impossible. This happens due to the fall in hormone levels and invariably,
affects the body temperature.
D. Headaches- There are bound to be a lot of severe headaches and migraines. Why? During
menopause, hormones that regulate a woman's body tend to drop, which can lead to painful discomfort.
E. Decreased Libido- Or sexual urge---(lack of) id due to the fall in testosterone and estrogen. Testosterone combined with estrogen is responsible for repairing women's reproductive tissues and controlling some behaviors; when these two take a nosedive, the desire for sex is reduced or completely disappears.
F. Joint Pain- This is not only a sign that you need to hit the gym but a sign of menopause. The hormone responsible for lubricating joints---estrogen---reduces, leading to joint aches. In some cases, it can lead to fatigue or menopausal arthritis.
Other symptoms include sore breasts, irritation, change in tastes, and mood swings. It's not your fault if you're feeling crankier than usual!
Question 3:
WHAT AGE DOES MENOPAUSE BEGIN, AND WHEN DOES IT END?
The average age range for menopause is 45-55 years. The average age in the United States is 51. All symptoms mentioned above can occur, but we have early starters occurring as early as the 40s and even 30s. This is called early menopause, and some factors can prompt it, such as childbirth, diseases like HIV, or thyroid disease. If you've had chemotherapy and other types of surgeries, this could trigger it as well. You are also likely to be an early starter if you come from a long line of early starters. However, there have been late starters who began around their 60s.
Question 4:
WHAT ARE THE STAGES OF MENOPAUSE?
There are three stages of menopause. The perimenopause stage, the menopause stage, and the postmenopause stage.
The perimenopause stage is the time before menopause (you stop menstruating). There are a few symptoms such as irregular periods, trouble sleeping, and hot flashes. During this stage, there is no particular time range for perimenopause, just as there is no definite age for starting menstruation.
You are in your menopause stage if it has been 12 months since your last period. Here, the symptoms increase and become more pronounced. It can affect not just your reproductive system but your physical appearance. You are prone to dry skin, bloating, increased breast size, fatigue, joint pain, and night sweats.
In the postmenopause stage, the symptoms wear off after a while then stop completely. This takes about 2 to 3 years, and then slowly you'll begin to feel like you did before. You will be more balanced and will no longer have the painful symptoms of menopause. However, it's important to remember that the fall in hormones will remain the same. Health issues may occur such as heart disease and osteoporosis if not appropriately managed.
Question 5:
HOW CAN I MANAGE MY MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS?
There are several ways to manage your menopause symptoms so that they don't overwhelm you. Try the following:
- Exercise regularly.
- Reduce your intake of caffeine.
- Stay sexually active.
- Don't smoke.
- Get a lot of calcium in food or supplements.
- Control your blood pressure and cholesterol to prevent heart disease.
- Practice relaxing exercises like yoga and level exercises.
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I hope this article has been helpful and answered your questions. If you have more questions, please drop them in the comment sections below.