What is menopause?
Menopause is a natural biological process that all women experience as they reach middle age. It marks the end of a woman's reproductive years. The key sign of menopause is that a woman stops having her monthly menstrual periods. This usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55.
The time leading up to menopause is called perimenopause. This transition period can last several years. During perimenopause, a woman's ovaries start making less estrogen. This causes changes in menstrual bleeding, such as periods that are lighter or come less often.
Hot flashes are a common symptom of menopause. These sudden feelings of heat in the upper body can last from 30 seconds to several minutes. Night sweats are hot flashes that happen at night. Other common symptoms include vaginal dryness, trouble sleeping, and emotional changes like mood swings.
So what causes menopause? It happens because of changes in a woman's reproductive hormones. The ovaries make estrogen and other hormones that control the menstrual cycle. As a woman gets older, her ovaries start to run out of eggs and make less estrogen. Lower estrogen levels affect the menstrual cycle and can cause menopause symptoms.
The point when a woman has gone 12 months without a menstrual period is called menopause. The average age for menopause is 51. But it can happen earlier or later for some women. Smoking, cancer treatment, and surgery to remove the ovaries can all cause menopause to start sooner.
The years leading up to menopause can be a bumpy ride! But there are many ways to find relief from symptoms. Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, avoiding triggers like stress and hot drinks, using vaginal moisturizers, and taking supplements can all help.
If symptoms are really troublesome, hormone therapy is an option. Low doses of estrogen can reduce hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. The professionals at Rejuvenate Hormone Clinic can determine if hormone therapy is right for you.
The good news is that menopause is totally normal! There are many resources available to guide women through "the change." With a little patience and TLC, this transition can be smooth sailing. Menopause means the beginning of a brand new phase of life.