All women go through menopause; it’s a normal stage of life. Every day, about 6,000 women reach menopause. And each of these women experiences changes in their bodies differently. The most common symptom of menopause is hot flashes.
Earlier menopause was thought to be a disease. But now, women are more aware of this normal phase of life, enabling them to cope with the symptoms in a better way. They no longer need to stay miserable as there are a plethora of treatment options available to help manage the menopausal symptoms in form of HRT patches and tablets.
6 Things You Should Know About Menopause
Here are 6 things that every woman should know about menopause:
Why does menopause occur? And at what age?
Menopause is a natural process that occurs when a woman’s ovaries run out of functioning eggs. As you get older, the balance in the body’s sex hormones changes, leading to menopause.
Menopause happens when your ovaries stop producing hormone as much estrogen and no longer release an egg each month. The average age for menopause is 46. A majority of women stop menstruating between the ages of 45 to 55. However, the ovary function starts to decline much before the actual onset of menopause.
What’s the difference between perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause?
The difference between perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause is as follows:
Perimenopause refers to the stage before menopause begins. During this phase, your body begins to transition into menopause. The ovaries begin to produce fewer hormones (estrogen and progesterone). You may experience some symptoms associated with menopause, including hot flashes and turbulent emotions as hormone levels fluctuate. Although your menstrual cycle becomes irregular during the perimenopause stage, you still have periods.
For many women, this transitional time leading up to menopause can be challenging as they grapple with the effects of shifting hormones. In that regard, menopause supplements like MenoPhix can provide relief from menopausal symptoms by helping to restore hormone balance naturally. With the right support, women can navigate perimenopause and find relief from disruptive symptoms like hot flashes as their bodies prepare for the next stage.
Menopause is a lack of a period for one year (12 consecutive months). Postmenopause is the last stage of the menopause process. In this stage, the ovaries officially shut down as reproductive organs.
What symptoms are caused by the reduced levels of estrogen in your body? Do these symptoms vary from one woman to another?
The reduced estrogen level causes hot flashes in about 75% of women during menopause. You can deal with the symptoms of menopause, with the help of HRT treatments available through online consultation. Other common symptoms include trouble concentrating, fatigue, painful sex due to lack of vaginal lubrication, depression, and breast tenderness. Some women may also experience mood swings and joint and muscle pain.
The menopausal symptoms vary from woman to woman because age and the rate at which ovary function declines vary across all women.
Is hormone replacement a safe option for the management of menopausal problems?
You and your doctor should determine whether hormone replacement therapy is the right option for you. Several research studies have shown the efficacy and safety of HRT for many women. That said, each woman is different. If you have pre-existing medical conditions, HRT might not be a good option.
Whether HRT is right or not depends on your overall health and the severity of your menopausal symptoms. Moreover, HRT is linked to cancer, stroke, blood clots, and heart disease; these risks are high when HRT is administered in women who are well past their menopausal age. When HRT is given closer to the onset of menopause, the same risks do not exist.
Do you put on weight during menopause?
Yes, the changes in your hormone levels and your growing age contribute to weight gain during menopause. Therefore, you need to ensure that you maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and make healthy lifestyle choices. If you are overweight, you increase your risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions.
Many chronic diseases of aging begin after menopause. Therefore, it is important to take stock of your current health status. Check your blood pressure, heart disease risks, and lipids. Don’t ignore your mental health around this time, especially if you have mood swings prior to menopause.
How menopause can affect bone health?
Osteoporosis is a disease where the bones weaken thereby causing fractures and bone loss. One in two women will have postmenopausal osteoporosis. You might not realize that you are suffering from osteoporosis until sudden pain or breaks in the back or hip might happen. Some women might have early menopause i.e around the age of 45 provided where menstruation is absent or low hormone levels might lead to bone loss. Lack of estrogen during menopause contributes to osteoporosis. The hormone estrogen is produced by ovaries which acts as a shield against bone loss and is used as a treatment against osteoporosis.
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