A Change In Life: Post Menopause Help

Menopause means the end of the menstruation cycle in a woman. Most women in the U.S. reach menopause around the age of fifty-one. Women in other countries reach menopause slightly later or earlier -- it is dependent on the quality of nutrition and health care in their country. Women are considered to have reached menopause when they have not had a period for at least one year.

Many women in their mid-30s started experiencing symptoms of menopause. Some women experience a slightly heavier period and a lighter period, it depends on the woman. Other women have irregular periods and some months that they do not have any period whatsoever. Most women start experiencing symptoms of menopause around their early 40s.

Some of the most common symptoms of menopause are hot flashes. Some women also suffer from disorders of sleep, swings in mood, and skin changes (such as dryness around the eyes and mouth). Additionally, some women lose bladder control and an increase in weight around her stomach. Some women also notice that their breasts lose their fullness and a thinning of the hair. Some women also experience a drop in libido while others notice that their libido has not diminished at all. Sometimes the decrease in libido is due to vaginal dryness which is a symptom of menopause.

Menopause occurs when a woman’s body begins to produce less estrogen and less progesterone than it previously produced. They also begin to have fewer eggs that are ready for fertilization. The surge in progesterone following ovulation also lessens. The swings in hormone levels are often noticed as mood swings in women suffering from menopause.

Doctors can check for menopause by conducting a simple blood test. The test checks estrogen levels and follicle stimulating hormones (FSH). If the woman is considered too young to be experiencing menopause symptoms the doctor may suggest lifestyle changes or hormone therapies. These can often halt the progression of menopause. There are other reasons menopause might start in a younger woman such as radiation therapies for cancer, hysterectomies, or chemotherapy.