
As the age of females increase, their body goes through a transition phase wherein ovaries produce fewer reproductive hormones. It results in increased inconsistent period cycles that eventually stop. Menopause is the phase in which the menstrual cycle ceases and females are no longer able to conceive.
Reasons for the cause of menopause
- Menopause can occur by the reduced production of reproductive hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. These reproductive hormones are responsible for the regulation of period cycles and the development of sexual characteristics of females. Menopause is a natural phenomenon that occurs due to the reduction of reproductive hormones.
- Hysterectomy refers to a procedure in which all the parts of the uterus and ovaries are removed surgically leading to menopause. The surgical procedure is carried out if there are genital problems in the uterus and ovaries.
- It is found that any female that had undergone chemotherapy or radiation therapy to fight cancer is more likely to face menopause earlier than expected.
- In some cases, the ovaries in the female reproductive system fails to produce sufficient amounts of reproductive hormones leading to the development of premature menopause or primary ovarian insufficiency.
Age for Menopause
The suitable age for menopause is either in the late forties or in the early fifties that is the 49 – 52 age group. But this condition varies from body to body. About 5% of women undergo early menopause, 1 % of women undergo premature menopause (that is before 40), whereas some women enter the perimenopausal phase in their late 40s. Very few women undergo menopause late.
Symptoms of Menopause
The signs and symptoms of menopause vary from age to age.
Age 40 to 45
- Late/ Missing periods-more than three periods in a row or skipping regular cycles.
- Experiencing too heavy or too light menstrual discharge than usual periods.
- Sudden and unexplained weight gain
- Trouble while sleeping and concentrating
- Hot Flashes
- Vaginal dryness
Age 45 to 50
- Hot flashes on the skin
- Mood swings- easily distracted and irritated
- Night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
- Hair loss
- Accelerated heart rate
- Trouble concentrating
- Urinary Problems
Age 50 to 55
- Hot flashes
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Vaginal dryness
Age 55 to 60
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Mood changes
- Vaginal dryness
- Irritability or other mood changes
- Urinary problems
Some unknown facts about menopause every woman should know
- Menopause is not sudden rather a gradual process of changes that take place in a female’s body. A woman will have immediate menopause only if ovaries or uterus are removed surgically.
- Perimenopause starts before the actual menopause stage lasting for about 4 to 8 years. In this stage, the levels of estrogens and progesterone reduce gradually. Women may experience hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and night sweats during this stage.
- Menopause occurs with specific signs and symptoms. Females experience decreased libido and sexual desire due to an overall drop in reproductive hormones. Menopause is one of the major causes of mood swings in females. Women are likely to experience stress and anxiety due to hormonal fluctuations.
- Even though vaginal dryness is one of the symptoms of menopause, vaginal lubricants and inserts can help in maintaining the sex life of females. Menopause does not indicate that women will face painful or less satisfactory sex life.
- Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones become weak due to decreased density. Females are at a higher risk of osteoporosis during and after menopause.
- Women may suffer from irritable headaches and migraines during menopause and in pre-menopause stages.
- Learning something new or working for long durations can become challenging for females in the first stage of their menopause. This is because the level of estrogen reduces that hampers the concentration levels in women.
- Women may slowly gain weight as they enter the pre-menopause stage. Weight gain or obesity can occur due to increased hunger, changes in metabolism, and alterations in hormones controlling starvation.
- Females are likely to face irregular periods when they reach their last stage of menopause.
- Smoking predisposes females towards menopause. Blood circulation is affected leading to a higher risk of a heart attack after menopause.
Conclusion
Menopause is a new beginning in a female’s life wherein they experience a large number of bodily changes due to alterations in hormonal levels. Females need to deal with stress, anxiety, and depression during menopause. Females must regularly exercise and consume nutritional food to balance their bodily needs. Any woman can seek help for memory loss, concentration problems, anxiety, panic attack, or depression faces due to menopause. It is highly essential to accept the physical and emotional changes in one’s body. Menopause marks the end of a female’s reproductive cycle. But pregnancy is still possible in the perimenopausal stage. With the advancement in the medicinal sector and biotechnology, working females can store and preserve eggs or embryos and get pregnant after menopause.