Menopause is the permanent end of menstruation and the leading cause is age. Menopause marks the end of a woman’s childbearing years, triggered by the ovaries slowing down gradually. It is not a disease but it’s a turning point in the life of a woman and it can have a big impact on a woman’s general health and well-being.

Causes of Menopause
The main cause of menopause is age. Certain surgeries and medical treatment can induce early menopause like surgical removal of the ovaries (bilateral oophorectomy), chemotherapy, and pelvic radiation therapy.

Having a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) without removing the ovaries does not lead to menopause, even though you will no longer have monthly flow.

When Does Menopause Start?

The National Institute on Aging notes that on average, women are 51 at natural menopause. However menopause can start earlier or later. A few women start menopause as young as 40, and a very small percentage as late as 60. Women who smoke tend to go through menopause earlier than nonsmokers. There is no proven way to predict menopause age. Menopause can only be confirmed after a woman has missed her periods for 12 straight months, without other apparent causes.

Perimenopause

The transition to menopause is called perimenopause. Natural menopause happens progressively not that the ovaries would abruptly stop working. Menopause is a milestone. It’s the day that marks 12 months in a row since a woman’s last period. It’s still possible for a woman to get pregnant during perimenopause. Although a woman’s periods may become more irregular, her ovaries are still working and she still may ovulate intermittently.

What to Expect at Menopause

Menopause affects each woman differently. Some women reach natural menopause with no noticeable problems while others have severe symptoms.

Signs of Menopause

Changes in Monthly Period

A woman’s menstrual period will change as menopause approaches. Those changes vary from woman to woman. Periods may become heavier or lighter, shorter or longer with more or less time between periods. Such changes are normal, but the National Institute on Aging recommends seeing a doctor if your periods come very close together, if you have heavy bleeding or spotting, or if your periods last more than a week.

Symptom of Menopause

1. Hot Flashes
A hot flash is a brief feeling of heat that may cause the face and neck to appear flushed and may cause temporary red blotches to appear on the chest, back, and arms. Hot flashes differ in intensity and may last between 30 seconds and 10 minutes. Sweating and chills may follow too. To deal with hot flashes, doctors advise women to:

Use a fan
Dress in light wears
Avoid spicy foods
Exercise regularly
2. Sleep Issues

Nighttime hot flashes can impede sleep and cause night sweats. Try these sleep tips:

Use a fan in your bedroom.
Avoid heavy bedding.
Choose light cottons as nightwear.
Pets can give off heat, keep them out of bedroom
Keep a damp cloth nearby to quickly cool yourself if you wake up feeling hot and sweaty.
See your doctor if your sleep problems persist.
3. Sex Problems
Women experience vaginal dryness during menopause due to low estrogen level, this can cause intercourse to be uncomfortable or painful. Try using a lubricant that is water-soluble. Note that apart from menopause other factors like depression, relationship issues, medications, poor sleep and others tend to affect sex drive. Talk to your doctor if you have sex problems.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy can do a lot to ease menopausal symptoms. Various prescription products are available to treat hot flashes and vaginal symptoms. However the FDA advises women to take the lowest dose and for a short time because studies have linked long-term use of hormone replacement therapy to breast cancer, strokes, heart attacks and blood clots.

Menopause Health Risks

Menopause comes a greater chance of heart disease and osteoporosis – thinning bones. Loss of estrogen may play a role in heart disease after menopause, but hormone replacement therapy is not recommended to reduce the risk of heart disease or stroke.

Staying Healthy

It’s never too late to start maintaining a healthy lifestyle at menopause. Get a checkup that includes mammograms, measuring your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol. Menopause is also a great time to upgrade your diet, physical activity, and stress management skills — your doctor can give you pointers as you work together to plan for a healthy menopause.

Source: http://www.healthdiary365.com/2017/12/09/menopause-and-perimenopause/

An eye opener to ladies who wanna marry early or even become baby mamas for fear of menopause.