Menopause is a stage in a woman's life that always comes. A woman's eggs are no longer mature and she will no longer be able to conceive any more children. There are women who think that menopause comes with age, that is, that when they retire it will be when menopause will come into their lives, but nothing is further from the truth ... Menopause can come from the age of 30 early or instead, it takes a little longer than usual. But what is clear is that it always comes.
If you want to know when you will have your menopause approximately, one way to find out is to ask your mother, at what age did menopause come to her? Because in this way you can get an idea of when it will reach you more or less, although of course, if your mother reached 40, it does not mean that it will reach you at 40. But if your mother had an early menopause, then you probably have it too.
But regardless of when menopause hits, it is important to know what it is and what symptoms you will experience. This way you can identify it as it begins to reach you.
What is menopause
Most of the symptoms associated with menopause actually occur during the perimenopausal stage. Some women go through menopause without any complications or unpleasant symptoms. But in other cases they have menopausal symptoms and are weak. Perimenopause (or premenopause) can last for years until your period is completely gone.
The symptoms that women experience are mainly related to a low production of the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. Symptoms vary widely from one woman to another due to the many effects that these hormones have on a woman's body. Each woman is different and the arrival of menopause can be experienced in many different ways.
Estrogen regulates the menstrual cycle in women and also affects the following parts of the body:
- The reproductive system
- Urinary tract
- The heart
- Blood vesels
- The bones
- Breasts
- The skin
- The hair
- Mucous membranes
- Pelvic muscles
- Brain
Menopause symptoms
Most women experience some symptoms when menopause begins to come into their lives. The duration and severity of these symptoms vary from woman to woman. Symptoms usually appear a few months to years before the period disappears completely, with perimenopause and can linger for a while after the period disappears completely.
Generally, most symptoms last about four years from the last period. However, around 1 in 10 women may experience symptoms up to 12 years after their last menstrual period. Next you are going to know some of the most common symptoms that appear in menopause in the vast majority of women.
Hot flashes
Many women complain of menopausal hot flashes as a primary symptom. Hot flashes can be a sudden sensation of heat, either in your upper body or throughout your body. Women may feel sweaty and have a flushed face and neck.
The intensity of a hot flash can vary from mild to very strong, it can even cause insomnia or nighttime awakenings. A hot flash generally lasts between 30 seconds and 10 minutes. Most women experience hot flashes for one to two years after their last menstrual period. Hot flashes can continue even when menopause comes, but they will decrease in intensity over time.
Menstrual changes
The period will begin to be irregular, the bleeding may be much heavier than it has always been or lighter than usual ... You may even have little spotting. Your period may also last longer or shorter than normal. If your period does not drop, it is necessary to rule out that you are pregnant, because if you are not it is possible that these delays are an indicator that menopause is about to come.
If after a year passes without the rule you notice slight spotting, it is important that you go to your doctor to rule out another serious condition or disease such as cancer.
Vaginal dryness
The decrease in estrogen and progesterone production can affect the thin layer of moisture that lines the vaginal walls. Women can experience vaginal dryness at any age, but it can be a particular problem for women who are experiencing the onset of menopause.
Signs of this vaginal dryness can include itchy vulva as well as burning. As if that were not enough in sexual relations, it is appropriate to use sexual lubricants because they can be painful on penetration due to vaginal dryness. You can also regularly use water-based lubricants.
If vaginal dryness gives you many problems and your quality of life begins to be affected then do not hesitate to go to your doctor for help in this regard. You need to have your vagina more lubricated to prevent it from becoming smaller or painful on a regular basis.
Other symptoms of menopause
But in addition to the three main symptoms that all women experience, there are others that can affect them to a greater or lesser extent. These symptoms are:
- Insomnia or trouble sleeping
- Depression or mood swings
- Vaginal atrophy
- Decreased libido
- Urine infections
- Urinary Incontinence
- Changes in skin or hair
- Headaches
- Anxiety
- palpitations
- Aches or pains in muscles and joints
- Weakness in the bones
All this information will help you to differentiate if what is involved in your case is really the arrival of menopause. It is one more stage in a woman's life that is important to accept.