Menopause A New Beginning - the Signs and Symptoms

Menopause ? Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, treatment options and self-care measures.

Did you know that menopause is not actually called ''menopause'' until one year after your last period? Menopause, the word, is a combination of two Greek words which mean month and terminate. Translated literally menopause means "the end of the monthlies." The average woman reaches menopause about the age of fifty- one, although it can vary from your thirties to your fifties. Certain factors such as the age your mother began menopause and environmental influences may play a key role in determining when you begin to experience the signs and symptoms of perimenopause.

First, here are the most common symptoms of menopause:

? Anxiety and depression
? Endometriosis
? Fibroid tumors
? Foggy, fuzzy thinking and memory lapses
? Hot flashes and night sweats
? Inability to handle stress
? Irregular menstrual cycles
? Light or heavy menstrual flow
? Lumpy or tender breasts
? Mood swings
? PMS
? Sleep problems
? Vaginal dryness
? Water retention and bloating
? Weight gain

Other signs and symptoms

The most common is the hot flush. However, women may sometimes experience several of the symptoms listed below:

* hot flushes and night sweats
* aches and pains
* crawling or itching sensations under the skin
* headaches
* vaginal dryness
* reduced sex drive (libido)

To obtain menopause help for menopause signs symptoms, understand female hormones, the menstrual cycle and how hormone imbalance happens. In a healthy menstruating woman, estrogen is the main hormone produced for the first 10-12 days following the previous menstrual flow. Ovulation then signals the female body to produce progesterone, which occurs for the next 12 or so days. Progesterone and estrogen levels will drop at around day 28 if there''s no pregnancy, and menstruation begins.

Some women begin to have early menopause signs, symptoms and complaints in their late thirties. Changes in menstrual periods and more severe premenstrual symptoms may be related to menopause. If a woman stops menstruating before the age of 40, it is considered premature menopause. Sometimes this happens naturally and may be a result of genetics. In other cases it is caused by treatment for a medical condition, such as removal of the ovaries due to cancer. Women who experience an unnatural premature menopause typically have more severe menopause symtoms and medication is often necessary.

Alternative therapy may be beneficial in helping one to cope with menopause signs and symptoms. Acupuncture and relaxation techniques are natural therapies that could provide some relief to sufferers. Herbal remedies can be found online but before using them talk to a doctor and make sure they are safe to take. Interactions and interference with prescription meds is possible with taking certain herbs. Severe reactions have been documented so be sure and check on these remedies before taking them.

Living Life after Menopause

Many women are anxious, worried and even scared about going through menopause. Yes, it can be difficult to stop menstruating and no longer be able to bear children. However, many women find menopause to be a happy and exciting time in their lives. You are no longer bound to periods and hormones and can live without the worry of pregnancy. Through education and acceptance, menopause can become one of the most enjoyable stages in your life.

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