Menopause is a natural and vital part of every woman’s life. Most women experience the stages of menopause after 40. There are several stages of menopause that women will go through for about a third of their life. It is a normal condition that all women experience with age. The term menopause is commonly used to describe any of the changes a woman experiences either just before or after she stops menstruating, marking the end of the reproductive period.
A woman is born with a finite number of eggs, which are stored in her ovaries. The ovaries also produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which regulate menstruation and ovulation. Menopause occurs when the ovaries no longer produce an egg every month and menstruation stops. For most women, menopause occurs after their forties, but for some it may occur earlier. For those who experience it early may have to blame surgical intervention, such as hysterectomy, or damage to the ovaries. Not always does premature menopause have to be blamed on one of the above mentioned ways, but could be due to your own body starting it earlier.
There are three stages of
menopause. To sum the definition of them all up, is to say that they are the last stages prior to your bodies permanent ending of the female menstrual cycle and reproductive period.
1.Perimenopause – this begins several years prior to the menopause, when the ovaries begin to gradually produce less estrogen. This stage will last up until menopause, the point where the ovaries stop releasing eggs.
2.Menopause – This is the point when a woman has her last menstrual period. At this stage, the ovaries have completely stopped releasing eggs and producing most of their estrogen. Menopause will be diagnosed when a woman has gone for 10-12 consecutive months without a period.
3.Postmenopause – These are the few years after a woman has experienced menopause. During this stage, menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, ease off.
Not all women experience the symptoms caused by the onset of menopause. But for others symptoms associated with it include, hot flashes, night sweats, pain during sexual intercourse, increased anxiety, irritability, and the need to urinate more often. Consult with your physician if your symptoms are severe, there are ways to treat them with the help of medication and lifestyle changes. Always contact your doctor if you have questions or concerns regarding your condition.
