By RENU SARAN-
MENOPAUSE is a stage in a woman’s life when menstruation stops, thus ending her fertility of child-bearing.\
Menopause normally and may naturally occur when a woman attains the age of 51 although in some of them it may happen even before the age of 40! This is what is called premature menopause.
The age at which women enter menopause is usually thought to be determined by their kind of genes.
Although this is supposed to be a natural age bound occurrence, it is good to know that menopause can also be earlier than normal because of factors such as sugary treatment of ailments and illness.
In such a case, this is what is known as induced menopause or premature ovarian failure.
The menopausal transition starts with varying menstrual cycle length and ends with the final menstrual period. Premenopausal is a term sometimes used and means “the time around menopause.”
“Postmenopausal” is a term used to as an adjective to refer to the time after menopause has occurred.
Although this is a natural process and not a disease, many woman approach menopause with an apprehension believing they would begin to suffer from several mental and physical conditions.
Just as people may differ in appearances, it is important to remember that each woman’s experience is equally and highly unique.
Some women may experience few or no symptoms of menopause, while others experience multiple physical and psychological symptoms. These menopause and premenopausal symptoms are as discussed below.
Irregular bleeding
Irregular vaginal bleeding may occur during menopause. A woman can have irregular periods for years prior to reaching menopause.
It is important to remember that all women who develop irregular menses should be evaluated by their doctor to confirm that the irregular menses are premenopausal and not as a sign of another medical condition.
Hot flashes and night sweats
Hot flashes are common among women undergoing menopause. A hot flash is a feeling of warmth that spreads over the body and is often most pronounced in the head and chest.
A hot flash is sometimes associated with flushing and is sometimes followed by perspiration. Hot flashes usually last from 30 seconds to several minutes.
Vaginal symptoms
Vaginal symptoms occur as a result of the lining tissues of the vagina becoming thinner, drier, and less elastic as estrogen levels fall.
Symptoms may include vaginal dryness, itching, or irritation.
Emotional and cognitive symptoms
Women in premenopausal stages often report a variety of thinking (cognitive) and/or emotional symptoms, including fatigue, memory problems, irritability, and rapid changes in mood. It is difficult to precisely determine exactly which behavioral symptoms are due directly
to the hormonal changes of menopause.
Other physical changes:
Many women report some degree of weight gain along with menopause.
The distribution of body fat may change, with body fat being deposited more in the waist and abdominal area than in the hips and thighs.
Changes in skin texture, including wrinkles, may develop along with worsening of adult acne in those affected by this condition.
Menopause itself is a normal part of life and not a disease that requires treatment.
However, treatment of associated symptoms is possible if these become substantial or severe especially in the cases of induced menopause.