Menopause - What to Expect

Menopause is a natural life stage that every woman must go through at some point in time. Menopause should not be viewed as a disorder or disease, but simply another stage of life, such as puberty. Many women do not take the proper care to educate and prepare themselves for menopause and the related symptoms.

Perimenopause is the time preceding menopause. Many of the changes the body undergoes during this time are overlooked or mistaken as menopause. Perimenopause usually occurs as a woman enters her late thirties to the early or mid forties. Perimenopause can last as little time as a few months, or as long as several years. During this period, many changes in the body can occur. This is due to the decrease of estrogen being produced by the ovaries. Estrogen, which is a hormone found in females, helps control and regulate menstrual cycles and bone density.

There are many symptoms associated with perimenopause, many of which often get overlooked or mistaken for something else. Sparse and/or irregular menstrual periods are one of these symptoms. Missed periods often go ignored because of the busy schedules and stressors of everyday life. Women experiencing perimenopause sometimes go months experiencing very light, spotty menstrual periods. Sometimes periods are missed entirely. The body sometimes "makes up" for these light or missed periods by shedding a very large amount of uterine lining later, causing very heavy periods that can last much longer than a "normal" period. These abnormally heavy periods are called "flushes".

Hot flashes are another symptom of perimenopause. Some women find themselves feeling uncomfortable in social or work environments because of their hot flashes, which can cause rosy cheeks and sweating. These symptoms can be embarrassing, as well as uncomfortable. Some women find themselves waking several times in the night to pull back the blankets or turn down the heat. This disruption of sleep can cause fatigue during the days from lack of sleep at night. Hot flashes can be severe or barely noticeable.

During menopause, some women complain of mood swings and depression. It has not yet been determined whether or not these symptoms are directly connected to menopause. Women who are entering menopause often experience increased anxiety, depression and fatigue. This could be caused by the stress created by the increased changes in the body. Menopause is not over until a woman has not had a menstrual period for at least twelve months.

There are some treatment options to relieve the symptoms associated with menopause and perimenopause. Hormone replacement therapy is one such option. There are conflicting reports as to whether or not this treatment poses health risks and it is wise to always consult a doctor before beginning any treatment. Some other treatment options are "natural" dietary supplements, acupuncture and other alternative medications. So far, there has not been enough research on these types of treatments to determine whether or not they benefit women going through menopause, or the health risks that might accompany them.

A healthy diet and exercise can be beneficial to one suffering from menopause. Studies show that exercise can help improve mood and slow the deterioration of bone density. This could be especially beneficial since osteoporosis is another known risk for women suffering from menopause. Educating oneself about menopause and the symptoms that accompany it can be very beneficial, as well. While, obviously, education does not relieve any of the discomforts of menopause, it can help with knowing what to expect.