Health & Fitness Blog

Menopause can be difficult for many women to deal with, primarily because of the various symptoms that go along with it. There are a variety of symptoms, which are common, including night sweats, hot flashes, mood swings, and sometimes changes in sexual behavior. These symptoms can vary, and can be either mild, or quite severe. The most common age for menopause to begin is generally between the ages of 48 and 55.

When a woman’s ovulation and menstruation cycles cease, this is when menopause occurs. There are a number of hormonal changes that take place in the body during menopause, which are what cause the various physical and emotional symptoms to occur. There are usually some early indications that menopause is about to begin, such as irregular periods that fluctuate between a heavy and light flow, and hot flashes might begin to occur. This transitional stage is known as perimenopause, which precedes the actual onset of menopause. Perimenopause is common around the age of 40 to 45. However, this timeframe does fluctuate, and some women actually experience symptoms as early as age 35.

Some studies have indicated that there are some factors in a person’s life that can bring menopause on earlier. These include the various environmental toxins that are common in modern life, increased levels of stress, and the fact that many women smoke. Smoking seems to be a factor that can bring the onset of perimenopause on at least two to three years sooner than would be normal for a woman.

Some symptoms can be especially troubling and uncomfortable for some women, such as the hot flashes and night sweats. Hormonal changes in the body are responsible for these types of symptoms, and they can even cause sleeping problems in some women. Menopause symptoms, especially if they are severe, can increase a woman’s stress levels. There are also often changes in a woman’s libido levels during menopause. Hormone changes in the body can cause vaginal dryness and irritation, which can make sex painful. This often has the end result of reducing a woman’s desire for sex. Another factor that can enter into a woman’s sexual desire is the mood swings that are common during menopause.

Menopause is part of the natural aging process, and as such, there is not a specific treatment that is always needed or recommended. If a woman has especially pronounced symptoms, there are certain types of medications that can be helpful. Many women deal with menopause simply by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and finding ways to reduce their stress levels and symptoms without any type of medication. Many women find that light exercise can be beneficial, not only because of the physical benefits of exercise but also as a way of improving their mood and reducing stress levels.

To deal with severe symptoms, doctors often prescribe hormone replacement drugs. These drugs are effective for many women, but do have the possibility of side effects, including water retention or the increase in certain types of symptoms. There are both synthetic and natural hormone treatments available, which a woman can discuss with her doctor if she feels they might be beneficial for her.

This writer writes on a variety of health topics and is especially interested in women’s health issues including menopause and perimenopause. Please visit Signs of Menopause Guide for additional information.