Surviving the Menopause

Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when her body begins to change as the ovaries start to shut down. When the ovaries shut down there is also the shutting down of progesterone and estrogen in a woman’s life. Menstruation will start to diminish and end during this shutting down of the ovaries. Menopause occurs at a different age for all women, although the general age is from 50 to 54.

Menopause is the part of a woman's normal aging process and it will happen to all who haven't had their uterus and ovaries surgically removed. If this is the case, premature menopause will occur. In some cases, only the uterus is taken out and the ovaries are left. Under these circumstances, there are no immediate menopausal symptoms, since the patient is still receiving the hormones mentioned above.

Menopause creates a number of symptoms that a woman may not be conscious of at first. The menstrual cycle will be affected by the diminishing production of the two hormones, and will most likely be completely unpredictable. For example she may experience heavy flow one month and light spotting when her next period shows up.

There are a number of symptoms that start manifesting as she begins to enter the various phases of menopause: (1) hot flashes (2) irritability (3) sweating at odd times (4) sleep disturbances (5) vaginal dryness that can lead to sexual and urinary discomfort (6) mood swings that may include anger and depression. (7) hair growth on the face, arms, chest and stomach (8) memory problems and difficulty with concentration (9) low frustration level, affecting her whole mood.

Women can prepare for menopause by learning as much as possible about it. This will help them understand what is happening as they start going through the "change of life". They won't feel alone in the process or be as alarmed by the unusual things they experience.

As with so many other aspects of our lives, a balanced and healthy diet, and exercise will go a long way in making women feel better. Eating healthy, nutritious foods will help minimize their symptoms. Vitamin and minerals taken as supplements are essential as well. Some women experience severe menopausal symptoms and may wish to consider hormone replacement therapy (HRT). During these years, it is more important than ever for women to regularly visit their doctors. They may experience unrelated symptoms and not be able to tell the difference without a medical examination. It may also be beneficial to join a menopause support group, where they will meet other women with similar experiences. This contact can go a long way in helping women cope with menopause.

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Lindsay Hurst is the owner and operator of A Menopause, the #1 source on the internet for information about Menopause. For more articles on Menopause visit: www.amemenopause.com/articles
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