What are the symptoms of menopause? What can I do?
Many menopause symptoms can be linked to lowered oestrogen levels.At Menopause Oestrogen levels drop by 40-60% and progesterone levels to almost zero.
Generally, it takes place anywhere between 48 and 52 years of age, but it can occur as early as the late 30s, or as late as the mid-50s.
When menopause occurs before 35 years of age, it is considered premature menopause.
But, just as your very first period is genetically predetermined, so is the onset of menopause.
One of the best ways to help determine when you might begin this journey is to talk with your mother or grandmother if possible. It might not be scientifically exact, but we often find that women generally begin around the same age as their mothers.
Many women going through menopause will experience hot flushes, a sudden feeling of warmth that spreads over the upper body that is often accompanied by blushing and some sweating. The severity of hot flushes varies from mild in most women to severe in others.as well as progesterones decline. Other common symptoms include:
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Not all women get all of these symptoms. In fact, less than 2% of women get symptoms severe enough to interfere with daily activities.
How Does Natural Menopause Occur?
Natural menopause is the permanent ending of menstruation that is not brought on by any type of medical treatment. For women undergoing natural menopause, the process is gradual and is described in three stages:
Perimenopause.
or "menopause transition". Perimenopause begins 8-10 years before menopause, when the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen. Perimenopause lasts up until menopause, the point when the ovaries stop releasing eggs. In the last one to two years of perimenopause, the decrease in estrogen accelerates. At this stage, many women experience menopause symptoms.This typically around late 40's to early 50's.
Menopause.
is the point when a woman has her last menstrual period. At this stage, the ovaries have stopped releasing eggs and producing most of their estrogen. Menopause is diagnosed when a woman has gone without a period for 12 consecutive months
PostMenopause.
These are the years after menopause. During this stage, menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, ease for most women. However, health risks related to the loss of estrogen increase as women age.
