At the end of your menstrual circle, menopause begins. In medical terms, it is diagnosed after 12 months without a menstrual period. There is no exact time when it starts but mostly is around 40s or 50s.
It is a natural biological process, but when it starts is mostly not pleasant. Menopause is caused by the natural decrease in reproductive hormones. Those hormones are estrogen and progesterone, hormones that naturally regulate fertility declines, and in the late 30s, ovaries start to make less of these hormones. In the 40s, menstrual periods can vary until around 51 when they stop.
Variation of symptoms can be the sign of menopause
If you want to make sure that symptoms that you have are definitely from menopause, you can visit your doctor, or if you live in Australia, you can make an appointment at menopause clinic – Australian Menopause Centre.
Sometimes, causes of menopause can be some external factors, such as hysterectomy. It’s a procedure where your uterus and ovaries are removed and is causing immediate menopause. Also, it is possible to remove only your uterus, leaving your ovaries, which can prolong the start of menopause, as your ovaries are still producing estrogen and progesterone.
One more external cause is chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It is not the rule, but these treatments can cause symptoms such as hot flashes and halt to menstrual circle, which can be permanent, but with some therapy, it can be regulated.
Some of the autoimmune disease and genetic factors can also contribute to menopause and is found in one percent of women. That condition starts when ovaries are not producing normal levels of hormones, and is happening before the age of 40.
Menopause signs
The first sign of menopause is easy to notice as it comes every month. When you start to have irregular periods, which means that the length between them is a week or a couple of months. Besides this, if in some periods of day and night you feel hits of heat it is quite possible that your menopause has started.
Some of the other signs are mood swings, vaginal dryness, weight gain and slowed metabolism. So if you get angry fast, or sad, and that changes in a short period of time during the day, your hormones are playing with your emotions. Not just with them, they affect your whole body as making you eat more, and decrease your sexual desire.
Not every woman has the same symptoms
Not every woman has these symptoms, and if you don’t find yourself it the above-written ones, you can check menopause signs according to Australian Menopause Centre.
There is also the way to stay in touch with the latest news about menopause while following the Australian Menopause Centre – Facebook.
Final word
While menopause is a biological period for a woman, it is not a pleasant one. It is recommended to reach to a specialist and find an adequate treatment as this period doesn’t have to be that disturbing.
