Menopause means the end of a woman’s fertility cycle. It is a natural process with hormonal and physiological changes and knowing what to expect can simplify the transition.
1. Menopause officially appears 12 months after the last menstruation
The popular perception could be that menopause occurs suddenly. The reality is more gradual. Menopause is a process and not a specific moment in time . For most women, menstruation gradually decreases, rather than stopping immediately. Menopausal symptoms can appear slowly, increase, and then gradually diminish as we move past the childbearing years.
2. Perimenopause is usually gradual
The earliest stage of menopause is known as perimenopause, and it causes irregular periods as a woman moves away from fertility. It is usually gradual and during this process, the woman may experience other changes in her body. For example, changes in the skin and hair. These changes are part of aging and are due in part to lower levels of hormones.
3. Most women experience perimenopausal symptoms
Most women experience some of the many symptoms of perimenopause, such as hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, increased vaginal dryness and tenderness, tendency to leak urine when exercising or sneezing, mood swings. changes in sex life or muscle loss and fat gain.
4. Some options that can help women control their menopausal symptoms
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was the most popular option for decades. However, long-term studies of HRT show an increased risk of blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, and cancers, such as breast and colon cancer. Even without hormone replacement therapy, it is possible to reduce the discomfort of perimenopausal symptoms, such as getting more exercise to promote bone health and prevent weight gain.
5. Infertility is the only thing unavoidable with menopause
There are many myths surrounding menopause. Some women believe that they will be less attractive or that sex can become painful. However, many women have a positive experience of menopause and feel that they gain confidence and wisdom. In reality, the only thing that is inevitable is the loss of fertility. As an anecdote, some women find that menopause improves their self-esteem and increases their interest in sex. Each woman’s menopausal experience will vary. There is no one-size-fits-all formula, although it can be helpful to read about other women’s experiences.
6. The body still produces hormones
It is not true that the body stops producing hormones after menopause. The adrenal glands continue to produce estrogen and progesterone, but their overall production decreases.
7. Menopause can affect relationships and lifestyle
Menopause is not just a physiological experience. It also has deep cultural significance. For some women, menopause means getting old. This can trigger many feelings: wisdom, in the most positive variant, and depression in the most negative. Cultural values and assumptions about menopause can affect how a woman feels about this natural body process. How you react can affect your relationships and lifestyle. For example, a woman who believes that menopausal weight gain is inevitable might stop exercising.
8. It is possible to have a period
The period or period does not disappear suddenly – normally. Very occasionally, some women experience heavier periods with advanced spotting or bleeding. As perimenopause progresses, the period becomes less frequent and eventually goes away. Once the period has not made its appearance in 12 months, the woman passes from perimenopause to menopause.
9. They can still get pregnant
Just as menstruation does not disappear all at once, neither does fertility . The beginning of menopause marks the beginning of the end of fertility. The woman can ovulate, and the eggs can be healthy enough to produce a pregnancy. Fertility ends only when menopause is complete. If pregnancy is not desired at this time, it is recommended to continue using contraceptives until 12 months without menstruation.
10. Menopause is not a disease
Menopause is a life transition, not a disease, although it is sometimes spoken of as such. When perimenopausal symptoms are experienced, they are usually short-lived and mild.
Menopause is also not a sign that the body is failing. Some women worry that they started menopause too early, due to health problems or some other problem.
Be that as it may, most women enter menopause in their 50s . However, starting before or after this age is normal and not something to worry about.
