MENOPAUSE AND WOMEN
WOMEN’S HEALTH
MENOPAUSE AND WOMEN
Menopause is a natural transition in a woman's life that typically occurs between the ages of 40 and 55. When the ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone, menstruation ceases and fertility is no longer possible. Menopause is usually confirmed when there is no period for 12 consecutive months. For some women, menopause can occur as early as the late 30s, or as late as 60s, however, the average age of onset is 52 years of age. When menopause occurs before 40, it is considered premature menopause. Medically induced menopause refers to menopause brought on suddenly as a result of surgery (removal of the ovaries), chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. For most women menopausal symptoms diminish during the initial two to five years, although for some it may take more than ten.
Women's hormone levels begin to change in their middle to late 30’s. Perimenopause is the process of change that leads up to menopause and usually occurs 2- 10 years prior to the onset of menopause. During perimenopause, progesterone and estrogen levels (as well as other sex hormone levels) decline, however, progesterone declines more rapidly than estrogen. These fluctuating and declining hormone levels cause menstrual cycle changes, such as irregularity, or heavier or lighter cycles. Eventually progesterone and estrogen levels drop enough that the menstrual cycle stops and menopause begins. The decline in hormones causes many of the well-known physical and emotional symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause. Symptoms vary from person to person and can be dramatic or simple, gradual or abrupt in onset. The severity of symptoms is influenced by insults to the body. Excessive or chronic stress, poor nutrition, lack of exercise and exposure to environmental toxins all contribute to the decline in hormone levels. Most common physical signs and symptoms of menopause and perimenopause include: Heart pounding (heart palpitations), Rapid, irregular heartbeats, Vaginal dryness, Dry eyes, Painful intercourse, Sleep disturbances & insomnia, Hot flashes and/or night sweats, Abdominal weight gain, Urine leakage, Cravings for sweets or carbohydrates, Brain fog (difficulty concentrating, memory problems), Weight gain, especially around the middle, Stiffness and joint fatigue. In addition, Emotional Symptoms include: Depression, Mood swings, Irritability and Anxiety. Treatments of Menopause include a positive lifestyle change with emphasis on diet, nutritional supplementation, stress reduction and exercise. In some cases, it may not be necessary to get treatment for your symptoms unless they are bothering you, and some symptoms will go away on their own. If you’re interested in medical treatments like menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), ask your doctor about the possible risks and benefits.
In conclusion, your health is your greatest asset to you and your family and protecting it is of utmost importance. We age because our hormones decline, our hormones don’t decline because we age. In men and women, hormone imbalances can occur from age 30 upwards. Every cell of the brain, heart, nervous system, bone, vascular system and skin requires multiple hormones to function properly. As hormone levels decline with aging, the cells receive less hormonal stimulation and begin to degenerate. This leads to multiple unpleasant symptoms and eventually can play a role in the onset of degenerative diseases such as heart disease, cognitive decline and osteoporosis.
LOLA FASHOLA