Almost three quarters of women who are about to start the transition to menopause notice some kinds of symptoms. Menopause symptoms are a result of changing hormonal levels. This is in preparation for the shutdown of the female reproduction system. As hormone production decreases, most women will start to have symptoms even if their periods haven’t stopped.

Women generally begin to experience the first signs of menopause anywhere between their late 30s and early 40s. At this age, women’s bodies start to produce less estrogen and progesterone. This stage of menopause is known as perimenopause.

The ovaries gradually stop releasing eggs, so ovulation becomes irregular. It’s harder for a woman to become pregnant at this time because she becomes less fertile. Also, there are more risks involved in becoming pregnant at this stage of life.

An irregular period is the most noticeable early warning that menopause is near. The flow will be either considerably lighter or heavier than it has been historically.

Another indication of menopause is mood swings. This condition might require prescription medications for depression.

As well, women often experience hot flashes. It’s a surge of heat throughout the body that appears without warning, frequently during the night. The face will become red and she will break out in a sweat.

Excess abdominal fat and sleeping disorders are also signs of menopause. Exhaustion and depression are often the result of a sleeping disorder, so get the advice of a doctor to manage the problem.

In a woman’s 40s, these symptoms become more pronounced. As she reaches her early 50s, the process is usually complete. A woman is considered to have reached menopause when she has gone a full year without a period. The average age for this is 51.

Most women will experience symptoms through the entire process of menopause. Unfortunately, some women may suffer with them for the rest of their lives.

Every woman experiences menopause differently. Some will hardly notice that it’s happening. Other women will experience symptoms that interfere with their daily lives.

If you’ve noticed any of the symptoms of menopause, you should seek advice from your doctor. They will be able to give you advice on managing your menopausal symptoms. There are numerous ways to ease the symptoms, including pain relievers, lifestyle modification and hormone therapy.

by Loise Servage

The menstruation cycle comes to an end permanently when a woman goes through menopause. Women, on average, go through menopause at the age of 51 in the USA. On a world wide basis there is no average age for women who go through menopause, this is due to differing health care and nutrition.

Women are considered to have gone through menopause when they haven’t had any sort of period for at least one year. Women can begin to go through menopause in their mid thirties.

During menopause a woman’s period can become either lighter and shorter or heavier and longer lasting. Her period can also become more irregular, to the point where she may not have a period for months on end. Once a woman is in her forties menopausal symptoms become more noticeable.

Menopausal women can suffer many symptoms, some of which are hot flashes, mood swings, dryness of the skin, in particular around the mouth and eyes. Other common symptoms are bladder control and an increase of fat around the abdomen.

As a result of menopause a woman’s breasts will begin to lose their fullness and her hair may begin to thin out. Sometimes women will find that their sex drive will go in decline. Vaginal dryness may be the cause for the declining sex drive because the sex act can become quite uncomfortable unless a lubricant is used.

Estrogens and Progesterone are produced in women, with onset of menopause less is produced and fewer eggs ripen for fertilization. When the eggs that are produced during menopause ripen, there is a reduction in the surge of progesterone for the post ovulation surge.

The changes in hormone levels is the cause of some symptoms and the mood swings menopausal women experience. A blood test can be performed by doctors to judge if a woman is entering into menopause, the test looks for FSH (follicle stimulating hormones) as well as Estrogens levels.

If low Estrogens levels are discovered as a result of these tests, and the woman is considered to be too young to be entering menopause, doctors can treat the patient by offering to assist with lifestyle changes or hormonal therapies.

Some medical procedures such as chemotherapy, radiation treatment and hysterectomies can cause early menopause. If a woman is undergoing these treatments and menopause is thought by the doctors to be too early the doctor can take steps to lessen the effects of the symptoms.

About the Author:

Author Louise Servage writes for kegel master a business that helps women needing suggestions and ideas to help battle the effects of menopause so visit Kegelmaster Australia today.