Menopause: What To Expect When You Stop Expecting

1
Menopause

• What To Expect When You Stop Expecting

2
What is menopause?

• More than likely, youve already heard of
  menopause, especially if you are female.
  Menopause is the 12-month period after the end of
  your final menstrual period. It is the end of the
  menstrual cycle. After menopause, a woman can no
  longer get pregnant.

3
What is perimenopause?

• Menopause does not happen all at once, except in
  cases of hysterectomies. Perimenopause is the
  period of time winding down the menstrual cycle.
  This period of time can vary wildly between
  individuals. In some cases, it may begin 8 to 10
  years prior to menopause! In other cases,
  however, women go through perimenopause in a few
  months.

4
What is postmenopause?

• After a woman has not experienced her period for
  a year, she is considered postmenopausal. There
  are positives and negatives to being
  postmenopausal. The symptoms suffered during
  menopause will lessen and a woman can no longer
  get pregnant, which some consider a relief.

5
What are the symptoms of menopause?

• For most women, the major symptoms of menopause
  are well-known. They include, but are not limited
  to
• Irregular periods
• Night sweats
• Hot flashes
• Mood change
• Weight gain
• Slowed metabolism
• Thinning hair
• Dry skin
• Vaginal dryness

6
Who experiences menopause?

• If you are under the age of 40 and start going
  through menopause, this is referred to as
  premature menopause.
• Premature menopause may occur for a number of
  reasons.
• The most obvious of which is if a woman has her
  ovaries removed in a bilateral oophorectomy.
• The sudden removal of ovaries will result in the
  immediate loss of the hormones they were
  producing.
• Due to the sudden nature of this hormonal change,
  the symptoms can be severe. It is especially
  important to keep a doctor up to date on your
  symptoms if you go through surgical menopause, as
  opposed to natural menopause.

• Everyone who menstruates will eventually go
  through menopause. While genetics play a large
  role in determining what is natural for your
  body, the average age for experiencing menopause
  is 51.

7
Is hormone replacement therapy unhealthy?

• Unfortunately, there is not a simple yes-or-no
  answer. Every body is different.
• Not every woman needs hormone replacement
  therapy.
• Some research suggests that, if taken early in
  postmenopause, estrogen can decrease the risk of
  heart disease.
• There are some risks, of course. Estrogen, when
  not balanced with progesterone or progestrin can
  cause growth in the lining of the uterus,
  increasing a womans risk of uterine cancer.
• Other risks include heart disease, stroke, blood
  clot and breast cancer.

• Once, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was
  standard. However, that is no longer the case.
  Many women have heard that hormone replacement
  therapy is dangerous for their health.

8
Do I need a doctor?

• While menopause is a natural process, that
  doesnt mean it should go unmonitored. As your
  body changes, you need to make adjustments for
  your new hormonal reality. Additionally, your
  healthcare provider can help ease your symptoms
  to help menopause hit you a little less hard. For
  some women, menopause isnt a big deal but, for
  others, it can be rough. Do not hesitate to ask
  for help! Places like the Institute for Womens
  Health in San Antonio, Texas can help.

9
Note-This Article is originally appeared on
http//physical-health-tips.blogspot.com/2016/09/m
enopause-what-to-expect-when-you-stop.html