Archive for January, 2010
Signs of Menopause
Signs of Menopause
Menopause is said to occur in both men and women when the production of hormones like estrogen and androgen begin to decrease below normal levels. Lets us discuss the normal signs of menopause. 1) Irregular Periods – Irregular periods are the first sign in the early stages of menopause. If irregular periods continue for a long time then there are chances that the person is suffering from menopause. Periods become less and less regular and the time difference between two successive periods lengthens or shortens. Periods maybe followed by excessive bleeding for many days and spotting between periods may also happen. 2) Hot flashes – Hot flashes refer to an unusual feeling of warmth in the body even though the surrounding temperature is low. Hot flashes generally occur at night and subsequently lead to sleeping disorders. The face and the neck become flushed and red blotches may start to appear on the chest, arms and legs. Hot flashes may be mild or severe and they normally last from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. 3) Vaginal and gall bladder problems – Problems related to vagina and gall bladder begins to grow as the area near the genitals begins to thin down and get dry. Sexual desires gradually begin to decrease and the chances of infections in the vagina and the urinary tract are more. 4) Low Sex Drive – Low sex drive is also one of the most common signs of menopause. You might be having a lot of trouble getting an erection or getting sexually aroused and you may also feel uncomfortable around the vaginal area. 5) Fatigue and Sleep Disorders – You will get tired easily when you do work and also might be find that you are unable to sleep well at night. You might also find it difficult to get back to sleep once you wake up in the middle of the night. 6) Depression and mood swings – Because of the various symptoms you might feel depressed and doomed. Also due to insomnia you might feel sudden mood changes where you may throw a fit at the slightest hint. 7) Physical changes – There might be changes in your body like thickening of the waist region, loss of muscle mass and loss of stretchiness in the skin. 
Other signs – Some people might suffer from severe headaches which occur frequently and also joints and muscle stiffness. All the signs mentioned above may indicate the future occurrence of menopause.
Early Menopause Symptoms
Early Menopause Symptoms
Menopause is said to occur in women after the age of 40 years when the ovaries gradually fail to produce enough estrogen. Estrogen is a hormone produced in the body and is vital for reproductive cycle. As a result women often experience vaginal pain and dryness and also irregular menstrual cycle. Let us now delve further into early menopause symptoms. There are three major early menopause symptoms which are as follows: 1) Irregular Vaginal Bleeding – This is one of the most common symptoms of menopause. The vagina may bleed at unexpected intervals and the period between two menstrual cycle may increase or decrease than normal. There may be excessive vaginal bleeding as well. In other words the pattern of bleeding not normal but highly irregular. The pattern of bleeding differs from woman to woman and also the stage at which the menopause as reached. Also there is no fixed time for a woman to complete her menopausal transition, as all the women are different. It is necessary to consult a doctor immediately if these symptoms persist for a long time. 2) Hot Flashes and Night Sweats – These are also very common early menopause symptoms. A hot flash is a feeling of unusual warmth throughout the body. A woman suffering from hot flash will feel warm even when the temperature of the environment is low. Hot flashes are always accompanied by excessive sweating, especially during the night. Researchers have not been able to find the exact reason for hot flashes nor have they been able to predict when the next hot flash will take place. Hot flashes occur in 40% of the women above the age of 40 years. Hot flashed tend to decrease over a period of several years after menopause is treated. 3) Mood Symptoms – The women suffering from menopause may experience different types of mood symptoms. Many times they feel that they are doomed. They also live in depression often. They lose their confidence and also may suffer from insomnia. Due to insomnia women suffer from severe bouts of mood swings and lose their cool easily. Early menopause symptoms mentioned above are the most common symptoms. Women suffering from menopause need the support of their family members, especially of their spouses. Menopause should be looked as a natural ageing process than a disorder and it should also be treated that way. The doctors attending to menopause patients should instill a lot of positive attitude and confluence in them.
Menopause Support
Menopause Support
Menopause is now considered a natural ageing process where the body’s capability to produce the important hormone estrogen declines gradually over the years. The most common symptoms during menopause are irregular periods where the gap between two successive periods gets lengthened or shortened. Also there is irritation in the vagina and experiences of hot flashes along with excessive sweat. Women who suffer from menopause symptoms require a lot of support from family members, especially their spouses. In fact menopause support can also be garnered by joining groups of women who suffer from menopause symptoms. Women suffering from menopause can meet up once or twice a week in their spare time and become a source of motivation for each other. They can discuss their symptoms with each other and also discuss the best ways of treatments. Your doctor is also your major menopause support. After all the doctor checks your condition and then suggests the best treatment for your condition. Menopause support can also be garnered in the form of menopause forums. There are hundreds of different menopause forums on the internet and you can join a few of them. The forums are normally divided into sections like Menopause symptoms, Menopause treatments, Ask the experts , etc. By joining these forums you can discuss your symptoms and treatments with other members in the forum. When you share your experiences with other people you develop a sense oneness and also it boosts your confidence level. Also it is very much a mind game. Do not consider menopause to be a disorder, consider it as a part of the ageing process. Almost every woman undergoes menopause at some stage of her life and so it should be taken as something that happens naturally. You should provide menopause support to all your friends and relatives to make them feel confident and also boost their morale. When you share your feelings an experience with other it lightens up your mind and your feelings of frustration disappear. Women should also get full support from their spouses and family members as well. After all women spend each and every day with them and so it is their duty to look after them mentally, physically and emotionally. Menopause can be cured if menopause support from all directions is given on time. So go on, live a tension free and a healthy life, you don’t need to be afraid any longer.