Looking For The First Symptoms of Menpause
When a woman suspects she may be experiencing the first symptoms of menopause this will usually cause her to begin some personal research. This is what I did, casually at the beginning. One of the first articles I read, in on of the many women’s magazines available today, suggested talking to your mother. I was 50 years old when I thought that I may be beginning this phase of life. My mother had passed away a few years earlier. So I was not able to have a conversation with her about this topic. Generally a mother and daughter will have very similar experiences with their menstrual cycles. For instance the age they began menstruating, the length of each cycle, cramping, headaches, and the age they begin entering the menopausal stage.
As a woman and a mom, I can give you a non-clinical or college educated medical description of some of the early menopause symptoms. I can define menopause for you in my own words. It is a women’s final menstrual period. This phase may take anywhere from one year to several years. Every woman’s experience with their period is slightly different. During the years that a woman is menstruating, her body produces estrogen and progesterone. She has a higher production of estrogen prior to each ovulation and high estrogen and progesterone levels after ovulation. These hormonal changes cause the mood swings, headaches and other adverse symptoms during the time leading up to her period or during her cycle.
Signs & Symptoms
The symptoms experienced during a woman’s period are very similar to the first symptoms of menopause, except possibly magnified by 10 in some situations. The first noticeable sign will be irregular menstrual cycles or periods that may last longer. In my situation my period mysteriously (and happily) stopped for about 3 or 4 months. Then I experienced very heavy menstrual bleeding (unhappily) lasting much longer than a regular period. Then it would cease again for sometimes a few weeks or maybe a few months. The biggest problem is in the not knowing when it will occur again. I was forced to carry supplies (or change of clothes) with me at all times. After about a year of this my period (joyfully) stopped altogether. I still carried those supplies with me just in case of a surprise attack! I will have to say that, as a rule, if you experienced rather mild menstrual cycles, with few adverse symptoms, your experience with menopause will generally be with the same intensity.
Irregular periods, of course, are early signs of menopause as well. However, because perimenopause can last years, whenever you start exhibiting signs of irregularity, you should be examined by a doctor to rule out other health issues like tumors, fibroids, cancer and more. There are many things that can cause irregular periods and should not be the “end all to end all” signs of menopause.
Exercise Prescription
Hot flashes, gaining weight, and lack of sleep can result in moodiness and depression. There are a few things you can do to prepare for this time of life or relieve some of these first symptoms of menopause if you are already experiencing them. I started an exercise program. Exercise can help reduce these symptoms and decrease the possibility of heart disease, osteoporosis, and obesity. I joined a local gym and sought the advice of a female personal trainer. She helped develop an individualized exercise routine according to my medical and exercise history.
The actual event itself will likely come with little fanfare as you have been experiencing the early signs of menopause for years. You are in true menopause when you have not had a period for at least one year. Of course, those symptoms will likely continue for a while longer past the perimenopausal stage. The real kick in the pants comes with the fact that you can still get pregnant while still exhibiting the early signs of menopause. As long as you are still having periods, that means you are still ovulating and thereby there is always a small chance of pregnancy.
Popularity: 30% [?]
Related posts:
- Realizing The Early Menopause Symptoms The first symptoms of menopause also known as perimenopause can occur as long as ten years before the actual onset of full blown menopause. Basically,...
- Some Of The Female Infertility Symptoms That May Occur Infertility is a condition that affects roughly around 1 in 4 couples that have been trying to conceive for a year. Most couples are stunned...
- First Symptoms of Menopause-The Menopause Age It is a fact that all women will travel through this transitional time of life and have symptoms and symptoms of menopause. Although every woman...
- Menopause Myths: Get the Facts A lot of things come to mind when a woman contemplates the idea of menopause, and unfortunately, some of those things are either old wives’...
- Possible Signs Of Female Infertility It is recommended that most couples try for at least a year to conceive before they seek medical intervention. Conception can take time, and many...