Menopause is a natural process that happens to all women at some point in their lives. While it can cause uncomfortable symptoms, it is not a disease and does not require treatment for most women.
Menopause can affect many other areas of a woman's body, including bone health, cardiovascular health, and mood. It is important to take care of your overall health during and after menopause.
Menopause typically starts between 45-52 years of age in a woman, with start of symptoms ranging from the late 30s to early 60s. A good indicator of menopause is the age at which your mother began experiencing it.
If a woman gets a period after 11 months and 29 days, she is still in perimenopause and could still get pregnant.
Hot flashes vary from six months to two years to ten years among different women. Remedies like HRT (hormone replacement therapy), non-hormonal drugs, even non-drug options can help ease this common menopausal symptom.
With hormonal changes, age-related changes and lifestyle factors many women may gain weight during menopause. However, not all women experience weight gain in menopause and those who do gain weight can manage their weight effectively with healthy lifestyle habits such as balanced diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep and stress management.
Women in menopause may have trouble with frequent urination due to bladder changes. Solutions like Kegel exercises, estrogen treatments, and medications can help.
Some women experience higher libido in menopause due to feeling freer and less worried about pregnancy. Low libido could indicate hormone imbalance, which is treatable with HRT (hormone replacement therapy).
Surgical menopause happens following a total hysterectomy (removal of uterus, cervix, ovaries, and fallopian tubes) or partial hysterectomy (removal of the uterus only). Unlike natural menopause which occurs gradually, surgical menopause can occur suddenly due to a significant hormonal balance shift and may eliminate some typical menopausal symptoms, but some women still experience hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings. Health concerns due to sudden loss of hormones include bone health, heart health, sexual health, and emotional well-being.
Menopause, in and of itself, does not cause depression. You may, however, experience mood swings or foggy thinking due to hormonal imbalances during menopause, which can be addressed with a variety of treatments, including HRT (hormone replacement therapy).
Like so many things in life, your attitude can make a huge difference. Menopause simply indicates a time of change in your life and new possibilities for your future. Changes in lifestyle, parenting, sexual liberty, and even freedom from menstruation are things to be celebrated!
While not everyone is a perfect candidate for HRT (hormone replacement therapy), many women report significant relief from menopausal symptoms after undergoing hormone treatments. It is important to remember that no medication or medical treatment is without risks, so it is critical to discuss all treatment options with a medical professional.
While menopause marks the end of a woman's menstrual cycles, it does not mean that she cannot get pregnant. Women who have gone through menopause but still have their uterus can still become pregnant through assisted reproductive technologies.
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