For the Sublime Lady: What is Menopause and Signs of Menopause?

By: Dr. Mital John
Menopause is a normal part of life and puberty. It is the last stage of the menstrual cycle, but symptoms can begin several years earlier. Symptoms of menopause can last for months or remain for several years later. Changes in levels of estrogen and progesterone, which are two female hormones that play in the ovaries, may generate these symptoms.

This stage of change is known as the menopausal transition, but it is also called perimenopause by many women and their doctors. You can start several years before the last menstrual period. Perimenopause lasts for 1 year after the last menstrual period. After 1 year without any period, you can say "has gone through menopause." The post menopause continues after menopause and lasts the rest of life.

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The average age of a woman who is having her last period, menopause is 51. But some women have their last period in their forties, and some have it later in their fifties. Smoking can lead to early menopause, as well as some types of operations. For example, surgery to remove the uterus (hysterectomy) will stop their periods, and that's menopause. But you probably do not have symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes during this time, because if your ovaries have been removed, they can still produce hormones. At the time, when your ovaries begin producing less estrogen, the symptoms of menopause may start. However, sometimes both ovaries are removed (a procedure called uforectomía), usually along with the uterus. That is menopause also. In this case, the symptoms of menopause can begin immediately; no matter how old you are, because your body has lost the main source of estrogen production.

What are the signs of menopause?

• The change in hormone levels can cause a variety of symptoms that can last a few months to a few years or more. Some women have slight discomfort or worse. Others have few or no problems. If any of these changes will cause discomfort, consult your doctor. The most common symptoms are:
• Changes in periods - One of the first symptoms can be a change in periods. For many women become less regular, others have a lighter flow than normal and others may have a stronger flow than normal and may bleed a lot during many days. The time between one period and another may be less than three weeks or may last longer than a week.
• Heat - A heat is a sudden sensation of heat in the upper or whole body. His face and neck become red. Red blotches may appear in your chest, back and arms, possibly followed by profuse sweating and chills. The heat can be as mild as a slight redness or severe enough to wake you from a sound sleep (called night sweats). Most heat lasting between 30 seconds and 5 minutes
• Problems with the vagina and bladder - The genital area can become drier and thinner as estrogen levels change. This dryness can make intercourse to be painful. Vaginal infections may occur more frequently. Some women may develop more infections of the urinary tract. Other problems can be hard to hold urine so that not enough time to get to the bathroom. Some women find that there is leakage of urine during exercise, sneezing, coughing, laughing or running.
• Sex - Some women find that their way of feeling about sex change with menopause. Some are changes in the vagina, such as dryness, that makes sexual intercourse painful. Others feel more liberated and sensual after menopause - relieved that it is not possible to get pregnant. So it's been a whole year without menstruating, you should use a contraceptive method. After menopause a woman can still get sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HIV / AIDS or gonorrhea. If you are concerned you can get STDs, make sure your partner use a condom every time they have sex.
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