Female Menopause Symptoms

Menopause is a natural biological process in which the body signals the permanent end of menstruation and fertility in a woman. On average, menopause occurs in the United States in women around the age of 51 (according to MayoClinic.com). The end of a female's fertility cycle is nature's transitional phase into a new part of life. If you have gone without a period for 12 consecutive months, then you most likely are experiencing menopause. It begins with having variations in a once more predictable menstrual cycle, and then having a final period. Perimenopause refers to "the time around menopause" and it is often used in conjunction to the transitional period of menopause. Postmenopause is the period of time after the last menstrual period. There are many myths and mysteries surrounding the process, leading to the misconception that menopause is a disease rather than a transitional phase of a woman's life.

During menopause, the normal function of the ovaries ceases. The ovary, which is one of a pair of the female's reproductive glands, is located on each side of the uterus. They are almond shaped, and about the same size as well. The ovaries are responsible for producing eggs and estrogen hormones, which are important for reproduction as well as other unrelated processes. The ovaries are the main source of hormones for the female body, controlling a woman's characteristics such as bodily hair, shape, and breast development. These same hormones regulate menstrual cycles and pregnancy. Estrogen also protects bone, and this is why the decrease in the body during menopause can cause osteoporosis (or thinning of the bone).

The symptoms of menopause can vary greatly from one woman to the next, just as the timing of menopause can happen differently in each individual. Some women may experience all of the common symptoms, while others may not have any symptoms at all. Irregular bleeding during mentraul cycles can occur in different forms for some females. Some women have heavier bleeding, while others have a decrease in their typical flow. Menstrual periods may become shorter, or they may increase to a longer length of time. A woman can still become pregnant during the transitional period, and should also check with her doctor to make sure the change in her cycle aren't due to some other condition. Hot flashes are an uncomfortable symptom, and are characterized by a sudden warm feeling spreading all over the body. They sometimes begin in the head or chest, and are accompanied by drenching sweat, particularly at night. Hot flashes can last for a few seconds up to several minutes, and is often the cause of sleepless nights in women experiencing menopause. This leads to a lack of energy and feelings of overall tiredness. The lining of the vagina becomes thin, dry, and loses elasticity as estrogen levels decrease. This causes irritation, itching, vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse, and a possible increase in vaginal infections. The urethra also undergoes the same changes, and can cause frequent urination and incontinence. More body fat can become distributed around the waist and belly area during menopause. Due to the decrease in estrogen and drying of the skin, more wrinkles can develop in the skin. Adult acne can also develop or worsen during this period. An increase in the male hormone testosterone can cause some women to develop hair in irregular areas, such as the face or chest.