We'll I finally did it! I have been wanting to blog for a long time and kept putting it off..........procrastination at its finest!..........I never really thought of myself as a writer. Then I realized that you don't have to be a "writer" to be a blogger! You just need to put your thoughts, ideas, life experiences etc down on paper ( well, the computer) and hope that it will help someone else on their journey through menopause.
So here goes................I'd like to dedicate this blog to all the women out there who have plenty of questions and concerns about their health and are experiencing menopause sign and symptoms searching for answers and relief! Everything in my blog that I recommend I have personally used and found to be very helpful for dealing with menopause. I hope these tips and information on menopause sign and symptoms will be helpful!
Early Menopause Symptoms
Early Menopause sign and symptoms are referred to as "Perimenopause". Perimenopause can be so funny................it just kinda sneaks up on you. At first you notice few symptoms and then whoa!..............you're in menopause! I did a lot of research fast, out of necessity, as I started experiencing changes and needed answers fast! On the right you'll see links to many of my favorite sites that have helped me along the way.
Here's a helpful list I found of Menopause sign and symptoms:
Changes in periods. One of the first signs may be a change in a woman’s periods. Many women become less regular; some have a lighter flow than normal; others have a heavier flow and may bleed a lot for many days. Periods may come less than 3 weeks apart or last more than a week. There may be spotting between periods. Women who have had problems with heavy menstrual periods and cramps will find relief from these symptoms when menopause starts.
Hot flashes. A hot flash is a sudden feeling of heat in the upper part or all of your body. Your face and neck become flushed. Red blotches may appear on your chest, back, and arms. Heavy sweating and cold shivering can follow. Flashes can be as mild as a light blush or severe enough to wake you from a sound sleep (called night sweats). Most flashes last between 30 seconds and 5 minutes.
Problems with the vagina and bladder. The genital area can get drier and thinner as estrogen levels change. This dryness may make sexual intercourse painful. Vaginal infections can become more common. Some women have more urinary tract infections. Other problems can make it hard to hold urine long enough to get to the bathroom. Some women find that urine leaks during exercise, sneezing, coughing, laughing, or running.
Sex. Some women find that their feelings about sex change with menopause. Some have changes to the vagina, such as dryness, that makes sexual intercourse painful. Others feel freer and sexier after menopause — relieved that pregnancy is no longer a worry. Until you have had 1 full year without a period, you should still use birth control if you do not want to become pregnant.
Sleep problems. Some women find they have a hard time getting a good night’s sleep – they may not fall asleep easily or may wake too early. They may need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and then find they aren’t able to fall back to sleep. Hot flashes also may cause some women to wake up.
Mood changes. There may be a relationship between changes in estrogen levels and a woman’s mood. Shifts in mood may also be caused by stress, family changes such as children leaving home, or feeling tired. Depression is NOT a symptom of menopause.
Here's a helpful list I found of Menopause sign and symptoms:
Changes in periods. One of the first signs may be a change in a woman’s periods. Many women become less regular; some have a lighter flow than normal; others have a heavier flow and may bleed a lot for many days. Periods may come less than 3 weeks apart or last more than a week. There may be spotting between periods. Women who have had problems with heavy menstrual periods and cramps will find relief from these symptoms when menopause starts.
Hot flashes. A hot flash is a sudden feeling of heat in the upper part or all of your body. Your face and neck become flushed. Red blotches may appear on your chest, back, and arms. Heavy sweating and cold shivering can follow. Flashes can be as mild as a light blush or severe enough to wake you from a sound sleep (called night sweats). Most flashes last between 30 seconds and 5 minutes.
Problems with the vagina and bladder. The genital area can get drier and thinner as estrogen levels change. This dryness may make sexual intercourse painful. Vaginal infections can become more common. Some women have more urinary tract infections. Other problems can make it hard to hold urine long enough to get to the bathroom. Some women find that urine leaks during exercise, sneezing, coughing, laughing, or running.
Sex. Some women find that their feelings about sex change with menopause. Some have changes to the vagina, such as dryness, that makes sexual intercourse painful. Others feel freer and sexier after menopause — relieved that pregnancy is no longer a worry. Until you have had 1 full year without a period, you should still use birth control if you do not want to become pregnant.
Sleep problems. Some women find they have a hard time getting a good night’s sleep – they may not fall asleep easily or may wake too early. They may need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and then find they aren’t able to fall back to sleep. Hot flashes also may cause some women to wake up.
Mood changes. There may be a relationship between changes in estrogen levels and a woman’s mood. Shifts in mood may also be caused by stress, family changes such as children leaving home, or feeling tired. Depression is NOT a symptom of menopause.
What Causes Menopause?
What Causes Menopause?
Menopause sign and symptoms occurs when declining levels of estrogen cause changes in your periods. During menopause, ovulation (egg production) stops, causing periods to become less frequent, and eventually stopping altogether. For many women, this process begins silently somewhere around age 40. Declining estrogen levels during menopause may lead to poor vaginal and uterine health. Estrogen also helps women maintain strong bones and good cholesterol levels.
What can I Expect?
Perimenopause - gradually declining hormone levels (mid-to-late 30's to mid 40's)
The transition to menopause is a time period known as perimenopause, a process that begins 8 to 10 years before menopause and marks the beginning of declining hormone production by the ovaries. In the final one to two years of perimenopause, the decrease in estrogen accelerates and many women begin to experience menopausal discomfort such as irregular menstrual periods, hot flashes, mood swings, and lack of energy.
Menopause - cessation of menstrual periods (late 40's to mid 50's)
At this stage, the ovaries have stopped releasing eggs and producing most of their estrogen. It's during this time women can expect to experience the bulk of menopausal discomforts. Once a woman has gone 1 full year without a menstrual period, she has made it through menopause and at this point is considered postmenopausal.
Postmenopause - increased health risks (late 50's and beyond) These are the years following menopause. During this stage, menopausal discomforts, such as hot flashes, ease for most women. However, at this time the health risks associated with the loss of estrogen (such as loss of normal bone and heart health) begin to increase.
Menopause sign and symptoms occurs when declining levels of estrogen cause changes in your periods. During menopause, ovulation (egg production) stops, causing periods to become less frequent, and eventually stopping altogether. For many women, this process begins silently somewhere around age 40. Declining estrogen levels during menopause may lead to poor vaginal and uterine health. Estrogen also helps women maintain strong bones and good cholesterol levels.
What can I Expect?
Perimenopause - gradually declining hormone levels (mid-to-late 30's to mid 40's)
The transition to menopause is a time period known as perimenopause, a process that begins 8 to 10 years before menopause and marks the beginning of declining hormone production by the ovaries. In the final one to two years of perimenopause, the decrease in estrogen accelerates and many women begin to experience menopausal discomfort such as irregular menstrual periods, hot flashes, mood swings, and lack of energy.
Menopause - cessation of menstrual periods (late 40's to mid 50's)
At this stage, the ovaries have stopped releasing eggs and producing most of their estrogen. It's during this time women can expect to experience the bulk of menopausal discomforts. Once a woman has gone 1 full year without a menstrual period, she has made it through menopause and at this point is considered postmenopausal.
Postmenopause - increased health risks (late 50's and beyond) These are the years following menopause. During this stage, menopausal discomforts, such as hot flashes, ease for most women. However, at this time the health risks associated with the loss of estrogen (such as loss of normal bone and heart health) begin to increase.
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