Menopause

The time in a women’s life when she gradually stops having periods, is considered as the menopause.

It is a time when a woman does not have menstrual periods; this is occurring due to the hormonal changes in the female reproductive system. The stage of gradually falling and fluctuating hormone levels is called perimenopause, which is the early stage of menopause.

At the time of birth most females have 1-3 million eggs in their ovary, which are gradually lost throughout life through menstrual cycle. At the time of menopause any woman has around 10,000 eggs in their ovary.

In US the average age of women at the time of menopause is 51 years. The most common age range for menopause is 48-55 years. it may also occur in early age e.g. at the age of 40 years then it is called as early menopause. and if it occurs after the age of 55 it is considered as late menopause.

Menopause may occur at early age in the women’s who smoke, have never been pregnant or live at high altitudes.

In most of the women menopause occurs naturally by hormonal changes but it may also be done by surgery, which is termed as surgical menopause. it is the removal of ovaries by surgery. Women who have had surgical menopause often have a sudden and severe onset of the symptoms of menopause.

Occurrence of menopause can be easily identified by the common symptoms. These includes-

1. Hot Flashes: - About 75 to 85% of American women are estimated to get hot flashes when they are in menopause. Scientifically it is considered as the body's reaction to a decreased supply of the hormone estrogen. Not all women experience hot flashes, but more than half can experience it. Hot flashes are a feeling of warmth that spreads over the body.

2. Burning on urination.

3. Vaginal changes:- because estrogen affects vaginal lining. Women having menopause may experience vaginal pain during intercourse.

4. Breast shape changes

5. During preimenopause bone loss increase to 3% per year.

6. Heart disease risk increase after menopause: - it occurs due to the hormonal change at the time of menopause.

7. Irritability:- due to the hormonal change at the time of menopause most women fells irritating attitude.

8. Mood swing, sudden tears.

9. Irregular periods.

10. Loss of libido:- due to hormonal changes in some women the loss of libido is so great that they actually find sex repulsive. When artificial hormones doses are given to such women, this effect can take away.