At some point in the life of every woman a series of changes will occur that take us into another phase of life: menopause. But many women want to know the pre-menopausal signs and symptoms that tell them that phase of life is coming. There can be about ten different pre-menopause signs says one Des Moines IA gynecologist, and they can occur five to six years earlier than the onset of menopause.
What Exactly Happens To My Body?
At childbearing age, hormones made in the brain and ovaries control a woman’s cycle. The ovaries gradually reduce their function, so that fewer and fewer sex hormones are formed. This ends the fertility of woman. Female sex hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, which until then played an essential role in the female organs, are thereby lost. As a result of hormone fluctuations, the balance of messenger substances in the brain gets mixed up, and this results in peri-menopause symptoms. The body tries to compensate for the declining function of the ovaries by releasing higher-level hormones, leading to cycle changes, and peri-menopause begins.
How Do You Know You’ve Entered Menopausal Phase?
The cycle is changing and the menses is getting more and more irregular. If a woman has not had any menstruation at all for a year, that is an indication that the menopause is over. If, however, bleeding suddenly occurs after this period of time, women should have this checked by a gynecologist. The reason is, it can also hide malignant cancerous changes in the uterine tissue.
But gynecologist point out, menopause is a phase of change, not a disease. However, side effects can often affect the quality of life. Hot flashes can be a big problem because they often occur at night and cause sleep disturbances. Also, many menopausal women are also more irritable and sensitive. Weight gain, vaginal dryness and headache may also indicate that hormone levels are slowly decreasing.
Many women inquire about hormone replacements, and for extremely strong complaints, this therapy can be useful. Most commonly, hormones are taken in tablet form, but also come in patches and gels, in which the active ingredients are continuously released through the skin and do not have to pass through the stomach and intestine. Because hormone replacement therapy may, among other things, increase the risk of breast cancer, according to studies, such a treatment must be thoughtfully considered by the patient and doctor.
Do You Need To Change Your Lifestyle?
Not necessarily. Relaxation techniques, such as yoga can probably help your mental health, but the biggest change will be your diet. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, and less processed foods is certainly better, but there are certain food items that often contribute to the discomfort of menopausal women. Coffee influences a high blood sugar level and experts say the caffeine can trigger hot flashes. Meats that are treated with antibiotics can be the source of hormonal flareups which is counterproductive since you’re trying to balance your hormones.
Many women with menopausal symptoms look for gentle alternatives to hormone treatments. Supplements like Black Cohosh to relieve hot flashes, combined with St. John’s Wort to lessen moods and irritability have proven to be effective. The extent and severity of menopausal symptoms varies considerably from one woman to another, but a gynecologist can help find the right approach to deal with this phase of life.