Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause

1. Perimenopause actually means the period "around menopause" and refers to the time when your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years. Perimenopause is also called the menopausal transition.

1. In women, perimenopause can start at different ages. Most women notice signs of progression to menopause around the age of 40, such as irregular periods and poor sleep. But some women experience this around their thirties.

2. In women, perimenopause can start at different ages. Most women notice signs of progression to menopause around the age of 40, such as irregular periods and poor sleep. But some women already experience this around their thirties.

1. The level of estrogen - the main female hormone - in your body rises and remains irregular during perimenopause. Your menstrual cycles can lengthen or shorten and you can experience menstrual cycles where your ovaries stop releasing an egg (ovulation). You may also experience menopause-like symptoms such as hot flashes, trouble sleeping, and vaginal dryness. Several treatments are available to ease these symptoms.

1. Once you have not had a period for twelve consecutive months, you have officially reached menopause and perimenopause is also over.

1. Natural menopause is the permanent end of menstruation, not caused by any kind of medical treatment. For women undergoing natural menopause, the process is gradual and undergoes three stages:

2. Natural menopause is the permanent end of menstruation, which is not caused by any kind of medical treatment. For women undergoing natural menopause, the process is gradual and undergoes three stages:

Perimenopause or the â € menopausal transitionâ € ™

1. Perimenopause can begin 8 to 10 years before menopause, and you talk about this when the ovaries gradually start to produce less estrogen. It usually starts around a woman's 40th birthday, but it can also start around your 30th. Perimenopause lasts until menopause, the point at which the ovaries stop releasing eggs. In the last 1-2 years of perimenopause, the drop in estrogen accelerates. Many women can already experience menopausal symptoms at this stage. Women will still have a menstrual cycle during this time and so can still get pregnant.

Menopause

1. Menopause is reached at the point when a woman no longer menstruates. At this stage, the ovaries have stopped releasing eggs and producing a lot of estrogen. Menopause is diagnosed when a woman has not had her period for twelve consecutive months.

The postmenopause

1. These are the years after menopause. During this phase, menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, will disappear in many women, but as a result of a lower level of estrogen, postmenopausal women are at an increased risk of a number of health problems such as osteoporosis and heart disease. Medication, such as hormone therapy and / or healthy lifestyle changes, can reduce the risk of some of these conditions. Since the risk is different for every woman, it is best to consult your doctor to discuss steps you can take to reduce your individual risks.

2. These are the years after menopause. During this phase, menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, will disappear in many women, but as a result of lower estrogen levels, postmenopausal women are at an increased risk for a number of health problems such as osteoporosis and heart disease. Medication, such as hormone therapy and / or healthy lifestyle changes, can reduce the risk of some of these conditions. Because the risk is different for every woman, it is best to consult your doctor to discuss steps you can take to reduce your individual risks.

1. During menopause and its transition, there will be some subtle - and some not so subtle - changes in your body. You may experience any of the following:

Menstrual irregularities

1. As your ovulation becomes unpredictable, the length of time between your periods can get longer or shorter, your periods can be light to heavy and you can sometimes skip a period. If you're experiencing a sustained change in the length of your menstrual cycle of seven days or more, it could be a sign of perimenopause. If you have a period of 60 days or more between periods, you are probably in late perimenopause.

Hot flushes and sleeping problems

1. Hot flashes are very common in perimenopause. The intensity, length and frequency of the hot flashes can vary. The sleep problems are often due to hot flashes and night sweats, but sometimes you can also sleep poorly if you do not experience those symptoms.

Mood Swings

1. Mood swings, irritability, or an increased risk of depression can also occur during perimenopause. The cause of these symptoms can be a sleep disturbance due to hot flashes and night sweats. Mood changes can also be caused by factors unrelated to the hormonal changes in perimenopause.

Vaginal and bladder problems

1. When estrogen levels decline, your vaginal tissues can lose lubrication and elasticity, causing intercourse pain. Low estrogen can also make you more vulnerable to urinary or vaginal infections. Loss of tissue tone can contribute to urinary incontinence.

Reduction in fertility

1. As your ovulation becomes irregular, your fertility may decrease. But as long as you are menstruating, pregnancy is still possible. If you want to avoid pregnancy, use contraception until you have not menstruated for 12 months.

Changes in your sexual functioning

1. During perimenopause, your sexual arousal and your desire can change. But if you had a good sex life before menopause, it will likely stay that way through perimenopause and beyond.

Loss of bone density

1. As estrogen levels fall, your bone density begins to decline, increasing your risk of osteoporosis - a disease that causes fragile bones.

Change in your cholesterol levels

1. Decreasing estrogen levels can also lead to unfavorable changes in your blood cholesterol levels, including an increase in LDL cholesterol - the 'bad' cholesterol - which contributes to an increased risk of heart and vascular diseases. At the same time, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol - the "good" cholesterol - decreases in many women as they age, which also increases the risk of heart disease.

1. Some women seek medical attention when they begin to experience perimenopausal symptoms. Others simply tolerate the changes or simply don't have symptoms severe enough to warrant attention. Since the symptoms can be subtle and come on gradually, you probably don't realize at first that they are all linked to the same thing - namely, the rising and falling levels of estrogen and progesterone, another important female hormone.

1. If you experience symptoms that affect your life or your well-being, such as hot flashes, mood swings or changes in your sexual functioning, see your doctor.

1. As you progress to menopause, your body produces uneven amounts of estrogen and progesterone. Many of the changes you experience during perimenopause are a result of decreasing estrogen.

1. Menopause is a normal phase in every woman's life. But it can occur earlier in some women than in others. While this is not always the case, some factors can make it more likely that you will start perimenopause at an earlier age. Some of these factors are:

Smoking

1. Menopause onset occurs in women who smoke 1-2 years earlier than in women who do not smoke.

Family History

1. Women with a family history of early menopause may experience menopause earlier themselves.

Cancer Treatment

1. Cancer treatment such as chemotherapy or pelvic radiation therapy has also been linked to early menopause.

Hysterectomy

1. A hysterectomy in which your uterus is removed, but not your ovaries, usually does not cause menopause. Even though you will no longer have your period, your ovaries will still produce estrogen. But such surgery can cause menopause earlier than average. Even if you removed one ovary, the remaining ovary may stop working sooner than expected.

1. Irregular periods are a hallmark of perimenopause. Most of the time this is normal and nothing to worry about. However, consult your doctor if:

1. Signs like these could mean there is a problem with your reproductive system and a diagnosis and treatment is required.

1. It can be a very unpleasant period: Perimenopause as a stepping stone to actual menopause. Many women notice it both physically and mentally.

1. As difficult as it will be: Stay cheerful and positive. Look at the (new) time that is about to buy. Stand with both feet in life and enjoy this new period in your life.

1. Patient.info/forums/discuss/66-peri-menopause-menopause-symptoms-you-may-experience-which-may-help-some-ladies-271903

1. Www.medicinenet.com/perimenopause/article.htm

1. Www.womentowomen.com/menopause-perimenopause/perimenopause/