How does menopause start

How does menopause start

Menopause is a female physiological process in which periods cease and the woman is no longer able to get pregnant. Many women fear menopause because it represents many changes in the female body, however, if the arrival is recognized early and medical advice is sought, this process need not be a negative step.

To know how menopause begins, in this OneHowTo article we have widely developed the consequences of this cycle in the female body, the first symptoms, causes and how to treat it.

How does menopause start

Menopause begins when the ovaries stop producing eggs and hence decreases the production of progesterone and oestrogen. When the regular production of these hormones is affected, women begin experiencing the first signs of menopause: little or irregular menstrual periods.

During this process it can be considered that the woman is already suffering from menopause and periods are becoming rare until they cease and that's when post-menopause starts to be mentioned. This physiological change is expected to last a year.

Symptoms of the start of menopause

Some of the most common symptoms that indicate the onset of menopausal period are:

  • You can identify that menopause begins when women begin to observe changes in mood, they often tend to suffer from depression and become irritable.
  • Hot flushes are one of the main factors that indicate the woman is about to start menopause, they start to suffer from temperature rises producing hot flashes even when no one else can feel heat.
  • You can also determine that menopause is beginning through sex, as the vagina becomes dry and is more difficult to lubricate during arousal which, according to the Mayo Clinic, causes pain during intercourse. Lack of lubrication in the vagina can make you more likely to get infections.
  • To learn how menopause starts it is important to listen to your heartbeat. Many women experience arrhythmias and heart rate accelerations.
  • Body weight also changes when menopause begins, it is common for women's waists to become broader, they lose muscle mass and gain a little weight.
  • Women can also suffer chills, insomnia and redness of the cheeks because of hormonal changes.
  • Headaches are one of the main signs that menopause is beginning. Usually it is very strong, sometimes migraine-like and can be repeated daily.

Recommendations for when menopause starts

It is important to know how to face menopause successfully to address the symptoms and bring in the best way this process so that it does not turn into a negative phase of our lives and those around us.

  • The first thing you should do when menopause begins or early arrival is suspected, is go to the gynaecologist to administer the necessary treatment according to the stage of the cycle in which the woman is in and what the relevant recommendations are.
  • It is also advisable to follow a special diet during menopause to combat involuntary weight gain and provide the body with fibre and nutrients that help offset some symptoms.
  • The use of commercial lubricants may be helpful to reduce vaginal dryness and not experience pain during sex.
  • Wearing loose clothing and always carrying a hand fan are useful tips for women to have control of hot flashes and recover when heat attacks them.
  • Understand that while menopause is considered to be the arrival of aging, it is a natural process that every woman's body goes through. Taking menopause for what it is, a life stage, is necessary to avoid depression. Just as knowing how to get out of a depression and raise the mood is very important.
  • Practicing yoga, swimming, walking 40 minutes a day and drinking relaxing infusions can help dispel racing heart beats.

Postmenopausal

After the menopause it is common that all menopausal symptoms disappear. However it is important to follow medical supervision so that the specialist can monitor the hormonal changes that menopause has caused the body.

Bone density tends to decrease after a woman has gone through menopause, so calcium intake and conducting an annual bone densitometry is important to know the status of bones and to prevent osteoporosis.

Also, each woman may experience different, more or less pronounced symptoms during menopause, because their lifestyle, physical activity and emotional state affect much in the manifestation of menopause and postmenopausal phases.

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

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