Menopausal Facts: What Will I Experience?
The topic of menopause is everywhere today. It's in the magazines, on television,
in books, in display ads on busses, and even has been made into a musical.
With all this exposure, menopause continues to be shroud in mystery. How can
that be? The simple explanation is that it's still an unknown in terms of “what
will I experience?”
That simple, single question has no simple, single answer. A woman's reaction
to perimenopause and menopause is multi-factorial meaning that there are many
factors that will influence her reaction. These range from her state of health,
nutritional status, level of fitness, and any unhealthy habits such as smoking,
drugging or excessive alcohol use.
Another very important factor includes attitude and culture. We now know our
thought processes have a major impact not only on our reaction to menopause,
but our entire state of health and well being.
Listed here are some facts and common experiences of menopause. As you go
through the list of symptoms, keep in mind that each woman's experience is
unique. It will vary both with the symptoms experienced as well their intensity.
Fact: Women “normally” go through menopause between the ages of 45 and 55
with the average age being 51.
Fact: Perimenopause (that period of time before menopause) can start as early
as age 35 and last a few months to a few years. You really cannot predict how
long it will last.
Fact: Menopause is defined retrospectively or after the fact. You are menopausal
after you have not had a period for 12 months (assuming there is no other cause
for this).
While many women will report some degree of the following symptoms, many women
report no such symptoms at all. (Note: this list is not inclusive.)
- A change in cycles. You may find that the time between your periods, as
well as the degree of flow, changes from month to month.
- Abnormal bleeding or “spotting” is not uncommon. However if you experience
this after you have stopped bleeding for 12 months (in a row), it's called
post menopausal bleeding and can be a sign up uterine cancer. See your
health care provider!
- Hot Flashes/Hot Flushes/Power Surges. It has many names, but the result
is the same…you get warm/hot and flushed in the neck, face and chest. Some
of us feel this over the entire body and even experience chills at the
same time.
- Night sweats and sleeping problems. Again, not uncommon. It can cause
you to feeling tired, stressed and tense.
- Vaginal Changes. The tissues of the vagina may become dry and thin. You
may find sexual intercourse or a vaginal exam to be painful.
- Mood changes. This may include mood swings, depression, and irritability.
- Urinary problems. Some women experience leaking (when sneezing, coughing,
laughing) or a heightened sense of urgency (“have to go RIGHT now”).
- Problems with concentration or memory. Some women call it fuzzy thinking,
brain-pause, holes in the brain, etc. Rest assured…it passes!
- Diminished libido. This means less interest in sex. Then again, some
women tell me they actually have a heightened libido…again, individual
responses.
- A thicker waist. The body redistributes body fat to the waist. You may
see this even though you don't gain a pound.
- Weight gain is generally a result of a slowing metabolism. We may or
may not have changed our eating habits and probably don't exercise as much.
Think “calories in calories out”.
- Hair thinning and loss. This occurs both on your head and in the pubic
region.
While all these potentially negative sounding changes can happen, it's worth
noting again, that they do not occur universally. Indeed, many women report some
wonderful things happening at this time of their lives such as freedom to once
again (or for the first time) be themselves. They now have a heightened sense
of creativity, more confidence and find themselves experiencing more piece of
mind than at any other time of their lives.
So what can you do about all of this? Well…that's a topic for another time.
For now, realize that the time of menopause is something you pass through –
just like you passed through puberty. The rest of your life is waiting on the
other side!
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