How Will I Know I’m in Menopause? Menopause Stages, Symptoms, & Signs

Ahh, the menopause journey. No clear starting or ending point, odd diversions, and an estimated time of arrival that could span years. Menopause is certainly a trip. And needless to say, you could use some turn-by-turn directions.

First Point of Interest: Perimenopause  

Ready, set, perimenopause. In this phase, your body will start providing helpful physical clues that the menopause process is starting. And it can still be years before your last menstrual period.

Some common, normal signs include irregular periods, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, sleep disturbances, and mood swings—all results of unevenly changing levels of ovarian hormones (estrogen) in your body. Read more about how you’ll know you’re near menopause.

Pit Stop: Check your Contraception Options    

Trip Tip:  In perimenopause, there is still a slight chance you could become pregnant. So if you’d rather not go down that road, birth control is recommended until one year after your last period. Five effective options for midlife women include:

• Birth control pills, patches, or rings—added benefits include regular cycles and decreased bleeding, hot flashes and ovarian/uterine cancer risk.
• Progestin-alone pills, implants and injections—an option for those with a history of certain cancers, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, blood clots, obesity, and smoking.
• Intrauterine devices with or without hormones—safe, highly effective, convenient, and long-term.
• Sterilization (Tubal ligation, fallopian tube inserts, or vasectomy for men)—low risk, effective, and permanent.
• Barrier methods (condoms, diaphragm, spermicide)—condoms are the only method than provides some protection from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Detour: Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)

One way to get to menopause earlier than usual is a condition called POI. With POI, younger women (under 40) have no or only occasional periods and elevated FSH levels, which signify fewer eggs in their ovaries. Some women with POI may have typical menopause-related symptoms, others may not. 

Trip Tip: POI means lower estrogen levels, which means negative effects on your bone density and possibly your brain and sexual function. Timely diagnosis is key. So if this sounds like you, the next stop should be your healthcare provider.  

Arriving at Destination: Natural Menopause

And here we are—natural menopause, the spontaneous, permanent ending of menstruation that is not caused by any medical treatment. Menopause is a normal, natural event. It’s defined as the final menstrual period and is confirmed when a woman has not had her period for 12 consecutive months.

Women in North America will likely experience natural menopause between ages 40 and 58, averaging around age 51. Some women, however, reach this phase in their 30s, others in their 60s. Typically, women reach menopause around the same age as their mothers and sisters.

Trip Tip: Smokers may get there about two years earlier than nonsmokers, while race, age at first period, use of birth control pills or fertility medications do not seem to be determining factors.

Recalculating: Postmenopause

The final stop along our midlife tour is postmenopause. This phase includes all the time after menopause, and still manages to muster up a surprise or two. Due to the continued decrease in estrogen levels during this time, symptoms like vaginal dryness and hot flashes may linger.

Trip Tip: Lower hormone levels also increase your risk for related diseases like osteoporosis.

Enjoy the Ride

Signs. Symptoms. Stops. Starts. Yep. This menopause tour is unique for every woman. So for all the where-the-heck-am-I moments along the way, stop by your menopause navigation station at www.menopause.org. Ready for a trip to class? Enroll in Menopause 101.

Perimenopause, Early Menopause Symptoms | The North American Menopause Society, NAMS

The information available on menopause could fill several books (trust us, we wrote some of them), but you’re a busy woman—so here’s a bite-sized introduction to the subject.
Menopause is defined as the final menstrual period and is usually confirmed when a woman has missed her period for 12 consecutive months (with no other obvious causes). Menopause results in lower levels of estrogen and other hormones. It is a normal, natural life event that all women experience if they live long enough.

• Most women experience menopause between ages 40 and 58. The average age is 51.
• Physical changes begin years before the final menstrual period. This transition phase is called perimenopause and may last for 4 to 8 years. It begins with changes in the length of time between periods and ends 1 year after the final menstrual period.
• Induced menopause is when a woman’s menstrual periods end due to a medical intervention, particularly surgical removal of both ovaries or cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or pelvic radiation.
• Smoking and genetics are two factors that can influence the timing of natural menopause. Smokers reach menopause about 2 years earlier.

Each woman’s experience of menopause is different. Many women report no physical changes during perimenopause except irregular menstrual periods that stop when menopause is reached. Other women experience symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats (heavy sweating from hot flashes at night, often disturbing sleep), and thinning and drying of vaginal tissue that can make sex painful. How severe these body changes are varies from woman to woman, but for the most part these changes are perfectly natural and normal.

• Hot flashes are the most common menopause-related discomfort. They involve a sudden wave of heat or warmth often accompanied by sweating, reddening of the skin, and rapid heart beat. They usually last 1 to 5 minutes. Hot flashes frequently are followed by a cold chill.
• Night sweats are hot flashes at night that interfere with sleep. While it’s a myth that menopause itself makes women irritable, the sleep disturbances that stem from hot flashes and night sweats can certainly make a woman irritable. Treatments for night sweats and hot flashes include lifestyle changes, nonprescription remedies, hormone therapy (with estrogen plus progestogen, or estrogen alone for women without a uterus), and nonhormonal prescription drugs.
• The drop in estrogen around menopause leads to vaginal atrophy (the drying and thinning of vaginal tissues) in many women. It can cause a feeling of vaginal tightness during sex along with pain, burning, or soreness. Over-the-counter vaginal lubricants and moisturizers are effective in relieving pain during intercourse. For women with more severe vaginal atrophy and related pain, low-dose vaginal estrogen products may be needed.

Ready for the next chapter? Explore the many offerings here at www.menopause.org.

Menopause – NHS

The menopause is when a woman stops having periods and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally.

Periods usually start to become less frequent over a few months or years before they stop altogether. Sometimes they can stop suddenly.

The menopause is a natural part of ageing that usually occurs between 45 and 55 years of age, as a woman’s oestrogen levels decline. In the UK, the average age for a woman to reach the menopause is 51.

But around 1 in 100 women experience the menopause before 40 years of age. This is known as premature menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency.

Symptoms of the menopause

Most women will experience menopausal symptoms. Some of these can be quite severe and have a significant impact on your everyday activities.

Common symptoms include:

Menopausal symptoms can begin months or even years before your periods stop and last around 4 years after your last period, although some women experience them for much longer.

When to see a GP

It’s worth talking to a GP if you have menopausal symptoms that are troubling you or if you’re experiencing symptoms of the menopause before 45 years of age.

They can usually confirm whether you’re menopausal based on your symptoms, but a blood test to measure your hormone levels may be carried out if you’re under 45.

Treatments for menopausal symptoms

Your GP can offer treatments and suggest lifestyle changes if you have severe menopausal symptoms that interfere with your day-to-day life.

These include:

Your GP may refer you to a menopause specialist if your symptoms do not improve after trying treatment or if you’re unable to take HRT.

What causes the menopause?

The menopause is caused by a change in the balance of the body’s sex hormones, which occurs as you get older.

It happens when your ovaries stop producing as much of the hormone oestrogen and no longer release an egg each month.

Premature or early menopause can occur at any age, and in many cases there’s no clear cause.

Sometimes it’s caused by a treatment such as surgery to remove the ovaries (oophorectomy), some breast cancer treatments, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or it can be brought on by an underlying condition, such as Down’s syndrome or Addison’s disease.

Page last reviewed: 29 August 2018
Next review due: 29 August 2021

Menopause – Better Health Channel

What is menopause?

Menopause, also known as ‘the change of life’, is the end of menstruation (having periods) in a woman’s life. It is a natural occurrence at the end of the reproductive years, just as the first period during puberty was the start.

You will know that menopause has taken place if you have not had any menstrual bleeding for 12 months. Most women reach menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, the average being around 51. Menopause before the age of 40 is called ‘premature menopause’ and before the age of 45 it is called ‘early menopause’.

Hormone levels fluctuate leading to menopause

As you approach menopause, the production of ‘female’ hormones (oestrogen and progesterone) by the ovaries starts to slow down. Hormone levels tend to fluctuate, and you may notice changes in your menstrual cycle such as:

• period cycles may become longer, shorter or totally irregular
• bleeding may become lighter
• bleeding may become unpredictable and heavy (get advice from your doctor).

Eventually, your hormone levels will fall to a point where your ovaries stop releasing eggs, your periods stop and menopause is reached.

Although fertility after the age of 45 is low, you still need to use contraception to prevent pregnancy. Its recommended to continue contraception until you have had one year without a natural period if you’re over 50 years old, or two years without a natural period if you’re under 50.

Menopause symptoms

Some of the symptoms women may have include:

• hot flushes
• night sweats
• aches and pains
• crawling or itching sensations under the skin
• forgetfulness
• headaches
• irritability
• lack of self-esteem
• reduced sex drive (libido)
• tiredness
• difficulty sleeping – wakefulness or waking hot and sweaty
• urinary frequency
• vaginal dryness
• discomfort with sexual intercourse.

Long-term health risks with menopause

A decrease in female hormones after menopause may lead to:

• thinning of the bones (osteoporosis) and an increased risk of fractures
• an increase in the risk of heart attack and heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.

Managing menopause symptoms

Unpleasant symptoms of menopause can often be reduced by:

• healthy diet
• regular exercise
• looking after your mental health
• reducing your stress levels
• getting enough good quality sleep
• using light-weight sleepwear and bedding to help with night sweats
• avoiding the things that trigger your hot flushes
• quitting smoking
• menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), previously known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Healthy diet and menopause

Suggestions for maintaining good health through diet at the time of menopause include:

• Choose a wide variety of foods, including plenty of vegetables, fruits, cereals, whole grains and small portions of lean meat, fish or chicken.
• Increase fluids and eat low-fat dairy foods with high calcium content.
• Decrease caffeine and limit alcohol (aim for one to two standard glasses or less per day, and two alcohol-free days each week).

Exercise and menopause

Regular exercise is important. At least 30 to 45 minutes on most days of the week will help to:

• maintain your heart health and improve your general health
• keep your bones healthy and prevent bone density loss through osteoporosis – particularly weight-bearing and strength-training activities
• maintain good balance and reduce the risk of injury from falls
• provide a feeling of relaxation and wellbeing
• possibly improve hot flushes.

Mood and menopause

Some women experience mood changes such as mild depression, anxiety and irritability with menopause. These symptoms are often related to physical changes such as hot flushes, night sweats and poor sleeping.

Changes in mood may also arise due to how you are feeling about reaching this stage of your life – particularly if you are experiencing early menopause.

Mood changes can also be related to stressors that women are often dealing with around the time that they experience menopause, such as:

• physical signs of ageing
• changes to libido
• health issues
• changes to the family unit (such as children leaving home, or divorce)
• caring for ageing parents
• career changes
• financial worries.

Visit your doctor or a psychologist if you are experiencing significant or persistent changes in mood that last longer than two weeks, as you could be experiencing depression.

The good news is, depression is treatable. The sooner a person with depression seeks support, the sooner they can recover.

Smoking and menopause

People who smoke may have an earlier menopause than those who don’t. It’s also important to avoid smoking because of the associated risk of osteoporosis, coronary heart disease and lung cancer.

For help to quit smoking, contact Quitline on 13 7848.

Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)

Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) – previously known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and also known as hormone therapy (HT) – effectively reduces many of the unpleasant effects of menopause symptoms. MHT may be appropriate for use in women with moderate to severe menopausal symptoms.

For women who have undergone a premature menopause, some form of hormone therapy is recommended until the age of 50 years, unless there is a health reason for not using hormone therapy.

There are many different forms of MHT. The advice from international experts is that the benefits of MHT far outweigh the risks for healthy women around the time of menopause.

If you are thinking about taking MHT, it is important to discuss the advantages and disadvantages, benefits and risks with your doctor.

Some MHT is designed to treat many of the symptoms of menopause. This is usually in the form of tablets or a patch or gel applied to the skin. There are also vaginal pessaries (vaginal tablets) and creams if your vaginal or urinary symptoms are bothersome.

If you are one of the 10 per cent of women who have severe symptoms lasting 10 years or more, you may continue longer-term use of MHT. It is important to have a check-up once a year to assess the specific risks and benefits you may experience as a result of the therapy.

Menopause and non-hormonal medications

Some women are unable to use MHT because of health reasons such as:

• past breast cancer
• heart disease
• clots in the veins (for example, DVT).

However, there are a number of other medications that may be useful for controlling symptoms such as hot flushes and sleep disturbance around the time of menopause. They include:

• several types of antidepressants (SSRIs and SNRIs)
• the epilepsy medication, gabapentin
• clonidine – a medication that is useful for treating migraine and blood pressure.

Your doctor will be able to advise if any of these options are suitable for you.

Menopause and complementary therapies

Some women can benefit from using complementary therapies for menopause. But it is important to remember that ‘natural’ herb and plant medications can have unpleasant side effects in some women, just like prescribed medications. A registered naturopath may provide long-term guidance and balance through the menopausal years.

Herbal therapies can often be taken in conjunction with hormone therapy. It is important to let both your doctor and naturopath know exactly what each has prescribed, and to consult your doctor before taking any herbal treatments or dietary supplements for menopause. Some natural therapies can affect or interact with other medications you may be taking.

Health checks and menopause

It is recommended that women who have reached menopause have:

Understand your body’s changes at menopause

It is important to understand the changes your body is going through before, during and after menopause. There are many different sources of information available. Make sure you seek out reputable websites and brochures that provide up-to-date, non-biased information from organisations that specialise in women’s health.

Some examples include:

Where to get help

Menopause symptoms & treatment – Illnesses & conditions

Not all women want treatment to relieve symptoms of the menopause, but treatments are available if you find the symptoms particularly troublesome.

The main treatment for menopausal symptoms is hormone replacement therapy (HRT), although other treatments are also available for some of the symptoms.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

HRT involves taking oestrogen to replace the decline in your body’s own levels around the time of the menopause. This can relieve many of the associated symptoms.

HRT has been out of favour since the early 2000s because of a link with breast cancer, but new guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) say that HRT is effective and should be offered to women with menopausal symptoms, after discussing the risks and benefits.

There are two main types of HRT:

• combined HRT (oestrogen and progestogen) – for women with menopausal symptoms who still have their womb (oestrogen taken on its own can otherwise increase your risk of womb cancer)
• oestrogen-only HRT – for women who have had their womb removed in a hysterectomy

HRT is available as tablets, skin patches, a gel to rub into the skin or implants.

HRT is extremely effective at relieving menopausal symptoms, especially hot flushes and night sweats, but there are a number of side effects, including breast tenderness, headaches and vaginal bleeding. It’s also associated with an increased risk of blood clots and breast cancer in some women.

HRT is not advisable for some women, such as those who have had certain types of breast cancer or are at high risk of getting breast cancer.

Your GP can give you more information about the risks and benefits of HRT to help you decide whether or not you want to take it.

Read more about HRT

Hot flushes and night sweats

If you experience hot flushes and night sweats as a result of the menopause, simple measures may sometimes help, such as:

• wearing light clothing
• keeping your bedroom cool at night
• taking a cool shower, using a fan or having a cold drink
• trying to reduce your stress levels
• avoiding potential triggers, such as spicy food, caffeine, smoking and alcohol
• taking regular exercise and losing weight if you’re overweight

If the flushes and sweats are frequent or severe, your GP may suggest taking HRT.

If HRT isn’t suitable for you, or you would prefer not to have it, your GP may recommend other medications that can help, such as clonidine (a high blood pressure medicine) or certain antidepressants.

These medications can cause unpleasant side effects, so it’s important to discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor before starting treatment.

Mood changes

Some women experience mood swings, low mood and anxiety around the time of the menopause.

Self-help measures such as getting plenty of rest, taking regular exercise and doing relaxing activities such as yoga and tai chi may help. Medication and other treatments are also available, including HRT and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

CBT is a type of talking therapy that can improve low mood and feelings of anxiety. Your GP may be able to refer you for CBT on the NHS, or recommend self-help options such as online CBT courses. 

Antidepressants may help if you’ve been diagnosed with depression.

Reduced sexual desire

It’s common for women to lose interest in sex around the time of the menopause, but HRT can often help with this. If HRT isn’t effective, you might be offered a testosterone supplement.

Testosterone is the male sex hormone, but it can help to restore sex drive in menopausal women. It’s not currently licensed for use in women, although it can be prescribed by a doctor if they think it might help.

Possible side effects of testosterone supplements include acne and unwanted hair growth.

Read more about loss of libido and female sexual problems

Vaginal dryness and discomfort

If your vagina becomes dry, painful or itchy as a result of the menopause, your GP can prescribe oestrogen treatment that’s put directly into your vagina as a pessary, cream or vaginal ring.

This can safely be used alongside HRT.

You’ll usually need to use vaginal oestrogen indefinitely, as your symptoms are likely to return when treatment stops. However, side effects are very rare.

You can also use over-the-counter vaginal moisturisers or lubricants in addition to, or instead of, vaginal oestrogen.

Read more about vaginal dryness 

Weak bones

Women who have been through the menopause are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis (weak bones) as a result of the lower level of oestrogen in the body.

You can reduce your chances of developing osteoporosis by:

• taking HRT – HRT can help to prevent osteoporosis, although this effect doesn’t tend to last after treatment stops
• exercising regularly – including weight-bearing and resistance exercises
• eating a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruit, vegetables and sources of calcium, such as low-fat milk and yoghurt
• vitamin D, which can help to keep your bones strong
• stopping smoking and cutting down on alcohol
• taking calcium and/or vitamin D supplements if you don’t feel you’re getting enough of these – discuss this with your GP

Read more about menopause and bone health and preventing osteoporosis

Premature menopause

Premature menopause, also known as premature ovarian insufficiency, is when a woman experiences the menopause before the age of 40.

The two main treatments for early menopause are HRT and the combined contraceptive pill, as they both contain oestrogen and progestogen.

These treatments can help to relieve troublesome menopausal symptoms and reduce the risk of problems such as osteoporosis.

Your doctor will normally recommend continuing treatment until at least around the time of natural menopause (45 to 55 years of age).

Follow-up appointments

If you’re having treatment for your menopausal symptoms, you’ll need to return to your GP for a follow-up review after three months, and once a year after that.

During your reviews, your GP may:

• make sure your symptoms are under control
• ask about any side effects and bleeding patterns
• check your weight and blood pressure
• review the type of HRT you’re taking and make any necessary changes
• discuss when you could stop treatment and how this could be done

Many women will need treatment for a few years, until most of their menopausal symptoms have passed.

Menopause facts: 6 things to know about the menopause



Menopause facts: 6 things to know about the menopause | Age UK

The menopause is a natural part of ageing, and occurs when a woman stops having periods and is no longer able to have children. It’s a gradual process which happens over months or years.

6 quick facts about the menopause

1. The menopause is caused by changes in hormone levels which take place as a woman gets older.
2. Menopausal symptoms include hot flushes, mood changes, memory problems and changes in sex drive.
3. The length of time that symptoms last for varies between individuals, but averages about 4 years.
4. Treatment is available to help with symptoms if you want it.
5. A healthy diet and regular exercise, alongside simple behavioural changes, can improve some symptoms.
6. Talking helps – friends, family and professionals can give support and guidance.

The menopause is a normal part of the life cycle, where levels of the hormone oestrogen decline with age, so periods become less frequent and eventually stop altogether. This means a woman is no longer able to get pregnant.

A change in the pattern of your periods is the first sign of the menopause. Other symptoms include hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety, memory problems, vaginal dryness and changes in sex drive.

Symptoms vary between individuals – some women will experience mild symptoms while others may have symptoms that have a big impact on their everyday life.

Read more about the symptoms on the NHS website

I was having a lot of hot flushes and they were really unbearable at first. Gradually I learnt how to cope with them. I gave up alcohol while the symptoms were at their worst, lost a bit of weight, stopped wearing clothes made from man-made fibres and started carrying a flannel, talcum powder and deodorant with me.

Symptoms of the menopause can start months or even years before periods stop completely. They usually continue for around 4 years after your last period, though some women’s symptoms continue for much longer.

The menopause usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55, but it’s very difficult to predict when it will take place in an individual.

If your symptoms are severe, there’s treatment available which could help. This includes hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which replaces oestrogen to alleviate symptoms, creams for vaginal dryness, and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) to help with mood changes. Speak to your doctor about the risks and benefits of different treatments.

Read more about treatments on the NHS website

To help you manage hot flushes, simple things like wearing light clothing, using a fan and keeping your bedroom cool could help.

If you’re struggling with your mood, consider trying self-help measures like relaxation, getting enough sleep and staying active. Regular physical activity and eating a healthy diet can also help to improve menopausal symptoms.

See our pages on health and wellbeing for more information.

Though there’s still stigma and embarrassment around the menopause, it’s important to know that you’re not alone and there’s support out there.

Try to be open about your symptoms with your partner, family and friends – it can help them to understand what you’re going through and could reduce any embarrassment about symptoms.

Sharing experiences with other women going through the same thing could be reassuring. There are many websites, blogs and videos online where women have shared their stories of the menopause.

If you have questions about treatment, or if you’re struggling emotionally or physically, it’s important that you speak to your doctor.

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Last updated: Apr 20 2021

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Postmenopause: Signs, Symptoms, & Treatments

Talk to your doctor about these factors before you decide if HRT is right for you:

Dosage & Age

Most experts recommend taking the lowest dose HRT for the shortest duration. The older you are, the greater the risks. Treating someone who’s 55 is lower risk than 85.

Topical or Oral

It’s also important to use the right type of estrogen for you. If you’re experiencing vaginal or menopause-related urinary tract issues, a topical estrogen applied directly to the vagina could be the best choice. If you’re experiencing a variety of symptoms or prefer to not use a cream, you may decide to go with an oral estrogen.

Bioidentical or Traditional Hormone Therapy

Traditional hormone therapy uses plant derived, man made hormones or hormones found in the urine of pregnant horses. Patients can take it orally, via patch, or topically to the genital area.

Bioidentical hormones are plant derived or man-made hormones similar to the ones your body produces. Some bioidentical hormones are the same as those used in conventional products. Others are not FDA approved and are available only from compounding pharmacies.

Bioidentical products can include a variety of estrogens, progesterone, testosterone or other hormones. Common bioidentical preparations include one or more of three estrogens: estradiol, estriol, and estrone. The estradiol in a traditional hormone therapy regimen is the same as in a bioidentical one.  Typically bioidentical hormones are prescribed topically at a dose designed to affect the whole body. They can also be used topically in the vaginal area or given orally.

If a woman still has her uterus, it is important to combine both bioidentical and traditional preparations of estrogen with progesterone to prevent uterine cancer.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), bioidentical hormones aren’t safer or more effective than the traditional hormones, however, there is some debate in this area. There is some data that topical estrogens are safer than oral. Groups like the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists caution against the use of compounded products specifically, citing safety concerns.

90,000 symptoms, signs, what determines what to do if menopause has begun?

A modern woman after 45 years old feels like she is experiencing a rebirth. As a rule, she has already built a career, children have grown up – the time comes with pleasure to reap the fruits of her labor. A whole world of possibilities opens up before her. The main thing is to feel healthy and full of energy. To do this, you need to be on the safe side, because physiology comes into its own …

The climacteric period is covered with so many myths that women are often afraid of its onset.Meanwhile, this is a natural phase of development, for which it is possible and necessary to prepare competently. Let’s answer 10 basic questions about menopause together.

1. What is menopause?

Menopause is a long period in a woman’s life associated with the gradual cessation of ovarian estrogen production and the completion of reproductive function. It is divided into three stages:

• Premenopause. The main symptom is menstrual irregularities, heavy menstruation.
• Menopause. Symptom – absence of menstruation for 12 consecutive months. Against the background of delays and missed periods during the previous several years, menopause can be accurately diagnosed after the fact.
• Postmenopause – the life of a woman after menopause. The first five years are called early postmenopause. Postmenopause is characterized by the most striking symptoms of estrogen deficiency: changes in bone and muscle tissue, cardiovascular and urogenital disorders [1].

During the entire climacteric period, the so-called hot flashes are possible – a sudden feeling of heat in the upper body.

By the way!
The synthesis of estrogens in a woman’s body does not completely stop even during menopause, only the ovaries stop working. Small amounts of female hormones continue to be produced by the adrenal glands and adipose tissue [2]. Associated with this is the myth that obese women are easier to tolerate menopause. However, adipose tissue produces only one of the estrogens – estrone, and it has the property of slowing down the metabolism. Thus, excess fat, on the contrary, worsen the general condition of a woman during menopause [3].

2. At what age does menopause occur?

On average, menopause can be expected at the age of 50. However, the time frame of the norm is quite wide: in 33% of healthy women, early menopause is possible – up to 45 years, and in 20% – late, after 55 years.

3. What determines the onset of menopause?

At what age menopause occurs depends on heredity, lifestyle, and gynecological diseases.Severe infections, prolonged stress, and smoking can bring the onset of menopause closer [4].

4. What signs indicate the onset of menopause?

The first signs of the onset of menopause are irregular menstruation and concomitant vegetative-vascular disorders, which are manifested in different ways for everyone. As a rule, these are hot flashes, instability of the emotional state, sleep disturbances.

5. Is it possible to postpone menopause?

It must be said that the average age of menopause onset in modern women is about five years later than 100 years ago. This is due to a more active lifestyle. Climax is one of the manifestations of aging in the body, therefore, to delay it, you need to keep yourself in high tone. You need sports, regular sex life, a correct balanced diet. Genistein-rich soy foods and herbal teas, such as lime tea, are good for you.

6. What symptoms accompany menopause?

The basic symptoms of menopause, in addition to menstrual irregularities and cessation of menstruation, can be called:

• “Hot flashes”. Brief attacks of fever occurring at different times of the day. They are accompanied by sweating, fever, tachycardia, tingling in the fingertips. The attack ends with a sharp feeling of cold. Hot flashes last from a few seconds to several minutes.
• Dizziness. Under the influence of hormonal changes, surges in blood pressure are possible, leading to dizziness.
• Sleep disturbance. Sleeplessness at night and sleepiness during the day.
• Feeling tired, decreased performance, , as a rule, occur due to poor sleep, depressed mood and changes in metabolic processes against the background of hormonal changes.

In addition to the basic symptoms that are observed in almost all women in menopause, there are symptoms from the psyche, nervous and genitourinary systems. They manifest individually:

• Astheno-neurotic syndrome – irritability, tearfulness, attacks of anxiety and fear, odor intolerance.
• Thinning and flabbiness of the skin , the appearance of age spots.
• Headaches – with high humidity, heat, in stuffy rooms.
• Depressive disorders – based on awareness of aging.
• Hyperventilation syndrome – a woman suffers from shortness of breath, pressure in the sternum, feels a lump in her throat.
• Hair loss on the head and strengthening of their growth on the face .
• Vaginal dryness and decreased libido ;
• Urinary incontinence and itching of the genitourinary organs;
• Osteoporosis, stopping the renewal of bone tissue , and due to this – an increase in bone fragility due to the rapid leaching of calcium from the body and an increase in the likelihood of fractures, a decrease in the growth of a woman, joint pain, stoop [5].
• Violation of the cardiovascular system .

From this long list of symptoms, some may not appear at all, some may appear for a short time, and some will accompany a woman from the beginning of menopause to the end of her life.

7. How long does menopause last?

The ovaries do not complete their work at one moment. Premenopause lasts on average 8-10 years, menopause is considered to be a 12-month period. Next comes postmenopause, and the rest of the life of the female body functions under conditions of cessation of the ovaries. Negative manifestations of estrogen deficiency can be observed during the entire menopause [6]. With a woman’s life expectancy of about 80 years and the onset of menopause at 50, we can talk about its duration about 30 years. Of course, when it comes to tens of years of life, you want to minimize the discomfort from menopause.

8. What to do to reduce the severity of menopause symptoms?

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is recommended for severe symptoms.It uses synthetic analogs of sex steroid hormones, drugs in this group are prescription drugs and should be prescribed only by a doctor. During HRT, be sure to see a doctor and undergo examinations every 6-12 months. Absolute contraindications to the appointment of substitution therapy are cancer and autoimmune diseases, thrombophilia, liver and biliary tract diseases. It is undesirable to prescribe HRT for endometriosis, uterine myoma, progressive diseases of the cardiovascular system [7].In the presence of contraindications or with a relatively mild course of menopause, a mild, sparing, phytoestrogenic therapy is prescribed. It is based on taking medications containing bioflavonoids. These are substances similar in structure and properties to estrogens.

This is interesting!
There is a widespread myth about the content of female hormones in beer, since the drink contains hops, which contains the very phytoestrogens – analogs of estrogens. But the fact is that phytoestrogens accumulate in the body very slowly, and decay rapidly.It is worth considering the fact that hormones are a thermally unstable compound, and wort with hops is usually boiled.

9. What signs indicate the onset of the postmenopausal period?

The beginning of postmenopause is the moment when 12 months have passed since the last menstruation. If we talk about the symptoms characteristic of this period of a woman’s life, they are associated with the supply of the body with that small amount of estrogen that is produced outside the ovaries. Not only the reproductive system needs estrogen, but also the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and excretory systems. Therefore, in postmenopausal women, “hot flashes” as a symptom of the termination of ovarian activity recede into the background. Women begin to worry more about osteoporosis, tooth decay, heart problems, and urological diseases [8].

main phases of the female menopause. |

Climax is the transition of the female body from puberty to the period of reduction of generative function. This period covers a time span of 45 to 60 years. During this time, menstrual functions gradually cease, as well as hormonal functions of the ovaries.This happens against the background of general aging of the female body. The climacteric period is directly related to the aging process of the hypothalamic structures and cortical nerve centers, which regulate the activity of the pituitary gland and ovaries.

What is menopause in women? (In simple words)

Any woman has a certain supply of eggs in her ovaries. The ovaries themselves produce female hormones – estrogen and progesterone. It is these hormones that regulate female fertility.Thanks to them, the cycle of ovulation and menstruation occurs. When the supply of eggs is completely depleted, menstruation stops, and the production of these hormones is significantly reduced. Then the climax period begins.

Symptoms of the onset of menopause.

Women should be aware of the manifestations of menopause, as well as hot flashes, in order to be prepared for possible complications. It is very important to be able to quickly get rid of hot flashes so as not to feel uncomfortable.Usually hot flashes are sensations of an unexpected increase in temperature, which is replaced by a feeling of cold, and sweat appears on the body as a reaction to a decrease in hormone production. Washing with cold water can help, and if it does not help, then the gynecologist can choose the right medicine.

Possible climacteric symptoms:

• • irregular menstruation;
• • uterine bleeding;
• • sudden mood swings;
• • heart palpitations;
• • pressure surges;
• • headache, nausea;
• • vaginal dryness;
• • decreased sex drive;
• • fast fatigability;
• • neurosis;
• • poor sleep;
• • Depression may develop.

When does the climax start? In women after 40, premenopause occurs: rare or frequent menstruation, dysfunctional bleeding, the development of cardiopathy. This period is dangerous because changes in the body can be symptoms of diseases, for example, uterine fibroids. A menopause test will help to confirm the onset of menopause. However, it should be noted that there is no unambiguous answer to the question – “when does the climatic period begin for women?” It all depends on genetic factors, working conditions, climate, lifestyle, and the presence of bad habits.In most women, climacteric changes begin after 45, and sometimes 50 years. Now menopause at the age of 50 is called late, but many doctors believe that climacteric changes after 55 years should be called late menopause.

Nowadays such a phenomenon as the early menopause has appeared. It can come at 30 or 25 years old. The reason may be – heredity, immunity disorders or the result of the intervention of doctors. At 25, premature menopause can result from damage to the ovaries after surgical removal of the ovaries or for medical reasons.Such a menopause is pathological and requires mandatory treatment in order to even out the hormonal disruption of the female body at a young age.

How long is the climacteric period?

There are several phases of premenopause, menopause and postmenopause. How long does such a restructuring of the body last?

• • Premenopause lasts about 2-10 years, until menses completely stop;
• • Menopause lasts about a year after the cessation of menses;
• • Postmenopause – a period that lasts 6-8 years, during this time the symptoms of menopause may persist, but go away more easily.

Treatment for menopause?

A woman needs to choose a course of treatment to relieve her menopausal symptoms. You need to know what to take when you have a headache, how to stop uterine bleeding, how to relieve hot flashes or other symptoms. An experienced gynecologist will be able to give an accurate diagnosis and help women relieve symptoms during this difficult period. Since each female body has its own characteristics, and also due to the similarity of the symptoms of menopause, it can be confused with gynecological diseases – an examination by a specialist is required.The main focus of our multidisciplinary clinic is gynecology, so if you need advice from a specialist with more than 16 years of experience, please contact Sante Clinic. We can help you establish an accurate diagnosis and help relieve the symptoms of menopause.

To Gynecology

Climax. Articles by specialists – MD clinic

Life just begins after 40 ” – said the heroine of Vera Alentova in the film“ Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears ”.It’s very hard to believe at 20 years old. However, the years go by, children grow up, get married, grandchildren are born … I want to do everything, to help everyone. And at work, women tend to have less rapid careers than men. Its peak falls on 40-45 years. Adult children already require less attention – live and be happy, pay attention to yourself, your husband, see the world – travel. But it was at this moment that nature prepared a not too pleasant surprise for a woman – climacteric syndrome. The average age of menopause in Ukraine is 47 years, and the average age of death in women in our country is 75 years.By simple mathematical calculations, we see that a woman spends 1/3 of her life in menopause. How will these years go? This question can be resolved in favor of women at the current level of development of medicine.

What is menopause? If we translate this word, then we will know what it means “step”. Thus, this is a certain stage in a woman’s life and the manifestations of menopause are associated with the extinction of ovarian function. If we are not talking about surgical removal of the ovaries (castration), then the process of extinction of ovarian function occurs slowly – usually over several years. At first, menstruation begins to occur more often – the cycle is reduced, then delays appear, which are sometimes replaced by bleeding. Menopause is the last menstrual period in a woman’s life. About. That she was the last we learn in retrospect – after 1 year. If a woman has not menstruated for 1 year, then there should be no menstruation anymore, and bloody discharge that appears after 1 year is a reason to see a doctor, because this can be a manifestation of very serious problems.

All manifestations of climacteric syndrome can be divided into early, mid-term and late.

Early symptoms (hot flashes, sweating, changes in blood pressure, palpitations, irritability, decreased memory and concentration, sleep disturbances) can appear even when the first menstrual irregularities appear and can continue in some women for a rather long time – sometimes and up to 10 years.

1.5-2 years after the cessation of menstruation, early symptoms are joined by medium-term symptoms – they are associated with atrophic phenomena in the mucous membranes of both the urogenital tract and other mucous membranes of the body (for example, lining the joints from the inside, conjunctiva of the eyes, mucous cavity mouth). Problems such as dryness and burning sensation in the vagina, sometimes dyspareunia (inability to live sexually), urinary incontinence, frequent urge to urinate, pain and crunching in the joints (especially small ones – hands, ankles, elbows, knees), namely during this period, the skin ages very quickly.

5 years after the cessation of menstruation, late metabolic disorders already begin to appear – a change in the male type (fat deposition on the abdomen and waist), the risk of developing atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes mellitus increases, bones begin to lose calcium and osteoporosis develops (bones become fragile like glass), memory impairments progress, and many eventually develop Alzheimer’s disease (called senile dementia).

All these disorders appear in a woman’s body precisely because the ovary stops producing a female hormone – estrogen. A woman needs him not only in order to get pregnant and menstruate. All organs and tissues of the female body are sensitive to it, and the whole body begins to suffer greatly from its absence.

I often hear the objection – menopause is not a disease. This is the state to which you need to adapt. Personally, I have completely different beliefs.Why torment and endure if there is an opportunity to solve these problems. If you treat age-related changes in this way and do not help people experience them, then what is the function of a modern doctor? Why wear glasses, for example? After all, by age, a person is already supposed to be old and blind! It seems to me that with age, the concept of not only life expectancy becomes very relevant. But also the quality of this life. And if we talk about the quality of life of a woman in menopause, then modern medicine has a full set of opportunities to give this very quality.

So, the treatment of any pathology can be pathogenetic (eliminating the causes of the problem) and symptomatic (eliminating certain manifestations of the disease). If we talk about menopause, then the cause of this condition is estrogen deficiency. Therefore, they came up with special preparations for hormone replacement therapy, which contain very low doses of natural estrogen. Previously, they wrote and talked a lot about the elixir of eternal youth, but for some reason they are silent about the fact that it was invented now .

Remember the patient asked Professor Preobrazhensky to transplant the ovaries of a young monkey to her? She didn’t want to get old. So hormone replacement therapy pills can be considered just not a medicine at all, but a small piece of an ovary that works. Taking just one tablet a day helps the female body to be “in good shape” and not to crumble into parts. There are different drugs and different dosage regimens – some of them are for women who have had their uterus and ovaries removed, some for those who are still menstruating but already have problems with menopausal complaints, some for those who have already finished their periods and have resumed. is already undesirable.Of course, the doctor will decide which drug to choose in this or that case and whether a woman can take this drug based on her state of health. But the first decision is undoubtedly for a woman – she must make a decision for herself whether she wants to change her life for the better and whether it is so important for her to live qualitatively. If the decision is made, then this question can be addressed to a gynecologist or gynecologist-endocrinologist.

If some aspects of the health condition or the patient’s bias against hormonal treatment does not allow prescribing HRT (hormone replacement therapy) drugs, there are other drugs – symptomatic.These drugs certainly do not solve the problem as a whole, but they nonetheless help relieve some of the symptoms of menopause. This group includes homeopathic medicines, antihypertensives, antidepressants, hypnotics, sedatives, calcium preparations. Physical education, swimming pool, massage, contrast showers can also help. Particular attention should be paid to nutrition. It is very common for women to gain weight with the onset of menopause. Remember this phrase – I’m not recovering from cutlets, but from years. In principle, it is quite consistent with reality – with the cessation of menstrual function and the disappearance of estrogen from the body, he himself tries to compensate for this situation, and the only tissue in the body that produces an estrogen-like substance is fat.And now the body begins to accumulate it rapidly. The woman herself also helps the body in this – “I eat the same way as before, but gain weight,” she says. In this phrase itself, the answer to the question of why there is a weight gain is already heard. The fact is that with age, the need and consumption of energy in the body decreases, but food habits remain the same and the calorie intake of food consumed begins to greatly exceed the needs of the body and it begins to store reserves in the form of adipose tissue. Eating as before is no longer possible – you need to reconsider the quality and quantity of food, start a double boiler in the house, give up fatty and fried foods – then body changes will stop upsetting you.

With age, you also need to carefully monitor your health and go to the doctor, not only when something hurts. But also pay attention to preventive research. After 40 years, women should, at least once a year, take a general blood test with the formula, blood for sugar, measure blood pressure, undergo an ultrasound of the abdominal organs, come for an examination to a gynecologist where the doctor will do a colposcopy, take cytology, if necessary – Ultrasound of the pelvic organs, examines the mammary glands and prescribes, depending on the situation, an ultrasound of the mammary glands, mammography.Feel free to go to the doctor, he knows how to help you solve problems. And it is you who will have to decide for yourself how to live on – to remain a young, energetic woman with a sparkle in her eyes, constantly answering the question “how do you manage to look so wonderful?” or endure all the troubles of menopause and complain about your problems to your neighbors with the words “The Lord endured and told us to. ”

The main thing to know is that there is a solution to the problem. It is important to want to solve it.

The article was prepared by the head of the Women’s Health Center of the MDclinic Medical Center Tatyana Alekseevna Popova.

Medical Center “CONSULTANT” – climacteric syndrome

Menopause and menopausal hormone therapy

Menopause (perimenopause) is a period of a woman’s life, during which there is a gradual physiological extinction of ovarian function, followed by the cessation of menstruation and the possible appearance of climacteric syndrome. The duration of perimenopause is approximately 4 years.

Menopause is a persistent cessation of menstruation caused by a physiological decrease in the production of hormones in the ovaries.The term comes from the Greek words menos meaning month and pauses meaning end. The average age at menopause is 51 years. In terms of the rate of increase in life expectancy in some countries, for example in Japan, menopause can already be considered as an event that occurs in the middle of a woman’s life. The age at which menopause occurs is determined by genetic and other factors. Thus, malnutrition in early childhood can lead to early menopause. Menopause occurs earlier in women who smoke.On the other hand, breastfeeding, high cognitive development in childhood and frequent childbirth postpone the onset of menopause. Menopause can only be diagnosed retrospectively, that is, by the absence of menstruation for 24 consecutive months.

In 1% of women, menopause occurs prematurely, before the age of 40 (premature ovarian failure).

Changes in the concentration of hormones that occur during menopause, especially a decrease in estrogen levels, can cause acute manifestations of menopause.So about 70% of the representatives of Western culture experience vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats.

Main manifestations of menopause:

• hot flashes, night sweats and sleep disturbances;
• urogenital disorders – atrophy of the urethra, leading to a violation of the frequency of urination;
• dryness in the vagina, dyspareunia as a result of atrophic vaginitis;
• anxiety, depression, irritability, mood swings, memory impairment and fatigue;
• climacteric arterial hypertension;
• changes in the structure of the skin, hair;
• joint pain, clumsiness, change in gait due to osteoporosis;
• overweight and features of adipose tissue deposition.

The listed symptoms may be the result of other diseases not associated with menopause. And it is often perceived as a purely urological or therapeutic problem, without taking into account the period of a woman’s life. The result of this may be a long examination period and the absence of the expected effect of treatment.

Menopausal hormone replacement therapy (MHT) reduces estrogen deficiency and relieves menopausal symptoms. MHT, however, has strict indications and contraindications.MHT has formidable unwanted side effects. A woman should not prescribe hormonal drugs to herself without first consulting an obstetrician-gynecologist. In addition to a thorough history taking, exclusion of contraindications for MHT, blood pressure measurements, examination of the mammary glands, abdominal organs, small pelvis and vaginal examination are performed; a cervical smear is taken, mammography is performed, and the lipid profile is determined. A patient receiving any hormonal therapy using female sex hormones, regardless of age, should undergo preventive examinations 1-2 times a year. If these conditions are met, the doctor and the patient can be confident in the safety of the prescribed treatment.

More than 50 estrogen preparations are currently approved for use. These drugs have different potency, combinations and routes of administration. The form of MHT (tableted combined estrogen-gestagenic drugs, transdermal patches and gels, injectable progestogens, vaginal estrogen-containing creams, etc.) and the duration of therapy are determined individually for each woman.

Doctors obstetricians-gynecologists of the Medical Center “Consultant” are always happy to assist you in solving the problems of menopause.

90,000 Menopause in women: symptoms and treatment – World of Health

Climatic period (Climax) is the physiological period of a woman’s life, during which, against the background of age-related changes in the body, the work of the ovaries decreases, the amount of hormones they produce (estrogen) decreases. There is a complex biological restructuring of various functions of the female body, which lasts for 3-5 years. When menopause comes, menstruation stops completely and this becomes the main sign of the termination of female reproductive function.

The climatic period includes three main phases:

1. Premenopause – menstruation does not stop, but ovarian function decreases. The first signs begin at the age of 45, although sometimes this age shifts to 38-40 years.The timing of the onset of menopause depends on many reasons, including genetic predisposition, lifestyle, and the presence of concomitant diseases.
2. Menopause is the last independent menstruation in a woman’s life. The exact date of menopause is established only after 12 months of absence of menstruation. The average age for menopause is 50-55 years, although women who smoke may reach menopause earlier.
3. Postmenopause – this phase begins 12 months after a woman’s menopause and lasts up to 65-60 years, gradually turning into old age.

Symptoms and signs of menopause

• menstrual irregularities, delays;
• prolonged and too profuse periods;
• hot flashes with redness of the face and neck;
• chills, excessive sweating;

90,015 headaches, weakness, insomnia;

• depression, anxiety;
• emotional instability;
• forgetfulness, impaired concentration;
• sensation of discomfort in the vagina;
• decreased sex drive;
• urinary incontinence;
• dryness and hair loss, brittle nails;
• heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia, tachycardia, increase or decrease in blood pressure).

Treatment of menopause in women – clinic “World of Health” in St. Petersburg

If you are over 40 years old and the first signs of menopause appear, you should consult a doctor. Menopause is accompanied by the risk of developing serious diseases, which is why menopause must be kept under control.

It is worth at least once a year to undergo a comprehensive examination of the body in St. Petersburg, at the Mir Zdorovya clinic. The examination includes laboratory and instrumental studies, urological and gynecological examination.Our doctors, gynecologists and endocrinologists, will correct climatic symptoms, offer treatment options, taking into account the symptoms that have already appeared and the characteristics of the patient’s body.

Also, doctors recommend that you independently engage in the prevention of climatic disorders. You just need to engage in a healthy lifestyle (HLS): adhere to a healthy diet, exercise, during menopause it is important to drink a lot, not wear synthetic clothes, do not strain.

To delay menopause, make an appointment with an endocrinologist at the Mir Zdorovya MC.Our clinic in St. Petersburg is engaged in the successful correction of hormonal disorders in women of any age.

Last update: 01.11.2020

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90,000 British Scientists: Carbohydrate-Rich Diet May Speed ​​Up Menopause

May 1, 2018

Photo Credit, Getty Images

A carbohydrate-rich diet can lead to early menopause.

This is evidenced by data from a study conducted at the University of Leeds, which examined the habits of 914 British women.

As it turned out, a diet in which, for example, a lot of pasta and rice, can cause menopause a year and a half earlier than the average age of 51 in Britain.

At the same time, scientists have found that a diet that includes fatty fish and legumes can delay menopause.

Many other factors, such as heredity, also affect the onset of menopause, so British scientists warn that women should not rush to change their eating habits yet, since it is not yet clear how severely eating habits affect this.

Daily Diet

As part of a study, women were asked what their normal daily diet consisted of.

It turned out that those whose diet consisted of large amounts of peas, beans, lentils and chickpeas (chickpeas), on average, had menopause one and a half years later than usual.

Those who ate a lot of carbohydrates, especially pasta and rice, had their menopause a year and a half earlier.

Photo author, Getty Images

Photo caption,

Omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids are abundant in oily fish such as salmon and salmon

The scientists took into account other potentially important factors, such as a woman’s weight, her reproductive history (how many pregnancies and children she had), as well as whether she resorted to hormone therapy, but heredity, which affects the age of menopause, was not taken into account.

This study was observational and did not investigate the causes, but scientists offer some explanations for their findings.

For example, pulses contain antioxidants that can interfere with ovarian function and therefore menstruation.

Unsaturated fatty acids Omega-3, present in fatty fish, are also able to bind free radicals, slowing down the oxidation processes in the body, and therefore aging.

Refined (simple) carbohydrates increase insulin resistance, which leads to an increase in estrogen levels and affects the activity of sex hormones.

This, in turn, can increase the number of menstrual cycles and lead to the fact that the number of eggs in a woman’s body will dry out faster.

Health Effects

One of the authors of this study in nutritional epidemiology, Professor Janet Cade, points out that age at menopause has serious health consequences for some women.

“A clear understanding of how a particular diet can affect the onset of natural menopause can be very important for those women who are already at risk or have a hereditary history of certain complications associated with menopause,” explains the doctor.

Women with early menopause are at increased risk of osteoporosis (loss of bone density that leads to fractures) and heart disease, while women with late menopause are at increased risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancers.

“This study does not prove a link to these food groups, but it certainly contributes to our limited knowledge of why some women experience menopause earlier than others,” commented Katie Abernathy, menopause specialist and chairperson, on the new data. British charity for the study of menopause.

Photo author, Getty Images

Photo caption,

Legumes are high in antioxidants that are good for everyone

Member of the Society of Endocrinologists Professor Saffron Whitehead of St.George commented: “This is an interesting approach to studying the onset of menopause, but I’m still not convinced that diet alone can affect menopause. Too many other factors play a role in this.”

Another specialist, Senior Lecturer and Consultant in Reproductive Endocrinology and Andrology at Imperial College London, Chan Jacen, points out that “the body’s metabolism plays an important role in regulating ovulation and the presence of menstruation. “

“It is tempting to suggest that this [study] does indeed have a recipe for delaying menopause. Unfortunately, the limitation of these observational studies is that they fail to prove that eating habits really affect early menopause. Until this is proven, I see no reason why women should change their diet, “she said.

What is hidden behind the word “climax”: we dispel women’s myths

Sooner or later in the life of every woman there comes a moment when she seems to fade away.Depression, sleep disturbances, irritability, increased fatigue, decreased sex drive – all this may indicate the onset of menopause.

How to understand what changes are taking place in your body and what to do about it, tells Elena Simbirtseva , obstetrician-gynecologist-mammologist of the Belgorod Regional Clinical Hospital of St. Joasaph.

What’s wrong with me?

Climax (menopause) – the period of physiological restructuring of the body, the transition from puberty to old age.

“Menopause is a persistent cessation of the menstrual cycle due to the physiological weakening of the hormonal function of the ovaries. The average age of menopause is 50-55 years, ”says Elena Simbirtseva

With the onset of menopause due to biochemical and hormonal changes, a woman may experience unpleasant symptoms, the spectrum of which is diverse. But how to understand that it is he – the climacteric period?

“The signs of menopause are very extensive.At about 40-45 years old, women begin the first harbingers of the onset of menopause: insomnia, decreased libido, anxiety, loss of energy, excessive sweating, headaches, hot flashes.

At the age of 50-55, vaginal dryness, urogenital syndrome, psychoemotional problems, decreased metabolism, cardiovascular diseases, menstrual irregularities begin to worry – all this may indicate the onset of menopause, ”the doctor explains.

How to deal with it?

There are many ways to relieve these symptoms if they are uncomfortable for you. Discuss your situation with your gynecologist to determine which remedies are right for you.

“A healthy lifestyle will help to significantly alleviate the course of menopause. Therefore, walk a lot, eat fruits and vegetables, breathe fresh air, avoid overeating, exercise, and do not forget about preventive measures from a doctor.

The main method of therapy is menopausal hormone therapy, which is used both to treat menopausal symptoms and to prevent a number of diseases, improve the quality of life and prolong healthy longevity.Taking such drugs can help a woman maintain the beauty of her skin, hair, nails, and avoid complex fractures.

The benefits of competent menopausal hormone therapy far outweigh the risks. It is used all over the world. For the appointment of such drugs, you must consult with a specialist. But you definitely shouldn’t be afraid of this, ”says the doctor – obstetrician-gynecologist-mammologist.

The physiological decrease in the synthesis of female sex hormones lies at the heart of changes in a woman’s body. In particular, in the central nervous system, estrogens are actively involved in the metabolism and nutrition of neurons, providing a certain level of their functional state. As a result of neuroendocrine changes, there are rearrangements in the plasticity of the response of the nerve cell, a decrease in the threshold levels of excitation. In simple terms: most emotional experiences, previously perceived as “little things in life”, become more relevant, acquiring the character of the apocalypse. Therefore, for most women, psychotherapy will be an excellent help in relieving the symptoms of menopause.

“As one of the methods, psychotherapy is perfect. Psycho-emotional support can help a woman get through this difficult stage, ”the doctor explains.

Oddly enough, menopause has its advantages.

“There are, of course, positive aspects too. With the weakening of the hormonal function of the ovaries, the regression of myomatous nodes occurs, as well as the involution of the mammary glands, that is, the abatement of the symptoms of mastopathy.