Menopause Explained: Symptoms, Timing, and What to Expect

Menopause is a biological process that every woman goes through. The average age at which it happens for a woman in the USA is 51, but it can happen as early as 40, and for some it can happen at the age of 60, too. A woman reaches menopause when her ovaries stop producing estrogen, which causes her to stop having periods. While several women get the false alarm thinking they may have entered menopause, you’re considered to be in menopause if you’ve gone 12 months without having a period. So before you consider you’re in it, wait 12 months. In some exceptions, it can also occur immediately. For instance, if a person has their ovaries removed surgically, menopause can happen immediately. That said, several factors decide when you go through menopause and it’s important to understand the symptoms beforehand.

Understanding the Symptoms and Signs of Menopause

Apart from your periods coming to a permanent end, you may also notice some other symptoms. That said, it’s also important to remember that your symptoms can be different from what other women experience, and that is normal. Some sources claim that menopause can have more than a 100 different symptoms, that affect your oral, emotional, and physical health overall. These symptoms can have a substantial impact on your life. It can be particularly difficult for women in the workplace. Women report facing problems like:

· Lack of confidence

· Difficulties concentrating

· Feeling low

· Poor memory

· Tiredness

One quick way of relieving menopausal symptoms is estradiol. It comes in several forms but it can be taken by healthy women who do not smoke and have no history of a stroke or family disease. If you’re unsure about whether you can take it or not, consider speaking to your healthcare provider.

What is Early Menopause?

Early menopause refers to menopause that occurs between the ages of 40 and 45. However, certain medications, medical conditions, or surgical procedures can cause it to begin even earlier for some women. If you believe you may be experiencing early menopause, it is important to speak with your healthcare provider. Reaching menopause at a younger age can increase the risk of long-term health concerns such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. One treatment commonly used to help reduce these risks is hormone replacement therapy, which may also relieve more severe symptoms such as hot flashes.

What are Hot Flashes?

Hot flashes are feelings of warmth in your upper body. This most commonly impacts the chest, neck and face and it can also cause sweating in some people. Some people may feel cold after getting a hot flash because of their body losing heat. Night sweats, on the other hand, are also hot flashes that happen during nighttime and they may cause you to have patchy sleep. They are a common symptom of menopause.

How often your hot flashes happen can usually vary from person to person. Most people going through menopause can have them daily and a single hot flash may last from 1 to 5 minutes. On average, people can have hot flashes for more than 6 years and for some, they may even last for a decade. In some cases, they can be mild, but in other cases they may be so severe that they disrupt and negatively influence your quality of life. When they happen at night, they may wake you up and cause long-term sleep loss.

How are Sleep and Menopause Connected?

Menopause and sleep are closely related to each other. The hormonal and physiological changes that happen during menopause have a huge impact on your sleep patterns and may even lead to insomnia. Sleep disturbances might contribute to the hot flashes that occur at night. During the menopause transition, there is also a higher chance of developing primary sleep problems such as restless legs syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea. There is proof that getting too little sleep over time raises the chance of acquiring long-term health issues like diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular illnesses. Therefore, it is crucial that you prioritize good sleep practices and seek medical advice if sleep disorders continue.

Menopause is not a disease, but rather a normal aspect of life. You might not experience any of the symptoms listed in that long list, or you might have multiple symptoms. Regardless of your experience, you have access to more resources than ever before to help you comprehend and deal with it. You have all you need to manage any symptoms you experience and get through menopause while leading an active, bright, and healthy life if you work with a skilled, reliable healthcare team and gather additional tools of your choosing.