Women and Menopause

Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when her body begins to change as the ovaries start to shut down. When the ovaries shut down there is also the shutting down of progesterone and estrogen in a woman’s life. Menstruation will start to diminish and end during this shutting down of the ovaries. Menopause occurs at a different age for all women, although the general age is from 50 to 54.

Menopause is the part of a woman's normal aging process and it will happen to all who haven't had their uterus and ovaries surgically removed. If this is the case, premature menopause will occur. In some cases, only the uterus is taken out and the ovaries are left. Under these circumstances, there are no immediate menopausal symptoms, since the patient is still receiving the hormones mentioned above.

Menopause creates a number of symptoms that a woman may not be conscious of at first. The menstrual cycle will be affected by the diminishing production of the two hormones, and will most likely be completely unpredictable. For example she may experience heavy flow one month and light spotting when her next period shows up.

Here are some signals to watch for: (1) hot flashes (2) crankiness (3) unusual sweating (4) sleep disturbance (5) vaginal dryness, often leading to uncomfortable sex and/ or urination (6) mood swings that may include depression and/ or anger (7) unwanted hair on the face, chest, arms, and stomach (8) trouble concentrating and remembering (9) low frustration level within her whole mood.

The best advice for a middle-aged woman is to look for information on menopause. The more she knows about it, the more she will know what to expect and how to cope with it. She will also feel less alone in the world when the symptoms appear.

As with so many other aspects of our lives, a balanced and healthy diet, and exercise will go a long way in making women feel better. Eating healthy, nutritious foods will help minimize their symptoms. Vitamin and minerals taken as supplements are essential as well. Some women experience severe menopausal symptoms and may wish to consider hormone replacement therapy (HRT). During these years, it is more important than ever for women to regularly visit their doctors. They may experience unrelated symptoms and not be able to tell the difference without a medical examination. It may also be beneficial to join a menopause support group, where they will meet other women with similar experiences. This contact can go a long way in helping women cope with menopause.

Article Source: http://www.christiannotepad.com

Lindsay Hurst is the webmaster for A Menopause, the #1 source on the internet for information about Menopause, For more articles on Menopause visit: www.amemenopause.com/articles
This and other unique content menopause articles are available with free reprint rights.