Menopause is a fact of life and no matter who we are it is going to come at some point in our lives. It is usually a fairly gradual process and should not suddenly hit you and take you by surprise. However we are all individuals and how menopause affects us will be an entirely personal thing. There are several factors involved, which govern how menopause will affect us.
Some women will really not experience too much trauma with menopause, while others have deep physiological and mental problems. It is important to understand the symptoms and how they are affecting you personally. Do not let things get out of hand.
One of the first signs you will notice is irregular bleeding. Your menstrual cycle will either shorten or lengthen and you can even experience spotting in between periods. This can be heavy or light depending on different individuals. It is good to check with your doctor in case this bleeding is a sign of some underlying problem. Naturally you will also have a decrease in fertility due to irregular ovulation. However do not rule out pregnancy during this time until all periods have stopped.
The commonest symptoms in menopause are hot flushes and night sweats. These can vary greatly. They are fairly uncomfortable but not life threatening. The worst scenario is disruption of sleep patterns and a feeling of tiredness during the day. These can last up to 5 years and in a small minority 10 years. Some women experience hot flushes frequently others not very often. Again it is an individual thing.
Vagina problems can occur. As the lining gets thinner and less elastic, it can also be vulnerable to infections. It is important to be careful of this and to catch the signs of infection like itching and burning early. The same problem can happen to your urethra and cause some urinary tract infections. Incontinence can also be present, especially when you strain yourself or cough and sneeze.
Added to this is the fact that you can also experience mood swings and in extreme cases depression. A feeling of tiredness and memory loss can also occur. It is important to make sure that you see your doctor if deep depressions occur as these can be life threatening. Weight gain, wrinkles, acne and some facial hair can also be present.
All these symptoms can be present in varying degrees for individual women. It is important to remember that they do not last forever, even if you feel that they will. There are many treatments available now, depending on how severe the actual problems are.
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