19/03/2024
✅WHAT IS MENOPAUSE: Menopause is a stage that marks the end of reproductive years in a woman’s life. How do you know you’ve officially entered menopause? By completing 12 months without a period. This end of the pe is just the beginning of hormonal and physical changes in your body.
✅WHEN DOES MENOPAUSE OCCUR: Menopause normally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. But it’s perfectly normal if it happens much earlier or later because in a few rare cases a woman may reach menopause even in her late 20's or 60's.
✅REASON FOR MENOPAUSE: Your ovaries release eggs every month and secrete certain hormones. Menopause happens when the ovaries stop releasing eggs every month (read: no more period). This also means reduced levels of the Estrogen and Progesterone hormones. In other words, your ovaries officially retire and are off-duty. That is when your period starts becoming irregular and then finally comes to a halt.
TYPES OF MENOPAUSE
1. NATURAL MENOPAUSE
This type of menopause occurs due to natural decline in the levels of estrogen and progesterone.
2. PREMATURE MENOPAUSE OR EARLY MENOPAUSE
This type of menopause occurs when your period stops much before 40 years of age due to genetic or medical conditions, such as diabetes, thyroid, etc.
3. SURGICAL MENOPAUSE
This type of menopause is an induced one that is a result of treatments and surgeries, such as chemotherapy, hysterectomy, etc.
✅PHASES OF MENOPAUSE:
1. PERIMENOPAUSE: It is the gradual process of your ovaries producing lower estrogen levels that occur in a span of 8-10 years before you hit menopause.
2. MENOPAUSE: It is the transition time when you’ve completed 12 months with no menstruation.
3. Postmenopausal: It is the stage that follows menopause and it means you’ve not had a period for more than 12 months.
✅WHAT HAPPENS DURING MENOPAUSE:
irregular periods
hot flushes
night sweats
sleep problems
sore breasts
itchy, crawly or dry skin
exhaustion and fatigue
dry va**na
loss of s*x drive (libido)
headaches or migraines
more pronounced premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
aches and pains
bloating
urinary problems
weight gain due to a slower metabolism.
forgetfulness
lowered mood