Be Prepared & Know The Signs Of Menopause
As human beings we do our best to be prepared for every situation possible. We purchase first aid kits for the” what if” injuries and we but homeowners insurance for the just in case fire or flood. If we take all of this time and effort to prepare for these events, why don’t we make this same effort t prepare for menopause? We know that menopause is not a” what if” or “just in case” event. We know in all actuality it is a matter of time before we will be in a process of bodily change. We cannot stop menopause, but we can be prepared with the knowledge of the signs of menopause when it arrives.
There are two areas of menopause to be prepared for: Perimenopause and Menopause.
Each is similar and is connected to the other. Perimenopause precedes menopause by 10 to 15 years. There are many women who are in there 30’s and 40’s who experience perimenopause. This is the effect of the ovaries producing less estrogen and estrogen levels fluctuating. Signs of perimenopause include the following: irregular periods, hat flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness. Menopause is different in the effect that the menstruation cycle ceases and the ovaries stop producing estrogen entirely. Signs of menopause are 12 months without menstruation, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, thinning of the vagina, loss of memory and concentration, sleeplessness or insomnia, changes in bone density and changes in your libido.
Knowing that there are signs to look for will allow you to pay closer attention to your body. These signs are a way of our body telling us to be prepared for change. This is a natural occurrence in all women and is experienced on average at the age of 51.
What Can Effect When You Have Menopause?
- Heredity
- Disease
- Surgeries
Examples of this are women who have an Oophorectomy that is a surgery that removes the ovaries. This surgery will create the immediate start of menopause. This often occurs when patients have had ovarian or other cancers that have created the need for this procedure. Many women are under the misunderstanding that a hysterectomy will create a sudden beginning of menopause. If the uterus is the only organ removed and the ovaries are intact, then the women will experience natural menopause occurrence.
The signs and symptoms of menopause inform us that our bodies are changing and to prepare. If we know the signs of menopause then we know we are nearing other changes in life. Possibly lifestyle changes are needed such as quitting smoking, beginning exercise and healthier eating habits. These changes can lessen the unwanted symptoms of menopause. Other treatments for menopause symptoms include hormone or estrogen therapy. This can be accomplished with a patch, pill or cream such as Hot Flash Freedom that replenishes estrogen into the body. Another choice is herbal therapy. Herbal extracts from plants and herbs such as Hawthorne flower or wild yam contain hormone balancing chemicals or even phytogesterones that take the place of estrogen. It’s best to read, research and discuss menopause with your physician. This will not only prepare you for menopause but you will have a plan set in motion to make menopause an easier part of your life.
