Menopause is the period when a woman finishes her reproductive years. A diagnosis of menopause is made when a woman has had twelve continuous months without her menstrual period. Different women hit menopause at different ages, some in their 40s while others do so after reaching 50 years old. In the United States, the average age for menopause to set in is at 51 years.
It is normal for every woman to go through menopause. The symptoms of menopause may be unbearable sometimes, and this is why most women seek help from the doctor. When you visit Dr. Kalpana Desai, she will take your medical history and a physical examination of your body and determine which treatment method will work for you. Seeking treatment for menopause helps you to lead a normal and comfortable life after menopause.
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What Are the Symptoms of Menopause?
Different women experience different symptoms of menopause. The most common symptom that shows that you are beginning menopause is having irregular menstrual periods. It is common for women who are going through menopause to skip their periods for one or a few months. When you are nearing menopause, you will have shorter menstrual cycles than normal, such that you have periods that are closer together.
It is still possible to become pregnant even when you are having irregular periods. Therefore, women should keep using family planning if they are not planning to have another child. Other symptoms of menopause include dryness of the vagina, which may make the woman feel pain during sexual intercourse.
It is also common for women who are in menopause to have hot flashes and chills, which are very uncomfortable symptoms. The woman might also experience night sweats, which affect their sleeping pattern. Women who are going through menopause have a slow metabolism rate and this increases their chances of gaining weight.
Hair changes also occur during menopause such that a woman’s hair becomes thin and their skin dries. During menopause, it is common for a woman to get mood swings and to become irritable. The breasts also change, losing fullness, which makes them sag. If these symptoms are causing you discomfort, you can seek treatment from a doctor so that you can lead a normal life.
What Complications Can Occur When a Woman is Going Through Menopause?
Reduction in the amount of estrogen in the body makes the bones to become weak and brittle and puts the woman at risk of getting osteoporosis. This increases the risk of getting fractures of the spine, hips, and wrists. During menopause, the tissues in the vagina and urethra become loose and this increases the risk of urinary incontinence.
It is also common for women who are going through menopause to have reduced sexual desire. This happens because of the vaginal dryness which causes pain and discomfort during sex. The reduction of estrogen also increases your risk of getting cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke. You are more likely to become overweight during menopause than in your reproductive years because of a slow metabolism.
Menopause occurs when the amount of estrogen in the body of a woman begins to reduce. This causes the woman to go through some changes in her body like lack of periods, loss of breast fullness, and weakening of the bones. Some of the complications of menopause include heart diseases, osteoporosis, and weight gain. You can seek medical treatment for the symptoms of menopause causing you discomfort.
