Menopause - normal or disease? The main causes of menopause
In medicine, the term menopause is usually used to refer to the period preceding menopause and characterized by certain changes in the hormonal system. The possibility of pregnancy depends on the follicles in the ovaries, which are a natural part of the menstrual cycle. That is, the function of the ovaries is reproductive. Namely, providing the body with progesterone and estrogen in sufficient quantities. With age-related depletion of resources, the ovaries lose their functions, which immediately affects both the health and menstrual cycle, as well as the psychological state of the woman. The key reason for menopause is the decline of ovarian function . But its appearance is influenced by:
- Excess weight.
- Disturbances in the psycho-emotional sphere.
- Problems in sexual life.
- Constant stress.
- Chronic diseases and their exacerbations.
- Genetics.
- The quality of life.
Medicines against menopause, alas, have not yet been invented, but preparing for its onset is within the power of every woman. The main thing is to “know the enemy by sight.”
What affects early menopause?
The time of menopause can be influenced by a large number of factors that will be influenced from the surrounding world. These include:
predisposition at the genetic level. Features of the formation of the reproductive system are inherited from woman to woman. This is what determines the time of menopause. If the mother’s menopause occurred at the age of 43, then the daughter should also prepare for this exact time;- the work of the female system. This includes the time of feeding the baby, pregnancy and labor. This period gives the ovaries the opportunity to rest, with the help of which the onset of menopause becomes later. Abortions and gynecological diseases only bring the period of menopause closer;
- severe frustration and nervousness. If a woman regularly experiences emotional stress, this invariably leads to early aging of the ovaries;
- chronic diseases (malignant tumors, diabetes);
- an incorrectly composed diet, in which the time of indiscriminate eating is combined with the use of hunger strikes;
- ecology in the place of residence or work. The purity of the surrounding air plays an important role in the age at which menopause occurs;
- general lifestyle. The presence of negative attachments, lack of normal physical activity or heavy stress can result in early menopause. If you plan your daily diet correctly and find time for proper rest, you can significantly postpone the onset of menopause;
- performing surgery on the mammary glands and internal organs.
Menopause does not always occur in old age. There are certain symptoms that lead to the processes starting too early:
- performing surgery on the pelvic organs. The most dangerous include removal of the uterus, fallopian tube or ovary;
- diseases that are transmitted sexually and difficulties after their treatment. This is especially dangerous for the body in the presence of gonorrhea, in which purulent salpingoophoritis can occur, which as a result leads to difficulties in the functioning of the ovaries;
- taking drugs and alcoholism - this leads to the cessation of estrogen production by the endocrine system.
What are the features of changes in the hormonal system during menopause?
- During menopause, there are still enough hormones for menstruation to occur, but estrogen deficiency affects their regularity and prevents the release of the egg.
- Falling levels of progesterone affect the thickness of the endometrium, which increases the risk of uterine cancer and causes metabolic disorders.
- As a result of a drop in the level of sex hormones , many people experience disturbances in the functioning of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, resulting in “hot flashes” - increased blood pressure, tinnitus, redness of the head and neck, nausea, sweating.
- An imbalance of pituitary hormones also affects the development of osteoporosis.
- Disturbed hormonal balance is manifested by nervous disorders - from depression and attacks of panic and fear to fear of death and tearfulness.
- When the thyroid gland is affected, hand tremors and palpitations, weight changes and the development of diabetes appear, and impaired functioning of the adrenal glands results in the growth of unwanted hair, increased blood pressure, and heart pain.
- Blood vessels are another problem that appears during menopause. Previously protected by estrogens, they become vulnerable during menopause. The risk of developing atherosclerosis increases.
It is worth noting that if you follow the doctor’s advice and have the right attitude towards health, many of the consequences of menopause can be avoided.
Climax - what is it?
Menopause is not a disease, but a kind of transitional period in a woman’s life. This transition is both psychologically and physiologically difficult for any woman. The whole body switches completely.
The restructuring of the body is easier to bear if you know that these are natural, normal changes. Hormonal levels change in the body. During the climatic period, many women experience irritability and anxiety - this is called climatic syndrome.
Symptoms of menopause in women
What may be the symptoms of menopause:
- headaches that can occur when cerebral vascular tone is disturbed. There is a circulatory disorder.
- irritability and nervousness
- state of depression. This happens due to a lack of the hormone estrogen. This condition is the worst to tolerate. Tears for no reason, bad mood, feeling anxious.
- hot flashes and sweating, a tight feeling in the chest, palpitations.
- Insomnia. Common syndrome during menopause. Nervousness causes loss of sleep. There may be physical and mental exhaustion.
- metabolism changes. This is especially true for mineral metabolism, which can lead to osteoporosis. Carbohydrate metabolism is disrupted - this leads to excess weight. During menopause, diabetes may appear. Appearance changes (wrinkles appear).
- Blood pressure rises
- cardiovascular diseases. You can read more about them here: “Mistletoe medicinal properties”
- genitourinary disorders. Urinary incontinence and frequent infections may occur. This may be due to dryness of the mucous membrane of the eyes.
How menopause begins - the first signs of menopause in women
Among the symptoms accompanying this difficult period, the main ones can be noted:
- Emotional instability and sleep disturbances.
- Frequent urination.
- Decreased libido.
- Reduction in the size of the mammary glands.
- Hot flashes, nausea, headache and dizziness.
- Dry eyes, skin, vagina.
- Development of osteoporosis.
- Weight gain.
- Pain in various parts of the body.
- “Attack” of chronic diseases.
- Brittle hair and nails.
- Weakened memory and decreased performance.
These symptoms, for the most part, disappear after the menopause ends. That is, with the right approach to your health, everything returns to normal .
Symptoms of menopause
Often menopause comes unexpectedly, and the woman is unprepared for it. Therefore, the symptoms she may encounter are not always interpreted correctly. Insomnia, a strange taste in the mouth, mood swings, increased irritability or sensitivity - all these are the first signs of menopause. Of course, the clearest evidence that this is menopause is the cessation of menstruation.
In addition, the onset of menopause may be indicated by: - tachycardia; - tingling feeling in the arms and legs; - numbness of the limbs; - sleep disturbance; - muscle pain; - feeling of lack of air; - dry eyes, etc.
Experts attribute the appearance of these symptoms and the deterioration of the woman’s health to a sharp decrease in the level of the hormone estrogen in the blood. As a result, the biochemical reactions that occur in the body usually change and the production of other hormones decreases.
There are lucky women who are lucky enough to not experience any of these symptoms. Also among the lucky ladies are those whose symptoms are not too intense. True, such lucky people are rare.
The symptoms themselves, as doctors say, are not at all dangerous. However, they can sometimes cause quite significant changes in the physical or psychological state of a woman. How many more problems the first time without menstruation can bring is unknown. Sometimes the consequences are such that ladies even begin to envy men.
No one can predict what the symptoms will be and when they will appear. Therefore, it is worth mentally preparing for the fact that menopause may come unexpectedly, and not make a tragedy out of this event. Moreover, this does not mean at all that life has come to an end. On the contrary, menopause symbolizes the beginning of a new stage in life - maturity.
The concept of menopause and its stages
Menopause is a period of hormonal changes in the life of a mature woman. Sooner or later it happens to everyone. The body sends a signal that the ovaries have completed their reproductive cycle and no longer produce eggs.
Stages of menopause by age
Since menopause is primarily a hormonal change, along with the loss of fertility, a woman loses her natural beauty. In other words, he is getting old. But there is no need to panic ahead of time, but there is no need to create illusions that this will not affect you. Before you panic or jump to conclusions, read this article carefully and you will see that everything is not as scary as it seems.
Some women believe that menopause only affects those over 50, not realizing that it comes much earlier.
About 70% of women believe that hormonal changes occur in just a couple of years. This is wrong. Menopause can last 15 years, and only then the body stops reproductive function completely. That is, the ovaries will “dry out”. But at its first stage, you even have a chance of getting pregnant. However, this is fraught with serious consequences for you and your fetus.
Gynecologists distinguish three stages of menopause. Each of these stages takes place over 5 to 10 years, depending on the condition of your body and the initial amount of hormones released. These stages include premenopause, menopause and postmenopause. Each of them is characterized by certain symptoms, but they do not always manifest themselves clearly and clearly.
How to recognize menopause?
We have already talked about the first symptoms of menopause earlier. But it is not always possible to notice the first symptoms based only on how you feel. A woman’s age also does not always indicate that she has begun menopause, because it can be early or late. Menopause can come and not manifest itself at first.
Check your health thoroughly, as irregular and intermittent periods may not indicate menopause, but serious illnesses.
Therefore, it is important after 40 years to regularly take hormone tests, which will help you and your doctor accurately track the progress of menopause and prescribe the right treatment. The onset of menopause is especially noticeable due to the complete lack of interest in intimate life with a spouse. If before I sometimes wanted to, now even if I want to, it’s not so simple.
Symptoms of menopause
Each woman's symptoms may manifest themselves individually. It all depends on your body. The most striking and common symptoms include:
- “jumping” hormones (indicators in the morning and evening are very different);
- tides;
- nervous instability (constant mood changes);
- lack of sexual desire;
- unstable periods;
- deterioration of skin condition.
During the onset of menopause, the body is most susceptible to the manifestation of cancer.
A harbinger of menopause can also be a lack of desire to please men. That is why grandmothers don’t care how they dress, as long as they are warm and cozy. But this can be avoided by simply taking care of your health. Menopause is just a period of life, not the end of the world!
If you notice all of these symptoms before age 40 or after age 55, then it is likely that you fall into the small percentage of women who experience early or late menopause.
Definition and features of menopausal syndrome
Menopause occurs in women after the age of 42-50 years. Menopause is characterized by the cessation of the body's production of female sex hormones. This leads to a gradual decrease in the size of the ovaries and uterus, and the disappearance of menstruation. As a result, a woman loses the ability to conceive and bear children.
Additionally, menopause is accompanied by various unpleasant symptoms that cause discomfort to women and cause depression.
And if all women go through menopause, then not everyone experiences climacteric syndrome. Most often, the problem occurs with hereditary, cardiovascular, gynecological and other diseases, decreased adaptive function of the body, stress, nervous system disorders, etc. The syndrome may occur seasonally. Most often it bothers a woman in spring and autumn.