Menopause: What Is It Really?

Lilliana Diaz
7 days ago
3 min read

Menopause; a thing many older women are terrified of. Usually, people view this as a way how someone’s body is essentially “too old to have babies”, and they would be correct. Although menopause is only something that signifies that that person’s reproductive years are over. Meaning that they are officially free of the weight of waiting each month for something to ruin a new pair of white jeans, officially free of the cramps and aches of the menstruation cycle, and from purchasing pricy menstruation products. But this isn't the only thing that menopause means.

What is Perimenopause, Menopause, and Postmenopause?

Perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause are the 3 stages of menopause, basically the beginning, middle, and end.

Perimenopause is described as “When your body starts transitioning to menopause. During this transition, your ovaries begin producing less hormones, causing your menstrual cycle to become erratic or irregular. “ This is because the ovaries during perimenopause run out of eggs and become less responsive to the signals of the brain, and due to ovaries producing estrogen, estrogen decreases. Therefore as estrogen decreases, another hormone called progesterone (the hormone that is from the ovaries and supports menstruation and helps maintain the early stages of pregnancy) gets messed up in ratio. Although it still is possible to get pregnant but unlikely without fertility treatment.

Menopause is quoted as “One point in a continuum of life stages for women and marks the end of their reproductive years. After menopause, a woman cannot become pregnant, except in rare cases when specialized fertility treatments are used.”

Menopause is essentially when perimenopause reaches its end and when ovulation will happen where your ovaries will not be able to produce eggs. Along with the roller coaster of hormone levels shifting.

After menopause finishes, postmenopause takes place and is the final stage that stays with that person. During postmenopause, they are no longer able to conceive babies without any surgical treatments. And may experience symptoms of menopause even several years later. At this stage it is vital to take care of that person, postmenopause is often marked to experience anxiety, depression, and moodiness. It may help to speak with a therapist or counselors to discuss this new chapter of their life.

Why does menopause take place?

Natural menopause is a normal stage of aging where the individual goes a complete year without menstrual bleeding without any interference. Surgeries such as the removal of your ovaries will result in menopause if both are removed. And throughout time, the menstrual cycle will make less estrogen, therefore their menstrual cycle begins to change and eventually stops. This is due to the unique and different hormone levels that someone may experience throughout the different hormone levels, and the symptoms someone experiences are the adjustments the body makes to these changes.

When does it take place?

Whilst it isn’t possible to predict when menopause takes place for women, it generally takes place between the ages of 45 and 55 women worldwide. Menopause is marked to occur after a natural 12 months without menstruation. Premenopause may take from 4 months to 8 years, although averages around 4 years. Symptoms of post menopause may last up to several years.

Myths of menopause:

Myths:

Menopause happens overnight

Truth:

Menopause is confirmed after 12 months of missing your periods, otherwise perimenopause takes place and can take up to 8 years to complete.

Myth:

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is dangerous

Truth:

HRT is confirmed not to be harmful if prescribed correctly, and that it simply only has a bad reputation. HRT can come in pill, patch, or gel form.

Changes:

These changes in hormones that the person experiencing menopause can affect physical, emotional, mental and social well-being. Although each experience is unique to everyone, and some may have little to no symptoms. Whilst others, symptoms can be severe and affect daily activities and quality of life. Experiencing symptoms can vary in time periods.

Symptoms that may happen in menopause:

➢ Varying temperature flashes

➢ Flashes of heat

➢ Changes in menstrual cycle

➢ Vaginal dryness

➢ Pain during sexual intercourse and incontinence;

➢ Insomnia

➢ Changes in mood

➢ depression and anxiety

➢ Joint pain

Along with various other symptoms affecting body composition, cardiovascular risk, weakening pelvic support structures, and loss of bone density.