Menopause Symptoms and Perimenopause - Causes, Treatment and Relief

Menopause Symptoms are one of the most commonly found healthcare issues among women across the world. It is believed that in most nations, irrespective of their socio-economic conditions or ethnical differences, more than 50% women are likely to be suffering from some form of menopausal condition at any time. There is no defined age when these indications can arise. However, their onset is usually in the early 40s where general guidelines suggest that a woman officially enters the menopausal phase past 45 years. These symptoms begin during the perimenopause period. This is the time when menopausal indications become more regular and the female's body is slowly shaping towards menopause which essentially means a decreased ability to conceive and faster aging due to significant dip in the concentration of progesterone and estrogen. These are the two, primary female hormones and when their levels start falling, the overall health of a woman is affected, including her ability to procreate, reproduce and retain youthfulness apart from her psychological composure.

Understand Common Menopause Symptoms:

1. Menstrual Irregularities

This problem can arise in the form of heavy periods, delayed periods or painful periods. Dipping volumes of estrogen are the primary cause for this. It is perhaps the most common and yet, the most confusing of all symptoms. This is because menstrual irregularities can arise due to a wide range of reasons. This includes stressful lifestyles, exposure to environmental pollutants, smoking, drug/alcohol abuse or the overuse of birth control pills. Even obesity and conditions like PCOS can cause menstrual cramping and bleeding apart from inducing absence of menses in some women. Some females are prone to having untimely periods from their teenage years. As a result, it is usually very hard to diagnose menopausal progression based upon this symptom alone. Thus, other indications listed below are cross-checked.


2. Hot Flashes

Also referred to as temperature flushes or cold flushes, these are a typical symptom of women gradually progressing towards menopause. These are essentially sensations of sudden warmth that rushes through the body for a moment. This is often followed by a similar surge of coldness in the face or upper back. These temperature flushes are a result of rapid fluctuations in the hormonal system. Decreasing estrogen levels are believed to induce hot flashes.


3. Night Sweating

Night sweating occurs in the late evenings or night while hot flashes are more likely to happen during the daytime. However, night sweats can be more intense and discomforting, hampering sleep. This is a state of extreme precipitation, often accompanied by some degree of anxiety, during the night.


4. Lowered Libido Levels

Menopause is medically referred to as the body's way of indicating that the woman is now past her prime of sexual and reproductive health. This also includes the psychological part of sex. Lowered libido refers to a decreased liking for sexual activities, physically and mentally. The patient might not be aroused in the manner before and might complain about decreasing sexual desire.


5. Extreme Mood Fluctuations

Women are prone to suffering from hormonal mood fluctuations. However, with the onset of menopausal bodily changes, the mood swings become increasingly pronounced and intense. This includes sudden onset of bouts of crying, anxiety, depression, happiness or a fatigued feeling. In extreme cases, the condition might seem akin to a psychological disorder.


6. Vaginal Dryness

Along with falling libido levels, the compromised sexual health of the female is further impaired with physical deterrents to sexual activities such as vaginal dryness. With estrogen levels falling appreciably, the vaginal tissues start losing their flexibility, becoming increasingly dry. This makes intercourse painful along with making the entire area irritating and itchy. With increased dryness, the incidence of vaginal infections is also raised.