Menopause

The beginning of a new phase of life

Menopause is a natural part of aging for women, and an important chapter in womens sexual health. It’s the natural cessation of the menstrual period, which marks an end to a woman’s reproductive capabilities. Menopause usually occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55, with menopause before 45 considered early menopause, and anything after that general age range being considered late menopause.

Even men experience this change of life, called andropause or male menopause, when their testosterone levels decrease. They experience similar symptoms as women, including a change in sexual desire and ability. While some of the symptoms of menopause for both men and women can be alarming, once you’ve ruled out any other conditions, there’s no need to be worried about this natural part of aging.

Perimenopause

Menopause doesn’t occur in one day, or even one month. There’s no magic door we quickly go through that shuts behind us, signaling the end of reproduction. The process can actually be a long one. The period of time when the ovaries start behaving erratically before the end of menstruation is known as perimenopause. This can start years before actual menopause. Signs of perimenopause include:

• Changes in a period
• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Insomnia and frequent waking
• Irritability and mood swings
• Feelings of confusion and distraction
• Changing hair growth (less on the head and /or new hair on the face)
• Vaginal dryness

These are all signs that your ova are no longer being released as regularly as before. This happens when menopause is approaching, as the ovaries start to lose their function.

Post Menopause

After a woman has gone for 12 months without a period, she’d considered to be in post menopause. The year-long wait seems a long one, but perimenopause and menopause can cause a woman to miss a period or several at a time before another period eventually comes along. This can go on for some time, and during that time it’s still possible for a woman to get pregnant. So after 12 months without a period, post menopause begins and a woman can be sure that pregnancy is no longer a possibility.

Menopause Treatment

Menopause isn’t a disease, so treatments are aimed at alleviating symptoms. Hormone therapy is the typical treatment for managing symptoms. Hormone therapy can benefit women’s sexual health by eliminating vaginal dryness and increasing the sex drive.