Tips on Identifying Symptoms of Menopause

The advent of menopause is not pleasant. Physical, emotional as well as mental upheavals will mark the start of menopause. There are no guidebooks to help you recognize the on start of menopause. These changes are unique to each woman before the first stage of menopause called perimenopause set in. But the general signs of menopause would be the following.

The ages between 42 and 56 are the most common ages for menopause to occur.The initial experience of different women can be different but the end results are always same: there are no periods, you lose your fertility and you gradually move into post childbearing phase of your life. But reaching menopause should not mean growing old. The other side of menopause is that one can now live a full life without the monthly tensions.

But remember that during menopause the body undergoes several changes. The fluctuating of calcium levels in the body will result in the onset of osteoporosis due to hormonal changes.The body loses its immunity somehow and is easy prey to heart diseases, diabetes and other related illnesses.

The 3 Stages of Menopause

There are three stages to menopause. The first stage is the perimenopause. There are irregular periods and spotting during this stage because of fluctuating hormone secretion.There is a general misconception that once you enter this it is impossible to conceive.Conceiving is difficult during this stage is the common belief. In reality eggs do get released from the ovaries but the ovulation might be infrequent. This stage could last for 5 years generally but there have been exceptions of up to 15 years also.The major symptoms associated with perimenopause are hot flashes, night sweats and irritation.

There is no menstruation during this second stage. Around 51 years a woman would begin her second stage called as menopause. But the periods must be absent for a period of 12 consecutive months.The general signs of menopause are hot flashes, headaches and mood swings.

The final stage is postmenopause. Hot flashes and night sweats will be absent. But other diseases will raise their heads - osetoporosis, heart diseases and UTI.

It is understandable that women find it difficult to cope with the fact that they will no longer menstruate and bearing children will be impossible. On the other hand some women gracefully accept the changes associated with menopause and live their remaining lives in a happy mood. They believe that they are tension free as there is no more worry of being pregnant and they don't have to fret about periods and hormones either. Through proper learning and a little bit of courage menopause can be one of the defining moments of a women's life.