Let’s Talk Menopause
Menopause begins, by definition, when a woman has not had a single menstruation period in 1 year. This generally occurs in a woman’s 4th or 5th decade of life (ages 40s-50s). Menopause ends the years of fertility in a woman’s life. This is a normal process and occurs as a natural process of aging.
When Does Menopause Occur?
Menopause can suddenly happen after surgical removal of the ovaries or damage to the ovaries after chemotherapy or radiation. During the transition into menopause, the hormonal balance in the body begins to change. This creates a variety of symptoms that women experience. In social media, hot flashes and irritability are the most advertised symptoms, but there are many other symptoms.
Symptoms can include:
A. changes in menstrual periods
- heavy bleeding
- spotting
- irregularity in period cycle
- longer period duration
B. hot flashes
- sudden feeling of heat anywhere in the body
- heavy sweating with the sensation of heat
- flushing of the face and neck
C. incontinence
- loss of bladder control
- sudden urge to urinate
- leaking of urine during strenuous activity or exercise, sneezing, laughing
D. insomnia
- difficulty falling asleep
- difficulty staying asleep
- difficulty falling back asleep after waking
E. painful sex
- sex can become more painful due to vaginal dryness
F. mood changes
- irritability
- easy anger
- feelings of depression
G. weight gain
It’s important to remember that the transition to menopause and the symptoms experienced are different for everyone. Join the It’sFetch #perimenopause group for support and conversations on the topic.
It’s Fetch is a community that provides a safe space for members to discuss health and wellness topics. We provide access to archived health related content, note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content shared, regardless of date should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
-Written by Paavana Varanasi
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