Menopause symptoms usually begin occurring in a woman’s midlife. This usually means in her forties or fifties. It is a sign that her body is done being able to bear children. It can be a time of relief for a woman and should help her transition into the next part of her life. She will no longer have a monthly menstruation cycle and will not have to deal with the pain and negative symptoms that brings. She may feel a loss of her youth but should be careful to realize this is the start of a new life stage and it can be a great time for a woman.
Menopause is usually recognized when a woman begins having the cessation of her monthly cycle. It can also be noticed through hot flashes, increased weight gain, soreness of muscles, and maybe a feeling of tiredness. Just as a woman’s body has to work hard to produce the monthly cycle, it has to work hard to basically shut down that part of her body. It may cause physical pain as the monthly cycle did but it will gradually decrease and a woman will be feeling better.
A woman going through menopause may feel nothing in the beginning except she will notice her monthly cycle is getting lighter and maybe more erratic. This is the first stage. She will experience night sweats and even hot flashes during the days.
These may be accompanied by headaches or just overall stress in the body. This is all normal and if a woman is concerned, she should visit her doctor so he can assure her that all the things she is experiencing are normal. As the woman progresses through menopause she may find herself less eager to have sex and when she does, it may be painful or difficult.
These are all normal signs that she should discuss with her partner. They can work it out together as men at this age sometimes have an increased sexual appetite. It should not be something that comes between a couple but something they will need to work through.
Menopause is not only the end of something but also the beginning of a new stage in life. It should be viewed, even with all the symptoms, as something good.
Change can be difficult so if you are a woman going through this change, be aware of your mood changes and possible increased depression. Depression can be prevalent in women going through the menopause who feel it is a negative time rather than a time of new beginnings.
There are many website out there that offer a lot of support when women are going through the menopause, one being A.Vogel Menopause website, where they offer a live chat facility ran by menopause expert Eileen Durward plus the opportunity of receiving a free menopause pack which includes lots of helpful and practical information.
Irene writes extensively for women’s health magazines & websites. Irene has been writing on health topics for the 25 years.
My mom had undergone menopause when she was just about age 47, I think. I knew little about this subject, and the only thing I know about it is that a woman stops her monthly cycle at around 45-55 years old. I never knew that women going through menopause could lead to them feeling some kind of depression about it. Thanks for sharing!