Menopause

As the age of a woman increases, the reproductive cycle slows down and ultimately stops due to hormone replacement therapy for menopause and other factors. The menstrual cycle starts at puberty. As menopause approaches, the ovaries start producing less estrogen which is an important female hormone. As the level of estrogen decreases, the menstrual cycle begins to slow down. It becomes irregular and finally stops. Women also experience physical changes due to hormonal changes in the body. The symptoms occur due to your body’s adjustment to hormonal changes in the body.

Symptoms of Menopause

Women may start experiencing some symptoms when they reach the age of menopause. The common symptoms experienced by women include the following:

• A feeling of warmth all over the body called hot flashes

• Sweating at night

• Dryness of vagina and pain during sex

• Urgency to urinate

• Difficulty in falling asleep at night

• Emotional changes such as irritability, depression, and mood swings

• Dryness of skin, eyes, and wrinkles

• Regular headaches

• Irregular heartbeat and palpitations

• Pain in the joints and muscles

• Low sex drive

• Weight gain

• Thinning of hair and hair loss

Causes of Menopause

The main causes of menopause are:

• Less production of oestrogen and progesterone due to increasing age is the main cause of menopause. These two hormones regulate the menstrual cycle.

• The hormones are produced by the ovaries. Removal of ovaries due to surgery will result in menopause. Your menstrual cycle will stop and you will experience signs and symptoms of menopause.

• Radiation therapy of ovaries will affect the functions of ovaries and may result in menopause. Radiation therapy of other organs will not produce any effect on the functions of ovaries.

• Some women may experience menopause before the age of 40 which is called premature menopause. It may occur due to the failure of ovaries to produce sufficient hormones which may occur due to genetic diseases or autoimmune disorders.