Sometime during her life, a woman will go through menopause. Normally it will happen when she is between 50 and 54, but it can occur when she's younger or older. Menopause means that a woman's ovaries are shutting down and will stop producing estrogen and progesterone. Menstruation will diminish, and will stop altogether when the ovaries quit functioning.



Menopause is the part of a woman's normal aging process and it will happen to all who haven't had their uterus and ovaries surgically removed. If this is the case, premature menopause will occur. In some cases, only the uterus is taken out and the ovaries are left. Under these circumstances, there are no immediate menopausal symptoms, since the patient is still receiving the hormones mentioned above.

There are many symptoms of menopause that a woman may not at first be aware of. As the ovaries produce less and less progesterone and estrogen the menstrual cycle will be affected. The menstrual cycle will become unpredictable as one month the flow is heavy and the next month the flow may be only a day or two of spotting.

Other signals to a woman that she is entering menopause include one of the many following: (1) hot flashes, (2) irritable moods, (3) sweating, (4) disturbances in sleep patterns, (5) vaginal dryness, causing discomfort during sex and sometimes during urination, (6) mood swings that can include angry moods and feelings of depression, (7) hair growth on the face, chest, arms, and stomach, (8) difficulty in remembering things and difficulty in concentrating for long periods of time, and (9) a low frustration level that affects the rest of the woman's mood.

There are many things that a woman can do to ease the way her body reacts to menopause. One of the best things that a woman can do is to be as well informed about menopause as she can. The more information that a woman has the better she will be able to understand what is happening, therefore not feeling so alone in the changes that are taking place in her body.

As with so many other aspects of our lives, a balanced and healthy diet, and exercise will go a long way in making women feel better. Eating healthy, nutritious foods will help minimize their symptoms. Vitamin and minerals taken as supplements are essential as well. Some women experience severe menopausal symptoms and may wish to consider hormone replacement therapy (HRT). During these years, it is more important than ever for women to regularly visit their doctors. They may experience unrelated symptoms and not be able to tell the difference without a medical examination. It may also be beneficial to join a menopause support group, where they will meet other women with similar experiences. This contact can go a long way in helping women cope with menopause.