Menopause Symptoms: Know When Your Body Is Changing

As your body matures and your hormone levels change, it can be a frightening experience unless you are aware of what is happening. Nearly 75% of all women will notice some type of symptoms of menopause.

These symptoms generally do not all appear at one time. They vary in degrees and occur over a period of time as the body goes through the transition from regular menstrual cycles and hormone production to the cessation of menstruation and a decrease in hormone production.

The symptoms typically start years before menopause. They begin to appear as hormone production starts to slow down. Women will notice these symptoms in the beginning stages of menopause, called perimenopause:

• Hot flashes - hot flashes with sweats and chills are a common symptom of menopause. This is due to your hormone levels fluctuating and your body having a hard time regulating its temperature.
• Sleep disturbances -sleep disturbances are usually due to the hot flashes. Most hot flashes occur during the night and can be severe enough to wake you up.
• Mood swings - mood swings associated with menopause range from irritability to depression. Sudden tears are not uncommon
• Lowered libido - During menopause your libido may not be as great as before. A woman's body is not only going through hormonal changes, it is physically changing as well. You may experience discomfort during intercourse due to some of the changes.
• Irregular menstrual cycle - the most common sign of menopause or of impending menopause is the menstrual cycle becoming irregular. The flow of the menses may also become lighter.
• Fatigue - Dr. David S. Bell of Harvard Medical School cites fatigue as second only to pain in symptoms of menopause seen in
• Weight gain - there is a great deal of controversy in the medical field as to whether or not the weight gained during menopause is a result of menopause itself or a result of a slowing metabolism due to age.
• Bone loss - during the perimenopausal years, rapid bone loss is a common occurrence. Although there is no direct pain associated with it, there is an increased rate of bone fractures and osteoporosis.

When these symptoms begin to appear, you should make an appointment for a full examination with your family doctor or gynecologist. You should make sure you are following the proper advice for alleviating your symptoms and for not becoming pregnant during perimenopause.

Symptoms are your body's way of alerting you to changes that are coming. Recognizing and knowing your body goes a long way in being prepared for the changes that are going to occur.

Prevent menopause symptoms today! Don’t wait another minute to feel better and more like yourself. Manage your menopause symptoms now and don’t wait.

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