Menopausal Women - Challenges Won't Last Forever

While pre-menopausal women long for the day when they no longer have to deal with cramps, mood swings and bloating every month, for women going through "the change," it isn't always easy. Symptoms like fatigue and mood swings can be extremely difficult on both the woman and her family. In this article, we'll discuss the symptoms of menopause and how life changes after your period ceases.

Menopause is a natural occurrence in women as they age and is not a physical disorder. Menopause is the absence of menstrual periods for 12 months and beyond, and most women begin menopause in their late forties or early fifties. Some women experience difficulty during this time because of the changes in hormone levels. While some women have few or no symptoms, others have many moderate or severe symptoms. The clearest sign of the start of menopause is irregular periods, and when blood flow becomes lighter or heavier.

Women going through the change of life can experience a variety of symptoms or no symptoms at all. To predict what your experience may be like, look at the history of the women in your family. Medical evidence shows that genetics may be a factor in how mild or severe your symptoms are. The symptoms can include weight gain, hot flashes, insomnia, night sweats, vaginal dryness, joint pain, fatigue, short-term memory problems, bowel upset, dry eyes, itchy skin, mood swings and urinary tract infections. Most of the time, these symptoms will lessen or go away after a woman has finished menopause. Research has shown that the severity of symptoms can be related to many things, including genetics, diet and lifestyle.

There are treatment options if your symptoms become so severe that they begin to affect your quality of life. The most common treatment used to be hormone replacement therapy; however, HRT was discontinued when studies showed that it increased the risk of heart attack, stroke and breast cancer. Oral contraceptive pills are another form of hormone therapy often prescribed for women in perimenopause to treat irregular vaginal bleeding. Antidepressant medications have been shown to be effective in controlling the symptoms of hot flashes in up to 60% of women. Some women report that vitamin E supplements can provide relief from mild hot flashes.

Menopausal women have to remember that the symptoms that they are experiencing won't last forever and there are ways to reduce the impact on their lives. A few lifestyle changes combined with medication can make a big difference in your quality of life. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, speak to your doctor about the treatments best suited to you. Most importantly, don't let menopause rule your life. Do the things you enjoy and live life as fully as possible.