How does menopause manifest in women? How does menopause begin in women? Decreased libido or increased sexual desire

The meaning of life for a woman is the need to be loved and desired, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. Hidden deep down is a subconscious ancient desire to have reliable protection for your children, yourself and your home.

And only a sincerely loving man can give her this confidence. A woman knows only one way to find this meaning in life, to be attractive and sexy. – female sex hormones provide them with this attractiveness.

Thanks to these hormones, a woman has rounded body shapes, a gentle voice, velvety and elastic skin, strong and vivid emotions. Estrogens are responsible for the ability to conceive and bear a child. That is why during the Renaissance, dimples on the buttocks and thighs, which today are called cellulite, were considered a sign of female attractiveness.

They indicated a sufficient level of estrogen in the body, which means that the woman herself is healthy and is able to give birth to healthy offspring. But nothing lasts forever, in the life of every representative of the fair sex there comes this “terrible” period, which is called menopause.

Age when menopause begins in women

Menopause is the natural decline of the main female function - childbirth. Gradual reverse development of the organs necessary for this: breasts, ovaries, uterus and a decrease in the level of estrogen in the body.

Each woman’s ovaries are genetically endowed with a certain number of follicles, and the time of onset of menopausal syndrome depends on this. Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 50 and 55 years. If its symptoms are observed before the age of 40, this is an early syndrome (see). All body reactions to this latest hormonal “storm” are individual for each woman.

One goes through this period hard and for a long time, for the other it passes almost unnoticed. There is a clear hereditary connection between the beginning of the decline of reproductive function in the female line; if a woman wants to find out how this process will go for her, it is enough to ask her mother about this question. This will allow you to prepare psychologically and help you get through this period easier (see).

Early menopause syndrome is diagnosed in women under 40 years of age, which is a deviation and not a natural process (a common occurrence in recent decades). Risk groups include:

• smoking women
• have undergone a large number of medical
• having irregular sex life
• suffering from alcoholism, obesity
• those who do not comply with the work and rest schedule
• often exposed to stress and addicted to diets, fasting
• having autoimmune diseases, endocrine disorders (thyroid diseases, diabetes mellitus)
• gynecological diseases, including cancer

Periods of hormonal changes

The time during which complete hormonal changes occur occurs in three stages:

Premenopause- In the first stage, lasting up to 6 years, the follicles become more resistant to the action of hormones that stimulate them to mature. The usual cyclicity of the menstrual cycle is disrupted. Menstruation may occur with significant delays, the number of days decreases or increases until it stops completely. The volume of discharge also changes, bleeding becomes more scarce or more abundant. Gynecologists call this period premenopausal.

In the pathological course of premenopause, increased production of estrogen is observed - hyperestragenia. Therefore, during a preventive cancer examination by a gynecologist, such patients may exhibit the following signs:

• excess production of cervical mucus, pronounced folding of the vaginal wall
• the uterus does not decrease in size, but enlarges and becomes denser
• When examining the mammary glands, heaviness and small lumps are determined; they are somewhat enlarged and painful
• Myomatous nodes and other tumor neoplasms in the genital organs are detected in the walls of the uterus
• menstruation may be longer and more abundant, and cases of dysfunctional bleeding are not uncommon (see)

Menopause- the second stage is the shortest, the complete cessation of menstruation.
At the third stage, hormonal changes finally end, the ovaries completely stop producing hormones, the level of estrogen is steadily reduced by 50% of the level of the reproductive phase. The age-related involution of the body continues. This is early postmenopause (1 - 2 years).

Postmenopause- At the third stage, hormonal changes finally end, the ovaries completely stop producing hormones, the level of estrogen is steadily reduced by 50% of the level of the reproductive phase. The age-related involution of the body continues. This is early postmenopause (1 - 2 years). Organs in the functioning of which sex hormones took part undergo smooth hypotrophic changes:

• pubic hair is thinning
• the walls of the vagina lose their tone and folding
• the vaults are flattened
• the size of the uterus decreases
• The volume of mucus secreted from the cervical canal decreases, and complete cessation is possible.

Significant changes also occur in the mammary glands, which is a physiological process - involution of the mammary glands occurs through fatty or fibrous replacement of glandular tissue. During the normal course of the menopause, health remains satisfactory for a long time. Immediate postmenopause lasts for the rest of your life.

What are the symptoms of menopausal syndrome?

Estrogens take an active part in the life of the body as a whole; there are receptors sensitive to these hormones in many organs, hence the variety of symptoms. If this period occurs with complications in a woman, the following symptoms of menopause will be observed:

• Changes in the emotional sphere

The ancient Greeks directly associated the emotional state of a woman with the uterus, this is reflected in the origin of the word hysteria from the Greek hystera - uterus. In some women, climacteric emotional disorders occur according to the type of astheno-neurotic syndrome. This condition manifests itself as unmotivated tearfulness, irritability, feelings of anxiety, fear, insomnia, and intolerance to certain sounds and smells.

Other patients have severe depressive disorders that do not respond well to traditional treatment and are severe. Some women may experience significant changes in behavior, even defiant behavior. They do flashy hairstyles, wear revealing outfits, and prefer bright makeup, in the hope of delaying the passing of youth.

• Autonomic nervous system disorders

The most striking and specific symptoms in severe menopausal syndrome are “hot flashes,” which arise as a reaction of autonomic neuroregulation to the influence of external and internal factors (see). Clinically, hot flashes manifest themselves:

• feeling of anxiety;
• feeling of a sinking heart;
• lack of air;
• profuse sweating;
• redness of the skin;
• nausea;
• dizziness and increasing weakness.

Hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) – characterized by disturbances in the rhythm, depth, and frequency of breathing. Patients complain of lack of air, tightness in the chest, and a lump in the throat. With this syndrome, persistent headaches are noted, such as migraine, tension pain, and mixed types. Such patients do not tolerate stuffiness, humidity, and heat. DHW is associated with a violation of the metabolism of minerals, namely calcium and magnesium, which is caused by a persistent decrease in estrogen levels.

Recently, sleep apnea syndrome, frequent attacks of short-term spontaneous breath holding during sleep, has been classified as HVS. Indirect symptoms of menopause are:

• night snoring
• frequent awakenings
• increased sleepiness during the day
• high blood pressure numbers in the morning.

The function of estrogen includes the preservation and restoration of nerve cells that are destroyed during, improving neuronal function, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, normalizing blood circulation in the brain, and regulating glucose levels.

• Dysfunction of the genitourinary system and changes in the trophism of the skin

Atrophic vaginitis– estrogen deficiency, during menopausal syndrome, leads to a decrease in blood flow in the vaginal walls to a state of ischemia. The lumen of the arteries narrows, the number of functioning capillaries decreases, the production of natural mucus is disrupted, this explains the pathological dryness of the vagina, as a result, prolapse of the walls.

Atrophic changes in the ligamentous apparatus of the pelvis, the normal anatomical location of the urethra and bladder is changed, which contributes to the prolapse of the walls of the vagina and uterus.

Symptoms of atrophic cystourethritis– increased frequency of urination with the release of a small amount of urine, pain, burning during urination, cutting pain in the bladder. Increased frequency of urination at night, more than once per night, urinary incontinence.

Violation of normal skin nutrition. The skin becomes thinner, loses elasticity, becomes dry, wrinkled and flabby. Pigment spots and small skin growths appear. The amount of hair on the head decreases, hair growth on the face increases.

Osteoporosis and functional disorders of the cardiovascular system.
The cardiovascular system reacts to menopause with a gradual increase in blood pressure, which is subjectively felt.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis– in the occurrence of osteoporosis, the leading role is assigned to a deficiency of estradiol, a hormone from the estrogen group. During menopause, the balance of processes that ensure bone tissue renewal occurs. Clinically this manifests itself:

• stoop;
• decreased growth due to osteoporotic compression of the vertebral bodies;
• frequent bone fractures from minor mechanical impacts;
• pain in the joints, sacrum, during long walking, when standing.

Treatment of menopause in women - medical care for menopausal women

To treat menopause in women, medications, herbal medicine, physiotherapy and physical therapy are used. Before starting medication treatment, massage, diet and hydrotherapy procedures are recommended; if no noticeable effect is observed, drug therapy is started, including therapy with hormonal and non-hormonal agents (see).

At a certain age, a woman’s body undergoes some changes that interfere with her physical, social and psychological state. A primary role in this process belongs to endocrine disorders, mainly a decrease in the production of the hormone estrogen. What are these changes? At what age can they overtake a woman? This is exactly what this article will discuss.

general information

Menopause is a normal condition that absolutely every woman has to face.

In the life of all representatives of the fair sex there comes a rather difficult time associated with hormonal changes in the entire body. This is a special physiological period during which, against the background of natural age-related changes, involutionary processes directly in the reproductive system itself prevail. They are, as a rule, characterized first by the cessation of reproductive function, and then by menstrual function. This physiological period in medicine is called “menopause”. What to do?

Main reasons

According to experts, the reason for the development of this condition lies in changes in hormonal levels, or more precisely, there is a decrease in the production of sex hormones. If we are talking about premature menopause, then doctors identify a number of provoking factors:

• life situations that led to severe stress;
• removal of the ovaries and uterus;
• various types of thyroid diseases;
• production of insufficient amounts of hormones by the ovaries;
• sexually transmitted infections that were diagnosed during puberty.

What time does menopause begin in women? Unfortunately, it is impossible to give a definite answer to this question, since this period occurs at different ages for each woman, depending on her genetic predisposition.

What stages is menopause divided into?

Experts conditionally divide it into three stages. If every woman has a rough idea about this period, from a psychological point of view it will be much easier for her to endure this time. The whole point is that she will understand what is happening to her right now. This is a very important aspect, which we will consider in more detail below.

1. Premenopause. What time does menopause begin? This stage occurs in women at approximately 40-45 years of age. Some doctors consider premenopause to be the beginning of menopause. It is characterized by a sharp decrease in the production of the hormone estrogen, which manifests itself in the form and change in the nature of discharge. As a rule, women do not complain of any physical or psychological discomfort.
2. Menopause. In the specialized literature you can find another name for this stage - “natural menopause in women.” Symptoms and age of women may vary somewhat. This period is characterized by an almost complete stop in estrogen production, which is accompanied by a complete cessation of menstruation.
3. Postmenopause. This stage occurs approximately a year after menstruation has completely stopped. Its duration, according to experts, depends solely on how quickly the body and endocrine system can adapt to their new state. Postmenopause is insidious in that it can significantly worsen a woman’s health and provoke the development of many diseases (osteoporosis, thyroid pathologies, etc.).

When does menopause begin?

How does menopause begin? First of all, it should be noted that this condition occurs earlier in some women, and later in others, but in most cases at the age of about 45 years. Some ladies believe that the onset of menopause and its average duration are directly related to the intensity of sexual activity and the number of births. They explain this by the fact that childbirth literally “exhausts” the ovaries. That is why for mothers with many children, menopause occurs much earlier and is accompanied by great suffering. However, this statement is incorrect. A large number of children and a pronounced ability to conceive only reflect good ovarian function and excellent health.

Experts (based on data obtained from numerous experiments) are confident that alcohol abuse and smoking, as well as promiscuity, most often make themselves felt during menopause in women. The age of women who have entered this physiological period most often does not exceed 45 years.

In medicine there are also concepts of early and late menopause. In the first case, you can expect the cessation of the menstrual cycle before the age of 40 years. As a rule, close relatives of such women also had it. Moreover, women from such families have a late onset of menstruation (18-20 years).

As for (after 50 years), there is no point in being afraid of him. If a woman has no health problems, then experts recommend simply visiting a gynecologist regularly and monitoring her condition.

How does menopause begin?

Doctors identify a number of symptoms that directly accompany this condition. It is important to note that some women exhibit all clinical signs, while others exhibit only some. How difficult it is to experience this condition depends directly on the level of estrogen and the rate of its decline. If previously the hormone levels were not very high and they decreased gradually, most likely the woman will not feel any discomfort. Otherwise, with high levels of hormones, menopause will not be easy to survive. How is menopause different? Symptoms:

• Hot flashes are a feeling of heat and redness of the skin in the head and neck area, which are simultaneously accompanied by sweating. This state can last about five minutes.
• Headache.
• Insomnia. In fact, this is a very characteristic sign of menopause. Loss of sleep, in turn, provokes nervousness and exhaustion, not only on a physical, but also on a mental level.
• Depression also appears during menopause in women. Age plays an important role in this case. The younger the lady, the more pronounced this symptom is. Tears for no reason, bad mood, feeling of complete hopelessness - these are all clear signs of depression.
• Changing the usual metabolism. Some women suffer from carbohydrate metabolism disorders, which entails changes in blood sugar and even its appearance in the urine.
• Problems with blood circulation. These are hot flashes, numbness in the limbs, a feeling of constant pressure in the chest.
• Decreased libido, vaginal dryness, fullness. The breasts lose their usual elasticity. Body weight increases as the effect of the thyroid gland weakens.

Above we have listed only some of the symptoms that most fully characterize how the menopause begins. In fact, they can vary somewhat depending on the individual characteristics of the female body.

What complications can you encounter?

According to experts, about 55% of women (45-50 years old) during menopause, in the absence of qualified treatment, face heart disease. At a later age (55-70 years), dysfunction of the urinary tract often appears (ranging from urinary incontinence to inflammatory processes of a chronic nature).

Many representatives of the fair sex experience osteoporosis, which leads to fractures of large bones. According to available data, by the age of 70, about 40% of women have suffered this type of injury.

The main problem is that a woman has to seek help from completely different specialists (gynecologist, surgeon, therapist, etc.). One has only to imagine that from each doctor she receives 2-3 prescribed medications. As a result, only individual symptoms are treated, and not the primary problem called “menopause.” What to do in this case? Is it possible to alleviate the unpleasant sensations?

What should the treatment be?

First of all, doctors strongly recommend giving up bad habits, adding more sports to your life and trying to rest more often. It is better to give up the obsession with losing weight. The thing is that for many women, as soon as menopause begins, excess weight appears. Subcutaneous fat is known to play a primary role in hormonal metabolism.

In addition, yoga, sauna and massage are the main non-drug ways to combat discomfort. They are recommended for pain and stress relief.

Menopause is a special period in a woman’s life, one way or another occurring at a certain age. The sexual function of the fair sex fades away, age-related changes provoke libido involution, the preconditions for the cessation of the regular menstrual cycle are formed, and the ability to have children ceases. What are the signs and symptoms of this process? How to reduce their negative manifestations and continue to live a full life? You will learn about this and much more from our article.

Menstrual irregularities during menopause

The first and most basic symptom of menopause in women is disruption of the regular menstrual cycle with the formation of menopause. In the general medical gradation, this physiological process is divided into three large stages:

1. Premenopause. This is an early period of premenopause, during which the functions of the ovaries begin to fade - the menstrual cycle becomes irregular, sometimes delayed by up to 40–90 days. Its duration is purely individual and depends on the characteristics of the body of the fair sex - usually 2–8 years. The ability to conceive is rapidly declining. The final stage of this condition is the complete cessation of discharge;
2. Menopause. 12 month period from the date of the last independent menstruation. Natural pregnancy is no longer possible;
3. Postmenopause. The final stage of menstrual cycle disruption with a complete cessation of hormone production by the ovaries and structural changes in a number of systems of the female body. Continues after menopause until the death of the fair sex.

It is impossible to avoid or slow down the process of menstrual irregularities if it is caused by natural causes. The exception is cases of artificial menopause caused by pathologies, treatment features and other external factors (except surgical removal of the ovaries) - with proper therapy, basic function and the menstrual cycle can be restored over time.

One of the most striking first symptoms of the premenopausal stage is hot flashes in women. This manifestation is most often diagnosed on the face, but can also spread to the neck, chest and even lower, down to the waist area. Hot flashes provoke a rise in temperature, increased heart rate, and redness of the skin.

This symptom most often appears during periods of low physical activity - in the evening and at night. According to most modern doctors, the mechanism of its formation is closely related to changes in hormonal levels. A decrease in estrogen concentration leads to a slowdown in a number of specific metabolic processes, which in turn potentiates such external manifestations.

As a rule, hot flashes disappear after the end of premenopause and the body adapts to new working conditions. How to reduce such manifestations without the use of non-steroidal analgesics and other medications?

1. Avoid stress. Depression and severe stress provoke a more pronounced manifestation of symptoms, even during the daytime. Try to avoid unpleasant situations, and if one occurs, calm down quickly;
2. Correct microclimate. Sleep at home with the windows open, weather permitting. Try to maintain the room temperature no more than 15–18 degrees - a microclimate that is too warm can independently provoke a fever;
3. Normalize your diet. Limit your consumption of meat and fried foods, and focus on fruits and vegetables. Drink green tea and foods rich in vitamin E - wheat germ, nuts, whole grains;
4. Maintain body tone. For women, moderate physical cardio during the day is recommended;
5. Choose the right clothes. Too tight and synthetic products should be excluded from the wardrobe, and dress only for the weather.

Insomnia

More than half of all representatives of the fair sex suffer from insomnia during menopause. Sleep disturbances in this case are physiological in nature and are also associated with hormonal imbalance, with a significant role being played by poor psycho-emotional background. Depression and worries during this period plague the woman more and more. Her usual circadian rhythms are disrupted, the situation is aggravated by the presence of parallel negative symptoms, snoring develops, and in some cases even OSA syndrome.

How to deal with insomnia during this difficult time for women?

1. Strict daily routine. You need to go to bed and get up at the same time - this is an axiom. It is best to prepare for a night's rest starting at 9 o'clock in the evening, and go to bed by the 22nd - from 23 to 1 o'clock in the morning the body is actively recovering and resting, it is better for this process to occur during sleep. Try to give up daytime sleep, but increase the duration of nighttime sleep to the norm of 8 hours;
2. Optimization of external conditions. It is easier and easier to sleep in a room with a good microclimate, a temperature of 16–17 degrees and the required level of humidity - to create the latter, regularly ventilate the bedroom or use humidifiers. The bed mattress and pillow must be orthopedic and suitable in size. The blanket is made from vegetable filling, bed linen is made from natural materials. Remove the TV and computer from the bedroom, cover the windows with opaque thick curtains with good light and sound insulation;
3. Additional relaxation. Two hours before bedtime, take a half-hour walk outside. 1 hour before - take a warm shower or bath with aromatherapy; a full body massage will also not be amiss.

Shortness of breath and lack of air

An additional negative point can be considered a decrease in the level of secretion and lubrication in the vagina - even if sexual intercourse occurs, the man’s friction may not bring pleasure, but irritation. In addition, insufficient lubrication provokes a weakening of the natural local barrier against sexually transmitted infections.

Possible solutions to problems:

1. Hormone replacement therapy;
2. The use of artificial lubricants during sexual intercourse;
3. Use of drugs that increase libido;
4. Proper preparation for sex is the use of aromatherapy, an appropriate intimate atmosphere.

Other symptoms of menopause

Typical manifestations of menopause also include the following symptoms:

1. Changes in posture and osteoporosis. Unpleasant problems with the musculoskeletal system develop gradually and are subject to effective treatment with timely consultation with a specialized specialist;
2. Dry eyes and skin. The structure of the epithelium and soft tissues changes rapidly with the onset of menopause. Hair falls out more actively and changes color, deep wrinkles appear, and the overall elasticity of the skin decreases. This process can be slowed down by switching to a healthy diet, using cosmetics with a pronounced therapeutic effect, and, if necessary, undergoing plastic surgery;
3. Frequent urination. The urinary system, which is connected by reverse processes to the reproductive system, is also susceptible to structural changes during menopause. Frequent urges at night, periodic infections, and other unpleasant pathologies will haunt a woman who does not care about preserving her own health. In most cases, to solve this problem, complex symptomatic drug therapy is recommended, as well as treatment of secondary background diseases, in parallel with taking hormonal drugs;
4. Frequent mood swings. Disturbed hormonal levels not only provoke the physical symptomatic manifestations of menopause, but also affect the psycho-emotional background of a woman. Frequent mood swings, stress, and depression caused by physiological changes significantly worsen the quality of life. The solution to such problems is not simple and unambiguous - the fair sex needs to rest more, be in the fresh air, and be able to relax. In severe cases, a woman will need the help of a psychologist and take an appropriate course; only in some cases can it be rational to take antidepressants.

Useful video

Symptoms of menopause and menopause in women

Menopause is an important stage in a woman’s life, and it should be considered as the next stage in the development of a biological organism, associated with the decline of reproductive function. Men, just like women, experience this stage, but their changes occur more mildly and later. How menopause begins in women is a question that excites the mind when approaching a critical point on the scale of life.

Menopause is a natural process. It occurs in the life of every woman and is associated with global changes in the body. There is a lot of speculation surrounding menopause, which is not always positive. How complex the process is, at what age to expect changes and what to do if you feel unwell, we will look into this article.

At what age does menopause occur is a pressing question. As a rule, dramatic changes occur at 45-50 years old, but in some cases menopause occurs much earlier, at 36-40 years old (early menopause). At this time, there is a deep restructuring of the body, starting with the parts of the brain: the pituitary gland and hypothalamus. The pituitary gland weighs only 0.5 g, but its role in the functioning of the human body is irreplaceable. Working in close connection with the hypothalamus (the hypothalamus regulates the functioning of the pituitary gland), it is responsible for the human reproductive system. Gonadotropic hormones of the pituitary gland stimulate ovulation and the release of the female hormone estrogen into the blood.

Estrogen is also produced by the ovaries. The female hormone is responsible for optimal metabolism, emotional mood, proper functioning of the uterus, strengthening bone tissue and, by reducing muscle mass, gives the figure a femininity.

With the end of the childbearing period, the functioning of the brain and ovaries transforms. The secretion of estrogen and progesterone (female sex hormones) is noticeably reduced, while testosterone (male sex hormone) remains at the same level.

For full functioning, the female body needs not only female, but also male hormones, the latter in small quantities. At the initial stage of menopause, the levels of androgens and testosterone may even increase. At this point, the risk of sudden weight gain of up to 10 kg often increases, and the extra pounds gained during this period are subsequently difficult to get rid of.

Menopause can be divided into 3 main stages:

• premenopause;
• menopause;
• postmenopause.

Premenopause or menopausal syndrome is accompanied by disruption of the menstrual cycle and a number of changes characteristic of vegetative-vascular dystonia. It can last from 2 to 10 years, until menstruation stops completely.

Symptoms characteristic of premenopause:

• decreased ability to conceive;
• disruption of the menstrual cycle. In some cases, the regulations become rare and scarce, in others they become excessively abundant;
• with the normal course of premenopause, the break between menstruation lengthens gradually: from 40 to 90 days, until complete cessation;
• the duration of menstruation decreases;
• Heavy periods during menopause are associated with ovulation disorders. They usually begin after a delay in menstruation. In some cases, qualified medical assistance is required;
• in rare cases, engorgement of the mammary glands occurs due to fluctuations in the amount of estrogen in the blood;
• Sometimes there is a sudden cessation of menstruation.

Menopause is the next stage of body restructuring. Occurs one year after the end of the last menstruation. If during premenopause there is a high risk of unwanted or unexpected pregnancy, then from the moment of menopause it is impossible to become pregnant naturally.

Postmenopause lasts until the end of life. It is characterized by complete cessation of ovarian function and a consistently low level of estrogen in the blood. Dramatic changes occur in a woman’s body: the skin gradually loses elasticity, hair thins, the vaginal mucosa becomes drier and more vulnerable, mammary gland tissue degenerates, and the shape of the breast changes.

What to expect from menopause?

Symptoms of menopause in women manifest themselves differently. Some continue to lead their usual lifestyle. Others are watching the changes with interest. In some cases, menopausal symptoms manifest themselves so actively that the help of a doctor is required.

Elena Malysheva reveals everything about menopause in women, the subtlest nuances of the problem in an accessible language in one of the episodes of the “Live Healthy” program.

Attitudes towards menopause vary among different peoples and individuals. Some perceive the cessation of the menstrual cycle as a tragedy, others treat the problem philosophically, some peoples of the East even organize a holiday on this occasion. The overwhelming majority of European women experience a whole bunch of negative feelings when entering a new life cycle.

During menopause, in especially severe cases, there is a risk of heart attacks and strokes. There is a high risk of developing osteoporosis and diabetes. Cases of cancer development are common. To maintain health and quality of life for many years, you need to know the specific symptoms and treatment for menopause.

The restructuring is happening smoothly. Almost no one pays attention to the first signs. Menstruation ended a little earlier than usual or the discharge turned out to be profuse and of an unusual color. Periodically, difficulties arise with falling asleep, loved ones begin to irritate, and employees become dissatisfied. Don’t think that the world has turned against you - it’s all about hormones, nothing more. There is happiness, but the body chemistry changes and the perception of the environment changes.

Characteristic symptoms of menopause in women over 45 years of age:

• Sleep disturbance. A woman during menopause has difficulty falling asleep. This is facilitated by an increased feeling of anxiety - a side effect of the body's decreased production of female hormones.
• Cardiopalmus. It occurs unexpectedly, in short attacks and is very disturbing, especially during the period of falling asleep.
• A feeling of numbness in the limbs or a tight feeling in the chest is a sure sign of poor circulation.
• Feeling of tingling and trembling in the limbs.
• Violation of thermoregulation, which leads to attacks of chills, usually at night.
• Decreased ability to work, attacks of weakness, high fatigue, muscle pain.
• Pressure surges are accompanied by dizziness, sometimes headache, and in rare cases, loss of consciousness.
• Sexual desire in most cases decreases, but on the contrary, it can increase.
• Emotional swings, sudden changes in mood. Unreasonable restlessness, tearfulness or irritability.
• Decreased concentration. Distracted attention and weakening of memory.
• Sometimes there are neurotic disorders with a tendency to hypochondria.
• Temperature fluctuations throughout the day.
• Difficulty breathing - feeling of lack of air.
• Deformation of taste sensations.
• Dry mucous membranes. Feeling of “sand in the eyes”, dry mouth.
• Painful sensations in the lower back, pulling heaviness in the lower abdomen.
• Skin aging is characterized by decreased elasticity and increased dryness. The reason is a reduction in the production of female sex hormones. Wrinkles appear and deepen over time.
• Hair becomes brittle, turns gray and falls out.
• The figure becomes less graceful and feminine.

Hot flashes are the most common symptom of menopause in women. Suddenly there is heat throughout the body, sometimes accompanied by redness of the skin. The pulse quickens, perspiration appears. Attacks occur unexpectedly and without cause at any time of the day, with unpredictable frequency. May disturb you during sleep. Sometimes they get tiring and cause serious trouble. Hot flashes can be mild and end quickly, or they can manifest themselves clearly and severely and torment a woman for years.

The simplest and most widely known way to relieve menopausal symptoms is a mixture of tinctures of valerian, motherwort and hawthorn in equal proportions. Use the “cocktail” up to 4 times a day at the rate of 1 teaspoon per half glass of water. Taking the mixture is allowed for up to 4 months in a row, after which you should take a break. With regular use of the drug, the quality of sleep improves, the frequency and intensity of hot flashes decreases, and the nervous system is strengthened.

Ignoring the problem of hot flashes can lead to myositis and a number of other chronic diseases. During difficult periods, special attention should be paid to clothing. Since the body's thermoregulation is impaired, the correct manner of dressing will reduce the discomfort of hot flashes. Multi-layered clothing (for example: turtleneck, jacket, shawl) will help stop the feeling of chills or hot flashes. By taking off and putting on again the components of her wardrobe, a woman can create the most comfortable feeling for herself.

Representatives of Asian countries may not encounter these kinds of problems. Doctors believe that the phenomenon is related to food culture. For example, in Japan there is rarely meat on the table. Residents of the Land of the Rising Sun eat soy, fish and seafood. During menopause, they do not experience negative feelings and do not gain weight.

Is late menopause a lucky ticket?

The first signs of menopause in a woman can occur at different ages. On average, a woman enters menopause at 47.5 years of age. In rare cases, menopause begins at 36 years of age and this is not considered a pathology. But late menopause can lead to a number of negative consequences.

If menopause occurs around 50 years of age, it, on the one hand, brings with it a number of positive changes. For example, if a woman had fibroids, then with the onset of menopause it may decrease or disappear altogether. Fibrocystic mastopathy disappears due to the degeneration of breast tissue. The risk of breast cancer is significantly reduced.

On the other hand, late menopause automatically puts a woman at risk. If a lady is already 55 years old and her menstruation remains regular, this is not a reason for joy. Constant medical supervision is required. There is a high risk of cancer.

The benefits of menopause

Menopause in women is a natural process that marks the end of the childbearing period. Based on the fact that a woman’s life expectancy, as a rule, reaches 80 years, and menopause occurs around 50, a woman has 30-40 years of life ahead of her. It is not for nothing that in some Asian countries a holiday is held on this occasion - now a woman does not have to worry about an unwanted pregnancy and lives for her own pleasure.

Menopause often occurs during a period of career growth. Having experience coincides with the ability to devote more time to work. Children have grown up and do not require close attention and care. It is wise to generate the released energy to satisfy your own ambitions. Emotional concentration on personal growth effectively relieves physiological problems associated with the restructuring of the body.

How to behave during menopause

With the onset of menopause, it is recommended to lead a healthy lifestyle. Moderate physical activity and a healthy diet are advisable at all stages of life, but during menopause this is especially important. Fitness will help you survive the unpleasant moments of restructuring your body. The modern system of development of fitness centers allows you to attend sports classes in a comprehensive manner, including a cardio exercise area (exercise bikes, treadmills and other exercise equipment).

Visiting the pool also has a beneficial effect on a woman’s body. During swimming, the load on the spine and joints is reduced, blood circulation is improved, and the symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia are reduced. The elasticity of blood vessels increases and the quality of sleep improves.

Stretching helps stretch and relax muscles, increases joint mobility, and improves blood circulation. Relieves pain in the lumbar region, neck, shoulder girdle, chest. Reduces the intensity and frequency of seizures.

Joint gymnastics improves the quality of life, prolongs youth, and ensures high physical performance.

Pilates forms a muscle corset, providing protection for bone tissue.

Yoga gives emotional harmony with the outside world, increases body flexibility and muscle elasticity.

In addition to regular, feasible physical activity, you should take walks and follow a diet.

The presence of chronic diseases requires consultation on nutrition with a specialist.

How to relieve menopause symptoms

Menopause occurs differently for everyone. The range of symptoms ranges from mild ailments to serious chronic diseases and critical hormonal imbalances. According to statistics, menopause occurs easily in only 10% of women. More than 30% experience moderate discomfort. A good half of the fair sex tolerate changes in the body quite difficult.

There is often a need for medical intervention. Even those women whose symptoms are not pronounced need help. Medicines for menopause in women are presented on the domestic market in a wide range: from mild sedatives and vitamin-mineral complexes to hormonal drugs. They should be used as recommended and under the supervision of a physician.

A bunch of disorders, manifested in a vivid form, require effective medications. Osteoporosis and hypertension interfere with work activity and a normal lifestyle. Metabolic syndrome not only contributes to the emergency deposition of fat reserves in the waist area, but also has more serious consequences: the risk of developing diabetes and cancer increases. Sensitive issues that hinder harmonious family life include vaginal dryness and urinary incontinence.

Treating each symptom separately is not effective and illogical - as a rule, to treat the manifestations of menopause, complex drugs are used that act on several symptoms at once. No matter how difficult the menopause is, the pharmacological arsenal has enough effective remedies to make you feel better.

Menopause is a natural physiological process that is inevitable for every woman. Its onset means that the body ceases to perform reproductive function. Menopause can begin at different ages. It’s worth talking in more detail about when the fairer sex should prepare for it.

When does menopause occur in women?

With age, the body ends the process of producing the female sex hormone - estrogen. Because of this, the functioning of a woman’s ovaries gradually ceases. Egg maturation occurs less and less often and disappears. Menstruation stops. Lack of menstruation is one of the main symptoms of menopause. Along with it, signs of aging appear: wrinkles, sagging skin. All these are direct and indirect signs that the female body is no longer ready for conception, gestation, or childbirth.

At what age does menopause begin?

For every woman, ovarian function declines at different times. The average age when menopause begins is considered to be 45-50 years. However, this does not happen for all representatives of the fair sex. There is an early menopause, which begins around 40-44 years of age (in rare cases, after 35). There are also situations when the menopausal period begins after 60. This is typical for only 3% of women.

When does menopause occur?

The whole process is conventionally divided into three main stages, each of which has its own characteristics. The first is perimenopause. The body enters this state after approximately 40-45 years. It can take a very long time from perimenopause to when menopause occurs. The premenopausal stage is characterized by a gradual decrease in the amount of estrogen. Menstruation begins to occur irregularly and may be more scanty. As a rule, this period does not cause any physical or psychological discomfort.

Changes characteristic of the body during premenopause:

• the chances of conceiving a child are reduced to a minimum;
• the menstrual cycle is very disrupted;
• the interval between menstruation becomes longer and longer;
• gradually the volume of bloody discharge decreases, menstruation ends.

Next comes the turn of menopause, the period when menopause occurs directly. Estrogen production ends and menstruation stops completely. The climatic period lasts a year from the day when the last menstruation ends. On average, it occurs in women after 51 years of age, but there are many factors that influence at what age menopause begins, so it happens both earlier and later. If during premenopause there was still a chance of getting pregnant, albeit small, now it is completely excluded.

The last stage of decline in ovarian function is postmenopause. It begins a year after menopause occurs. The duration of this period depends on how quickly the endocrine system and the entire body adapt, but, as a rule, symptoms disappear after 3-15 years. Postmenopause is characterized by the development of osteoporosis, diseases of the thyroid gland, heart, and blood vessels. They can begin due to the lack of sex hormones in the body. During postmenopause, the following changes occur in a woman’s body:

• the skin becomes flabby;
• pubic hair is thinning;
• the shape of the breast changes, the nipples become flatter;
• A gynecological examination reveals a lack of mucus on the cervix.

At what age can menopause begin with risk factors?

You already know that there is a concept of early menopause. It is worth talking in more detail about why this happens and at what age menopause occurs if the decline of reproductive function is caused by external factors. Early menopause can begin due to:

• surgery to remove the ovaries or uterus;
• a number of autoimmune diseases in which antibodies are produced to ovarian cells;
• silent ovarian syndrome;
• chromosomal disorders;
• hereditary predisposition;
• premature ovarian failure;
• stress;
• radiation therapy;
• oncological diseases;
• chemotherapy;
• bad habits, including in adolescence;
• lack of sex life;
• uncontrolled use of oral contraceptives;
• abortions;
• gynecological diseases.

All these factors can trigger the onset of menopause in a woman under 45 years of age, with pre-menopause. As a rule, menstruation either stops altogether or turns into heavy bleeding. Early menopause always occurs very abruptly, in an accelerated manner. A woman experiences severe hot flashes, nervous disorders, sleep disturbances, shortness of breath, and excessive sweating. The condition of her skin, hair and nails is deteriorating.