Usually, women who are above 40 to 50 years of age begin to experience menopause. The age at which it starts usually differs according to your genes. It could even begin before 40 for some people!
What is menopause?
Menopause is when your menstrual cycle has officially come to an end. After a year has gone by without you getting your period, it is considered the end of your menstrual cycle and the beginning of menopause. It can alter your body in many ways. Hence, it is essential to highlight some of the critical things you should know about menopause.
The three stages:
There are three stages in which menopause occurs:
- Perimenopause (before menopause): this is when your menopause is just about to begin and is during that one year where your period has stopped coming.
- Menopause itself: occurs when the one year after your period has stopped has elapsed, and your menstruation cycle is over.
- Post menopause (after menopause): these are counted as the years following menopause.
Symptoms:
- Fertility rate decreases
When a female reaches the end of her menstrual cycle, one of the main symptoms is her fertility rate begins to reduce. This means that the chances of you having a baby become lower.
- Hot flashes
Hot flashes are one of the most common symptoms of menopause. This occurs when the individual begins to feel that their upper body is overheated all of a sudden. As a consequence, this can cause sweating, redness on the skin, and so on. Hot flashes usually come up during the early stages of menopause, but they can go on till about 14 years after.
- Impact on mood
Your mood begins to change as menopause occurs. Feelings of depression and anxiety are common during this time. You can feel agitated all of a sudden and also feel like crying out of the blue. In addition to these mood changes, menopause can also have an impact on your sleep pattern.
- Changes In physicality
Menopause not only impacts your emotional well-being but can also impact your physical self. This includes gaining more weight during these times, changes in your hair volume, hair color, as well as changes in breast size.
How to cope:
- Staying healthy: An excellent way to handle menopause is by staying healthy. This includes maintaining a healthy diet as well as exercise in order to keep fit.
- Quit smoking and alcohol: smoking, passive smoking, and alcohol are unhealthy habits that should be avoided, especially during this time.
- Seek therapy: in order to curb mood swings and feelings of depression, it is crucial to reach out to a therapist so that your emotional concerns can be addressed healthily.
Hence, if you would like to visit a gynecologist regarding any concerns you may have, we have the best ones available for you. You can find the best Gynecologist in Lahore right here. Moreover, you can find plenty of other doctors on the website Oladoc.com and easily book an appointment.