It’s never too early to learn about menopause and how it can change what you know about your health and your body. Revive Medical Center has some information for you about menopause that can help to clear up some of the mystery around this series of hormonal changes.
Menopause Defined
Menopause is something that a lot of women dread, but it is a completely natural process. Menopause occurs when the ovaries stop producing hormones related to reproduction. This causes other changes throughout the body. There are a lot of misconceptions around menopause, possibly the biggest being how does someone know they’re experiencing menopause? The technical definition is that menopause is official after 12 months without a period. The stage before menopause is perimenopause and brings its own symptoms.
Symptoms of Menopause
Menopause symptoms are not exactly the same for everyone who experiences this stage. The particular symptoms that you experience are directly related to your hormone levels, because as levels of estrogen and progesterone drop, that affects your reproductive system and your entire body. Some of the symptoms you might experience include:
- Insomnia
- Hot flashes
- Weight gain
- Vaginal atrophy or dryness
- Discomfort during sex
- Weakened bones
A Word about Hot Flashes
One of the most common and irritating symptoms of menopause can be hot flashes. These occur when the body suddenly feels overheated, sometimes with no outward possible cause or reason. It can help to make sure that you stay as hydrated as possible and wear layers that you can add and remove as your temperature fluctuates. Stress relieving techniques can also help.
Health Effects of Menopause
Some of the health impacts of menopause can be frustrating and even scary. Developing weakened bones or osteoporosis and experiencing weight gain can make you feel as if your body is outside of your control. There may be things that you can do in order to be proactive about the ways that perimenopause and menopause impact your specific health issues. Hereditary factors certainly play into all of this, too, so understanding how your family members have experienced menopause can help you to prepare.
There might be a lot more that you can do about menopause and the symptoms you’re experiencing than you might have thought possible. Contact us today at Revive Medical Center in Lawrenceville, GA and we can set up an appointment to talk about the options that are available to you.
