Understanding Menopause

Understanding menopause is not just for women.  Although it is generally thought of as a subject only for women.

However, men can benefit  as well by  understanding the symptoms, stages and changes their significant other is going through.

Of course, I have always said that men go through their own menopause as well.

Just like women, as men age their hormones are changing and can impact how and what they feel.

The jury is still out on whether or not men go through an official menopause.

However doctors are seeing some patients with common symptoms and relief of these symptoms when on a male hormone (testosterone) treatment. 

Stages of Menopause

Understanding menopause starts with knowing the various stages. Menopause, often called the “change of life”, is the point in a woman's life in which menstrual periods have stopped – for good.

You are not officially in menopause until you have had no periods for a total of 12 consecutive months.

So if you have had a few skipped periods here and there, and if this is not defined as menopause, then exactly what are you experiencing?

Well there are actually different stages of menopause which include;

  • Premenopause
  • Perimenopause
  • Menopause
  • Post Menopause

Read this article to learn more about the understanding menopause stages.

Symptoms

older woman with holding fan for hot flashesUnderstanding menopause symptoms is the next thing to know in order to fully understand what you may experience during the different stages.

The one thing most women dread about menopause are the symptoms. Will you get hot flashes or night sweats?

Will your periods become erratic and irregular? Will I be irritable and moody?

All of these are things that run through your mind. The fact is most women experience some level of symptoms during the different stages of menopause.

Which symptoms and how severe is unique to each woman.

Most of the symptoms of menopause are caused by the changes in our hormones; primarily estrogen and progesterone. Some of the more common symptoms include;
  • Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  • Mood Swings and Irritability
  • Loss of Libido and Vaginal Dryness
  • Irregular Periods

If you are not sure if what you are feeling is a symptom or something more serious, be sure to talk with your doctor. Read this article to learn more about some of the common menopause symptoms.

Changes During Menopause

The last thing to understanding menopause are the different changes you may experience.

sad womanAlthough some menopausal symptoms are common and we have all heard about them (like night sweats, mood swings and weight gain), others may not be as common.

The changes you go through during menopause go beyond the mood swings and hot flashes.

You could experience painful changes like breast pain, headaches, joint pains and muscle tension or even itchy skin.

Not all the changes are physically painful but can be mentally straining. Some common changes include;

  • Fatigue
  • Hair Loss / Unwanted Facial Hair
  • Trouble Sleeping
  • Dizziness or Loss of Concentration

Read this article on changes during menopause to better understand what you may experience. 

The more you know and understand about menopause the easier it will be for you and your significant other to get through this time in your life.

Talk to your doctor if you are unsure of any symptoms or changes you are going through.

Another symptom and/or change you may experience is putting on some pounds. Weight gain after menopause is common for many women.


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