Understanding Menopause: Signs, Symptoms, And What To Expect

From Menstruation to Menopause, a woman has to go through a lot of physical changes throughout her life. While Menstruation brings a lot of hormonal changes, Menopause is no different. It is a natural process that women usually experience in their late 40s to 50s. Despite being one of the important phases in life, very few women know about it. In light of the same, we spoke to Dr Padma Srivastava, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Lullanagar, Pune. Scroll down to read about Menopause, signs, symptoms and side effects associated with the phase.

What Is Menopause?

Menopause is a natural process that women usually experience in their late 40’s to 50's. During this phase, women do not experience periods for more than 12 months. This is because of the hormonal shift which leads to physical and psychological changes in women’s health.

Stages Of Menopause

There are three stages of menopause which includes:

• Perimenopause ( the body's indication that menopause is around the time)
• Menopause
• Postmenopause (the time after experiencing menopause)

Symptoms Of Menopause

Here are the symptoms that indicate the onset of Menopause:

• Irregular heartbeats
• Increase in anxiety and panic attacks
• Irregular or unpredictable period cycle
• Extreme mood swings
• Difficulty in falling asleep
• Tiredness and lack of energy
• Excessive weight gain or weight loss
• Difficulty in concentration
• Feeling soreness in the breast
• Constant urge to pee

What causes Menopause?

Menopause occurs when the ovaries start to produce less estrogen (pregnancy care tips) and progesterone. Genetics play a crucial role in influencing the age and period of menopause. Women undergoing cancer treatments like Chemotherapy and Radiation therapy or someone undergoing cancer treatments might experience early menopause.

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Side effects During Menopause

There are several side effects or complications that some women experience during Menopause:

Cardiovascular Diseases

Women are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, heart attack, and arrhythmias after menopause.

Osteoporosis

During Menopause, the bone starts to lose its density due to low estrogen levels, making women prone to developing osteoporosis.

Breast cancer

The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age in women. Getting exposed to estrogen levels for a longer time significantly increases the risks of breast cancer. You are advised to go for regular screening for early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer.

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