Menopause/Perimenopause meanings, want to know about Menopause/Perimenopause read the complete post.

Menopause is a common term used to describe a stage in a woman’s life. It comes with various emotional and physical changes to Gen X women (women now in their 40s and 50s). Menopause is a significant talking point for women in this age bracket, and for a good reason, it is essential to discuss how best to deal with this life’s stage. This article provides some insight into menopause and the common signs that signal its presence, and we will also see a few tips on how best to manage it. First, let’s define some standard terms for menopause.

What is Menopause?

Menopause can be defined loosely as the downswing of the production and activities of a female’s reproductive hormones as she attains the middle ages of 40-50. It is a naturally occurring change not caused by disease or external forces.

Perimenopause

It is used to describe the period just before menopause. It is the stage in a woman’s life where her body begins to execute the needed changes for menopause. Some of these changes are visible, and others not.

Premenopause

While there is no generally accepted definition for premenopause, it simply refers to a condition where the symptoms of Perimenopause and Menopause are absent. In this case, the woman in question will experience little or no menstrual cycles and would have attained the age bracket for Perimenopause and Menopause to occur.

Common Signs of Perimenopause and Menopause

While menopause is a natural occurrence and affects women generally, the signs, symptoms, and effects vary. Women react differently, and the results may be mild or encompassing.

However, some signs are predominantly present in most women, which signifies the start of this stage of life.

Menstrual Irregularities: An irregular menstrual activity is a common sign of menopause. Menstrual cycles, flow among other phenomena, become abnormal and, in some cases, cease to exist. These irregularities are caused by a decline in the secretion of vital reproductive hormones responsible for menstruation. Menstrual flow also comes in abnormal amounts. Some women experience a heavier flow, while the reverse is for other women.
Dry Vagina: A good number of women have experienced vaginal dryness as they attain the age of menopause. While women may notice this sign during perimenopause, it continues into menopause. Other symptoms such as an itchy vagina and general discomfort may occur. This condition makes sexual intercourse very painful and scary.
Infertility: The decline in the production of reproductive hormones leads to infertility. Hence, it is pretty rare for women who have advanced to remain fertile and become pregnant. Infertility is a general sign of menopause for women, and while there are few outliners and exceptions, women in menopause and postmenopause can’t get pregnant.
Emotional Changes: Some have encountered a series of mental and emotional episodes as perimenopause and menopause begins. Mood swings, anxiety, a sudden change in character, and preferences are just a few observable changes in the vibrant life of some women undergoing menopause. While some of these emotional changes have a scientific explanation, the cause of others hasn’t been understood.
Insomnia:A reduced sleep time or inability to sleep is another common sign of menopause. Emotional changes and homeostasis may cause insomnia.

The above signs may seem like a nightmare and a significant hurdle to scale. With the right help and making good life choices, women can counter the effects successfully. Also, the signs of menopause are unique to each woman.

Tips on Managing Menopause

The most important advice you can receive regarding menopause is to visit a well-experienced obstetrician and gynecologist. A trained health professional can work you through the necessary procedures for having a healthy life during menopause. If you have a partner, visit the physician together and open up entirely to them. Follow the instructions and use any medications prescribed.

Other helpful tips include;

Exercise Regularly: You must have heard this a thousand times. Regular exercise keeps the body in optimum condition and ready to face any challenge.
Eat Right: The importance of healthy eating can’t be overemphasized. The saying “you are what you eat” is true when considering women in menopause. Eating foods rich in particular nutrients such as phytoestrogen is vital as it helps balance estrogen levels and complements the low estrogen produced by the body. You may also need to avoid some foods and beverages that may be dangerous to your health.
Have a clear mind: Another helpful tip for managing menopause is striving to have good mental health. The emotions that come with this stage of life can mess with you need to be proactive. If meditation works for you, try some.

Final Note

Managing menopause can be challenging. It comes with challenges that may be new for some women. You may need a complete overhaul of your activities and schedule. Depression and high temperament can set in, making you an irritable person. However, you can manage it well and overcome its effects.

In time, postmenopause will come, and the various signs you see during menopause will be reduced or gone altogether. However, you will still have to maintain a healthy routine and exercise discipline in multiple aspects of life.