How does menopause begin in women? At what age does menopause begin in women and its symptoms Menopause in women age

At a time when women gave birth in a haystack, the problem of menopause did not exist - the majority simply did not live to see this time due to hard work, lack of normal medicine and low level of social and living conditions.

A woman's menopause begins at about 45-50 years old; now many at this age remain socially active and do not consider themselves “aging” at all. And it is right.

But the transition period knocks you out of the usual rhythm of life and increases the number of “sores” that you didn’t have to think about before. Are there ways to get rid of discomfort and discomfort?

Periods of menopause

Menopause doesn't happen overnight. This process can take several years.

Three types of estrogens circulate in the body of a woman of reproductive age:

  1. 1 Estrone;
  2. 2 17-β-estradiol;
  3. 3 Estriol.

17-β-estradiol has the most pronounced activity. A decrease in its level normally begins approximately 5 years before cessation.

Estrone retains a solo role, but it cannot have the same effects on target organs as 17-β-estradiol. Therefore, all the “side effects” of the transition stage develop.

  1. 1 Premenopause– the period from the moment the first signs appear until the last menstruation.
  2. 2 Menopause- most recent spontaneous menstruation.
  3. 3 Postmenopause– time from the last menstruation to 65-69 years.

The date of menopause is set only retrospectively (that is, after the end of menstruation). Every woman should keep a calendar in which she marks the beginning and end of her period.

If your periods have stopped, this will allow you to record this date so that a year later you can say with confidence that the postmenopausal period has begun.

In Russia, the average age of menopause is 45-50 years. But for each woman this time is individual.

If your periods stop before age 45, this is considered early menopause. Premature menopause occurs when menstruation ends before the age of 40.

60-80% of women with early or premature menopause suffer from unwanted symptoms.

2. How to understand that menopause is beginning?

If you do not delve into special studies, you can understand that the menopause has begun by a change in your condition and the appearance of some symptoms that were not noticeable before.

The onset of menopause can be compared to a domino effect: hormonal changes affect the functioning of the nervous system, disrupt metabolic processes, and all together this leads to immunological changes.

The first thing a woman may notice is a change in her menstrual cycle.

Fluctuations in estrogen levels make themselves felt. A decrease in their concentration activates the pituitary gland, which tries to “stimulate” the ovaries and increases the secretion of LH and FSH.

But this cannot significantly affect the gradual decline of the function of the gonads.

Menstruation can come regularly, but sometimes the cycle gets confused, the interval between them is significantly shortened or lengthened.

The discharge itself may also change (from spotting to heavy bleeding).

The severity of the changes depends on the accumulated baggage of gynecological problems.

Myoma, endometrial hyperplasia, endometriosis themselves lead to menstrual irregularities; by the time of menopause, these symptoms become more pronounced.

Manifestations of menopause are divided into three groups according to the time of their appearance:

  1. 1 Early– these are vasomotor, vegetative and emotional-psychic manifestations.
  2. 2 Deferred– appear 1-3 years after menopause – urogenital disorders (,), aging of the skin and its appendages.
  3. 3 Late- these are symptoms that develop no earlier than 2-5 years after menopause, these include osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, heart disease, hypertension, insulin resistance, as well as loss of memory, vision and hearing.

It is the early signs that attract attention. They force women to see a doctor, unfortunately not always a gynecologist.

3. Signs of perimenopause

Before menstruation stops, a woman may experience the following symptoms:

  1. 1, increased sweating, low or high blood pressure, headache.
  2. 2 Emotional-vegetative: irritability, weakness, drowsiness, feelings of depression, decreased libido.
  3. 3 Other disorders: osteoporosis and vascular damage are not among the initial signs of menopause. They appear several years after the cessation of menstruation.

These are among the most typical signs of premenopause. This is a vascular reaction, which consists of a feeling of heat in the upper torso and redness of the face. Sweating and palpitations are observed.

Tides are characterized by seasonality. Very often, the first signs appear in the fall (September-October) or spring (February-March).

They usually occur in the evening and at night, and for some, in the morning after waking up.

Hormones and the autonomic nervous system are to blame for poor health. The neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine are involved in the regulation of body temperature and vascular tone. A sharp increase in their production leads to dilation of skin vessels and the appearance of unpleasant sensations.

Increased heart rate is also a consequence of increased sensitivity to catecholamines. The tendency to surges in blood pressure is explained in a similar way.

It should be remembered that many people develop hypertension before premenopause.

A connection between hypertension and menopause can be established based on anamnesis. You just need to clarify which symptoms arose earlier.

Estrogens act on the brain directly, through neurons, and also indirectly by regulating the blood supply to its areas responsible for memory and emotions.

This can indirectly explain the deterioration of cognitive functions and emotional lability.

Any diseases that a woman acquired before signs of menopause appeared only worsen the situation.

4. How to react to the first symptoms?

Passing, they gradually fade away, or their severity decreases to a minimum. Some women have to wait about five years for this moment, and this is not easy.

There is no need to try to get rid of unpleasant sensations on your own, using traditional medicine or “cleansing” the body. If you see a doctor in time, treatment will not take much time and money.

4.1. Lifestyle

The nervous system is influenced by the external environment. The correct daily routine and sufficient time for night rest will allow you to regulate the rhythm and production of hormones.

Physical activity is also important. During the week, it is enough to do two or three moderate-intensity workouts, lasting 30 minutes.

Excessive exercise will tire you, but moderate exercise will keep your body in good shape.

For those who have not yet given up bad habits, now is the time to do so. Smoking and drinking alcohol worsen the entry into a new phase of life.

Must be regular. But we must not forget about contraception: the menstrual cycle can proceed without ovulation, but age does not completely exclude it.

Therefore, in maternity hospitals there are often women who have decided to become a mother at the age of 50.

4.2. Diet

In women, as in men, basal metabolism decreases with age. Therefore, you need to take care of reducing the caloric content of your diet.

This is done by reducing the proportion of simple carbohydrates and animal fats. Sweets, flour, high-calorie foods and salt should be excluded or limited.

The basis of the diet should be:

  1. 1 Cereals.
  2. 2 Vegetables.
  3. 3 Fruits.
  4. 4 Fermented milk products.
  5. 5 Lean meat.
  6. 6 Fish.

There is no need to completely give up foods containing cholesterol (eggs, butter). It is the basis for the synthesis of steroid hormones and is necessary for the body. It is enough to maintain a balance and not overindulge in such foods.

4.3. Hormone replacement therapy

Lack of estrogen leads to unpleasant signs of aging. Therefore, it is logical that you can support the body and improve the quality of life if you compensate for this deficiency.

You need to understand that they are not an elixir of youth; they are not used to prevent menopause.

Treatment is prescribed only according to indications:

  1. 1 Beginning of menopausal disorders (hot flashes, tachycardia, nervousness, insomnia, etc.).
  2. 2 Urogenital disorders.
  3. 3 Prevention of osteoporosis.

Under the influence of drugs, vegetative disorders disappear, the severity of hot flashes decreases, the emotional background is restored, and the taste for life returns. They relieve joint and muscle pain and eliminate sleep problems.

In women with premature menopause, menopause is much more severe, this is due to the fact that the body is not yet ready for such a deficiency of estrogen.

Those who experience menopause before the age of 40 should listen to the doctor’s recommendations and, in the absence of contraindications, prefer hormonal therapy to folk remedies with unproven effectiveness.

Drugs for HRT belong to different groups:

  1. 1 Pure estrogens.
  2. 2 Combination of estrogens + progestogens in different modes.
  3. 3 Estrogens + androgens.
  4. 4 Monotherapy with progestogens (very rarely used).

Medicines can be produced in different forms: tablets must be taken orally, depot forms are administered subcutaneously. Local remedies are available in the form of a cream or patch.

Which form and dosage the doctor will prefer depends on the nature of the manifestations and their severity.

For example, for urogenital disorders (dryness, discomfort, pain during sex, etc.), the use of creams with estrogen (Ovestin) is sufficient.

The average duration of replacement therapy ranges from 2 to 3 years. With early menopause, it is usually increased until the woman reaches the age of 50 years.

There is a risk of complications from hormone replacement therapy. It increases the likelihood of breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and the risk of venous thrombosis.

However, if you follow the rules, proper examination and regular monitoring, you can go through perimenopause without harm to your health or exacerbation of concomitant diseases.

Menopause is the process of extinction of the reproductive function of the body as it ages. In women, the main symptom of menopause is the cessation of the menstrual cycle. Officially, menopause is diagnosed when menstruation is not observed for 12 months. Age-related changes are often accompanied by emotional disturbances, impaired thermoregulation and sweating, dizziness and headaches, tachycardia and other unpleasant phenomena. This set of symptoms is called menopausal syndrome.

Source: depositphotos.com

Menopause is considered a completely natural condition, but many women perceive it as a disaster. The reason is misconceptions associated with the onset of menopause and changes in hormonal levels. Let's try to dispel the most famous of them.

Menopausal changes begin at age 40

The moment of menopause is very individual. This is influenced by:

  • heredity;
  • the presence of chronic diseases (especially hormonal pathologies, metabolic failures, cardiovascular diseases, malignant neoplasms);
  • geographical factor (women living in hot climates experience menopause earlier);
  • socio-economic circumstances. In those countries where women engage in heavy physical labor or have a large number of children, the average age of menopause is indeed close to 40-43 years. Most modern women living in economically developed countries in Europe, Asia and America feel the first signs of menopause 10 years later;
  • psychological instability, frequent stress, the presence of mental disorders;
  • behavioral factors (bad habits, characteristics of sexual activity).

There are known cases of both very early and late onset of menopause. The age at which menopause occurs ranges from 36 to 60 years.

It is impossible to become pregnant after menstruation stops

A woman’s reproductive function does not fade away immediately. The likelihood of conception remains for two years after menopause. Therefore, it is extremely imprudent to immediately refuse contraception.

It is very important to understand that age-related changes in hormonal levels require individual selection of new contraceptives. To avoid harm to a woman’s health, a doctor should prescribe appropriate medications.

Menopause is a malfunction of the endocrine system

Menopause is a natural state. It is not a pathology. The hormonal background really becomes different from what it was in youth. There is a deficiency of ovarian hormones, causing changes in metabolism and the functioning of certain organs and systems.

The amount of female hormones in the body can be adjusted with the help of properly selected medications, which will make physiological changes less drastic and improve well-being.

During menopause, a woman’s health deteriorates catastrophically

Menopause does not provoke the development of serious problems in the body. However, its symptoms are very individual. They can create some discomfort and worsen a woman’s condition, more often in cases where there were health problems before.

If hot flashes, dizziness, emotional instability and other signs of menopause significantly reduce the quality of life and interfere with usual activities, the woman should consult a doctor. A gynecologist-endocrinologist will assess her condition and select hormone replacement therapy taking into account the characteristics of the body.

Menopause - the beginning of old age

Incorrect statement. The arrival of menopause does not mean the approach of physical decrepitude, a decline in working capacity, or negative changes in worldview. Many women during this period live more actively than before, carry out their cherished plans, and realize themselves professionally and socially.

The symptoms of menopause can only be alleviated with the help of medications.

Modern hormone replacement therapy is effective enough to reduce the intensity of menopause symptoms to a completely tolerable level. For women who, for some reason, cannot or do not want to take hormonal drugs, there is also a way out. There are many folk remedies that relieve discomfort during menopause. In particular, taking decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs, vitamin teas, and water treatments are useful. Long walks, swimming, and soothing and tonic aromatherapy can be of great help.

Some plants (red clover, cohosh, etc.) contain hormone-like substances. Based on these herbs, dietary supplements have been created that are widely advertised as “completely relieving the unpleasant symptoms of menopause.” Unfortunately, this is not entirely true. For some women, such remedies do bring temporary relief, but the reaction is very individual. In addition, dietary supplements are not subject to mandatory certification. Their composition and effects (including side effects) are not always predictable. Taking supplements cannot be considered a complete and safe hormone replacement therapy. In the absence of allergic reactions, a woman can try to combat the symptoms of menopause with the help of self-prepared preparations of the appropriate plants. But such treatment must be approached very carefully: the slightest violation of the recipe or dosage schedule can cause harm to health, and a positive effect (taking into account the individual reaction) is not guaranteed.

Menopause brings extremely negative changes

Many women perceive the decline of reproductive function without any grief. Few people also regret the disappearance of menstrual bleeding, especially if they were regularly accompanied by pain, weakness, dizziness and other symptoms, to one degree or another, known to all women.

As for the ailments characteristic of menopause, not everyone experiences them. Severe cases of menopausal syndrome are rare and, as a rule, can be corrected with modern medications.

Menopause definitely spoils a woman’s appearance

Changes in hormonal levels really do not have the best effect on the condition of the skin, hair and mucous membranes. The skin becomes dry and loses its tone, and facial wrinkles deepen. Some women gain excess weight.

These troubles can be dealt with. Of course, not everyone has access to the kind of body care that famous actresses use, who, during menopause, maintain a figure and face in a state that young girls can envy. However, any woman can afford many anti-aging cosmetics. You should not neglect folk methods of preserving beauty, since some herbs, fruits and vegetables have a tonic and nourishing effect on the skin and hair. Exercise, water treatments and a healthy diet will help you get your figure in order.

At what age does menopause begin in women, not a single gynecologist can answer. This period depends, first of all, on heredity. With a high degree of probability, a woman will experience menopause at the same age as her mother or grandmother, and will experience the same severity as theirs.
Some external factors that influence natural processes can make changes to hereditary processes...

Factors influencing the age at which menopause begins in women

  • Diabetes mellitus, thyroid dysfunction, malignant neoplasms, other chronic diseases.
  • Carrying out therapeutic measures: surgical interventions, radiation or chemotherapy.
  • Abuse of alcohol, drugs, smoking.
  • Prolonged psycho-emotional stress (stress, depression, constant anxiety).
  • Heavy physical activity: work, sports training.
  • Inadequate nutrition as a result of low social status.
  • Irregular sexual intercourse, low frequency.
  • Surgical interventions on the mammary glands, uterus, ovaries, hormonal imbalance.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, high frequency of sun exposure, and weight control can delay menopause and the age at which it occurs. Taking hormones for a long time before the onset of this stage can also push back the generally accepted time frame. Some women use them as therapy.

Menopause: at what age it occurs, main stages

Menopause refers to hormonal changes in a woman’s body, as a result of which she loses reproductive function. It has three main stages:

  1. Premenopause. This period begins after 40 years and lasts until the onset of the last menstruation. Experts note that the average duration of premenopause ranges from 15 months to 6 years. During this time, there is a decrease in the production of female hormones estrogen and progesterone. At the same time, the level of male hormones in the female body decreases gradually, and in certain periods hyperandrogenism may be observed. This stage is accompanied by an increase in FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone). It is this that is indicative when conducting tests, which indicates hormonal changes. Menstruation becomes irregular, the cycle constantly increases from 30 to 80 days. Their intensity is also unstable: sometimes the bleeding is intense, sometimes it is very scanty.
  2. Menopause at around 50-55 years of age. This stage occurs after the cessation of the last menstruation and lasts 12 months. During this period, FSH levels increase even more. Changes in hormonal levels can lead to the development of diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. Many people have osteoporosis, which is why limb fractures often occur.
  3. Postmenopause. The period is characterized by the end of hormonal changes. It occurs 1 year after the last menstrual bleeding. The duration of the stage is 12-24 months. The ovaries stop producing hormones, estrogen levels decrease by 2 times. Against this background, FSH is quite high; it is determined in the laboratory by performing a blood or urine test.

FSH levels can be determined independently using a pharmacy test.

The age of menopause in women is an individual factor. His average is 48 years plus/min 3 years. There are deviations from these averages - early (before 40 years) and late menopause (after 55 years).

General and specific symptoms: when to see a doctor?

Changes in a woman’s body are inevitable; they are a natural physiological process. To understand at what age menopause occurs, you need to consult a doctor. He will not be able to predict the beginning of the stage in advance, but some signs allow him to see premenopause and prepare the body physically and emotionally.

At the premenopausal stage, in 60% of cases there is a decrease in the intensity of menstrual bleeding and an increase in the cycle.

Symptoms of menopause can be divided into general, common in most cases, and specific.

Common symptoms of menopause

Common manifestations include:

  • Hot flashes are a condition of sudden redness of the face, décolleté, and back of the head. It is accompanied by a feeling of heat, sweating, numbness, and a tingling sensation in the fingers. Rarely, a woman may lose consciousness. Such symptoms can occur at any time of the day, but most often occur in the evening. Its duration is 2-3 minutes, after which the woman feels a feeling of cold. This symptom does not affect the age at which menopause occurs in women.
  • Vertigo - a hormonal imbalance leads to abnormal blood pressure and a sharp change in its indicators.
  • Excitability - disorders of the autonomic nervous system. Vivid manifestations are insomnia, changes in biorhythms (daytime sleepiness), unreasonable feelings of anxiety, and constant causeless irritability.

A woman feels hot flashes unexpectedly. The main signs are severe redness of the face, sweating, and a feeling of stuffiness. This goes away after a few minutes and the woman returns to normal.

Hot flashes last about 1-2 years, in rare cases their duration increases to 5 years.

Specific symptoms

Specific manifestations include disorders that may occur with some probability from the genitourinary, psycho-emotional, and nervous systems.

Characteristic manifestations of psycho-emotional deviations are:

  • Hysteria is an unreasonable emotionally unstable state.
  • Unreasonable conditions, manifested in the form of increased tearfulness, irritability, feelings of fear or anxiety, and disturbances in night sleep.
  • The body's reaction to certain smells or sounds.
  • Severe depression. They have a low response to treatment. May be accompanied by a change in the woman's behavior, which becomes aggressive or defiant. Some representatives, trying to subconsciously prolong their youth, begin to dress vulgarly and behave accordingly.

The state of the nervous system largely depends on the level of estrogen in the body. With hormonal imbalance, their number decreases. If there is a lack of microelements such as magnesium and calcium, a severe course of menopause is possible (no matter how old it would have come).

Violation of the heart rate leads to shallow breathing and an increase in its frequency. As a result, the woman constantly complains that she is suffocating, has difficulty breathing, and is constantly short of air. If such symptoms are present, it is difficult for a woman to stay indoors for a long time, in large crowds of people.

Also during this period, troubled night sleep, increased sleepiness during the day, and the appearance of snoring with prolonged pauses in breathing may occur. A sharp decrease in estrogen can lead to the development of severe, chronic diseases.

About 52% of women note that the onset of menopause is a stressful situation for them.

Possible deviations from the genitourinary system and musculoskeletal system include:

  • Atrophic vaginitis. An insufficient amount of female hormones significantly changes the processes occurring in the uterus and vagina. The result is dryness caused by lack of lubrication, discomfort and burning, lack of blood supply, and drooping of the walls.
  • Atrophic cystourethritis. Against the background of a frequent urge to urinate, a woman feels a burning sensation, discomfort, and painful conditions.
  • Uterine prolapse. This occurs due to the fact that atrophy processes affect the pelvic muscles. As a result, the bladder and urethra become displaced.
  • The skin becomes flabby, and there is a tendency for age spots to appear. Hair loss on the head and intensive growth on the face are also characteristic.
  • Osteoporosis during the postmenopausal period. Lack of estradiol leads to a stop in bone tissue renewal. As a result, a woman’s height decreases, a stoop appears, sometimes developing into severe forms of spinal curvature. Increased fragility of bones causes fractures to occur even with little force. The greatest discomfort is caused by painful sensations in the joints and spine, and rapid fatigue.
  • Decreased sexual desire. Dry mucous membranes and a depressed emotional state lead to a lack of desire.

Severe menopause is rare; when the first signs of menopause appear, a woman should consult a doctor. The gynecologist will evaluate the abnormalities that have arisen and the general condition of the patient. In some cases, hormonal or homeopathic medications may be prescribed to relieve discomfort.

Hormonal disorders during menopause: when does imbalance occur?

Due to the fact that the age of onset of menopause and the severity of its course is an individual issue, there is no clear indication at what period it is worth consulting a doctor. A woman should know that if there is a hormonal imbalance during certain periods (perimenopause), the level of male hormones can be very high. In this case, hyperestragenia occurs. It is characterized by the following symptoms:

  • The thickness of the uterine walls increases, their structure becomes more dense.
  • Enlargement of the mammary glands. New growths appear in them - compactions, which upon palpation cause painful sensations.
  • Increased amount of cervical secretion. There is more mucus, the vaginal walls become looser, and additional folds appear on them.
  • The appearance of fibroids and other neoplasms.
  • Menstrual bleeding becomes abnormally intense and its frequency increases. Additionally, functional bleeding not associated with menstruation may occur.

Hyperandrogenism leads to an increase in body weight of 5-8 kg with a disproportionate increase in abdominal size.

To talk about hyperestragenia, several symptoms must appear simultaneously. It is not allowed to make diagnoses on your own or start taking any medications. Only a doctor is able to correctly assess the patient’s condition and alleviate it.

Early menopause in women: at what age does it occur, causes

Early menopause refers to the appearance of symptoms and characteristic conditions at the age of a woman 35-40 years old. This is a compelling argument to get tested. The reasons for this behavior of the body are genetic and acquired factors.

The average age of menopause in women in Russia is 48±3 years. Early menopause leads to irreversible reactions in the body. A woman not only loses her reproductive function, she begins to age quickly.

Hereditary causes include genetic predisposition (such a course was observed in other representatives of the genus in the female line), a defect in the X chromosome, some syndromes, and genetic diseases.

Early menopause occurs in only 1% of women.

Acquired factors are circumstances that arise as a result of external influence. This includes other hormonal dysfunctions (diabetes mellitus, thyroid diseases), gynecological abnormalities of various etiologies, drug therapy with certain types of drugs, a significant violation of the normal body index, up or down. The onset of early menopause can be triggered by taking hormonal contraceptives in violation of the protocol or by independently selecting the drug.

Early menopause is characterized by the onset of changes in the body, accelerated aging processes - a woman looks older than her years. The appearance of cancer at this age (up to 40 years) against the background of hormonal imbalance is especially dangerous.

In order to timely determine menopause and its stages, a woman should regularly attend preventive examinations and independently test for FSH content. This makes it possible to respond as quickly as possible to subsequent changes in the body. A psychological attitude is also important, which will allow you to endure all possible difficulties of your emotional and physical state much easier.

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INTERACTIVE

It is extremely important for women to know everything about their health - especially for initial self-diagnosis. This rapid test will allow you to better listen to the state of your body and not miss important signals in order to understand whether you need to see a specialist and make an appointment.

Knowing how menopause begins, you can prepare in advance and recognize its onset in time. Throughout life, a woman's body undergoes significant hormonal changes.

What it is

Symptoms

This process of change in the female body is inevitable. It's quite long. The main signs of its onset:

  1. Dryness of the skin, vagina and eyeball.
  2. Difficulty sleeping (difficulty falling asleep, waking up early, inability to fall back to sleep if you had to wake up in the middle of the night due to noise).
  3. Urinary incontinence when sneezing or coughing.
  4. Increased sweating.

Several years before menopause in women. Discharges can be either or. In order not to miss the onset of any serious disease of the female genital organs, it is necessary to be examined by a gynecologist during this period.

The onset of menopause is indicated by frequent obsessive thoughts about any problems. Many women during this period complain of an increase in heart rate. Due to poor circulation, numbness occurs in the limbs. Most women are plagued by anxiety and irritability, and their mood changes dramatically.

The contours of the female figure change. Weight gain occurs. The most recognizable and characteristic of this stage are heat flushes (sharp sensations of heat spreading throughout the body). At this moment, red spots may appear on the chest, neck, and arms.

The duration of such heat flashes can last from 30 seconds to several hours. Such symptoms indicate a slowdown in ovarian function and subsequent hormonal changes. Hot flashes can bother women for many years, even after menopause.

Unfortunately, at this stage, a woman’s body begins to age dramatically. For some, menopause symptoms can last for months, while for others they can persist for several years afterward.

When to expect?

The following factors may influence the age at which menopause begins in women:

  • bad habits;
  • number of pregnancies and abortions;
  • psycho-emotional state.

When asking how menopause begins and when, you should know that it can begin at the age of 35 or at the age of 50. But often this happens between 48 and 54 years. On average, about 51 years.

Premature menopause is considered to be the period between 40 and 45 years, and late menopause, when a woman continues to menstruate at 55 years of age. This age is primarily determined by genes. In addition, menopause can be caused by surgery to remove the uterus or certain diseases.

Causes of early menopause

The main cause of development is considered to be problems with the ovaries, which are affected by autoimmune processes, the presence of tumors, smoking, trauma, genital tract infections, radiation exposure and chronic diseases. Hereditary factors also influence the onset of menopause.

Often the cause of early menopause is a malfunction of the endocrine system due to a disorder in the functioning of the thyroid gland, ovaries and pituitary gland, which work together. Early onset of menopause occurs in 1% of women.

This process is not physiological. The cessation of egg production in women before the age of 40 is not a normal process. As a result, the woman becomes infertile. Against this background, osteoporosis may also begin, thyroid function may deteriorate, and other autoimmune diseases may occur.

Early menopause can begin even in adolescence. The age of 40 symbolizes only a conditional distinction. The onset of early menopause can be indicated by a blood test that determines hormonal levels. In addition, during this period a woman experiences a high level of FSH, which stimulates the production of estrogen.

If a woman has not stopped menstruating at the age of 55, then this is considered late menopause. It occurs in 5% of women. The main reasons for this condition are considered to be:

  1. Heredity. In this case there is no reason to worry. In this case, there is no threat to the woman’s health.
  2. Tumors affecting the formation of estrogen. If the level of these hormones is too high, this may indicate the presence of a tumor in the breast or reproductive organs of the woman.
  3. Medications. Some drugs can have this effect, for example, drugs used to treat cancer.
  4. Radiation exposure.

If, with late menopause caused by hereditary factors, a woman feels well, and the examination does not confirm the presence of factors threatening her health, then this has many positive aspects. Bone tissue remains strong for a longer time. A woman has a more stable mental state, good sleep, good thinking and memory.

Externally, the woman shows less pronounced aging, her hair does not lose collagen and practically does not turn grey. The weight remains normal, and the heart works in a normal rhythm. The likelihood of stroke and heart attack is reduced. Reproductive function is also preserved.

Video about the symptoms of menopause in women

Knowing the main symptoms of menopause, you can detect them in time and, possibly, delay its onset, as well as ease its course. When the first symptoms appear, do not postpone a visit to the gynecologist. He will recommend contraception to reduce the risk.

Once you reach menopause, you can consult a doctor to decide on the use of hormone therapy to maintain the correct balance in the body. There is no need to be afraid of this treatment method. It allows you to replenish the missing amount of estrogen, which the body can no longer produce in sufficient quantities, and improve the overall well-being of a woman.

You can also use drugs based on medicinal herbs, including biological supplements with phytoestrogens, mineral complexes and vitamins.

Additional sources of phytoestrogens entering the body can be foods rich in such compounds: flax seeds, legumes, barley, soy, as well as apples, carrots and grant.

How to eliminate unpleasant manifestations

You can try the following ways to relieve menopause symptoms:

  1. During high tides, it is recommended to wear lighter clothing appropriate for the season. At the moment they begin, you should inhale slowly and deeply.
  2. You can use practiced relaxation techniques, such as yoga.
  3. Watch your diet. You should increase the consumption of dairy products and milk in your diet, and reduce or completely eliminate alcohol and coffee.

Is treatment required?

You should regularly visit a doctor during menopause, first of all, so as not to miss the onset of a serious illness. To help relieve hot flashes, your doctor may prescribe estrogen or progesterone. It also helps cope with the symptoms of osteoporosis. If a woman has had her uterus removed, then in this case treatment is carried out only with estrogen.

Hormone therapy is contraindicated in women who have breast or uterine cancer, bleeding disorders, stroke, or liver disease.

You should not use hormonal treatment if you have vaginal bleeding.

To help manage hot flashes or mood swings, other medications may replace hormone therapy:

  • antidepressants;
  • antiseptics;
  • medications for the treatment of blood pressure.

Don't panic about the onset of menopause. You should learn to live and enjoy life. If you have any health problems, you should consult a doctor. No matter what age menopause begins, it is better to be under the supervision of experienced doctors during this period.

All information is provided for informational purposes. Do not self-medicate. At the first sign of disease, consult a doctor.

With age, any woman from 45 to 50 years old decreases the secretion of female sex hormones. At this time, significant changes begin to occur in the woman’s body. From this age, a woman’s life can be divided into three periods:

Premenopause

The first, early period of menopause, which is called premenopause or premenopause, is the time from the beginning of the decline, extinction of the hormonal function of the ovaries, until the complete cessation of menstruation. It is at this time that the first signs of menopause in women appear. This stage lasts differently for each woman, on average from 2 to 10 years. Physiologically, the following occurs in the body:

  • A woman's ability to conceive sharply decreases.
  • Menstruation fails, they become irregular, scanty or, conversely, profuse, and uterine bleeding occurs.
  • If premenopause proceeds normally, then the interval between menstruation gradually begins to increase from 40 to 90 days until menopause.
  • When scanty menstruation is observed, the discharge of blood decreases each time until the bleeding finally stops.
  • A symptom such as engorgement of the mammary glands may appear due to fluctuations in the amount in the blood.
  • Very rarely, but there are cases when a woman’s menstruation ends abruptly.

Menopause

If a year has passed since the last menstruation that a woman had, this means that menopause has begun. After the last menstruation, a woman will no longer be able to become pregnant naturally.

Postmenopause

Postmenopause is considered the period from the last spontaneous menstruation to the end of a woman's life. At this stage of a woman’s life, the production of hormones by the ovaries finally stops, and the level of estrogen becomes stably low. The skin of the labia becomes sagging, pubic hair becomes sparse, the shape of the mammary glands also changes, the nipples become flattened, and the skin becomes flabby. During a gynecological examination, there is a noticeable decrease in the amount of mucus from the cervix, gradually it disappears completely.

How does menopause begin in women?

At what age, when, and with what first signs menopause begins in each individual woman, no gynecologist can determine with accuracy. Every woman is unique, every body has individual characteristics, so a woman must be sure that with the advent of menopause, life does not end, but simply begins a new wonderful stage. How does menopause begin in women?

Famous hot flashes and night sweats- the very first signs of menopause in a woman, and these are the most common complaints noted by almost all women who have entered this period.

Hot flashes are the appearance of warmth and heat throughout the body, starting from the face, neck, chest and further down the body. In this case, the skin may become blotchy, red, the pulse quickens, and the body temperature may also rise. Hot flashes are often accompanied by increased sweating.

Many women note that hot flashes bother them even at night. In addition to the main signs of menopause in women, premenopause is also characterized by other symptoms that every woman either experiences and is very bothered by, or does not experience at all:

  • Insomnia – women may be bothered by insomnia, sleep disturbances, difficulty falling asleep; before going to bed, a woman worries, remembers troubles, dwells on problems, all this prevents her from falling asleep.
  • Palpitations – may be bothered by periodic strong attacks of rapid heartbeat.
  • Numbness of the legs and arms, a squeezing feeling in the chest - occurs in women with severe circulatory disorders.
  • There is a feeling of tingling, trembling in the limbs, crawling on the skin.
    • Chills bother women most often at night, causing women to wake up.
    • Weakness, decreased ability to work, fatigue, muscle pain.
    • Fluctuations in blood pressure, that is, high blood pressure is sharply replaced by a decrease in blood pressure, which is accompanied by severe dizziness, headaches, and even short-term loss of consciousness.
  • Decreased libido or, conversely, increased sexual desire.
  • Anxiety - frequent causeless restlessness, anxiety, mood swings, irritability, decreased concentration and memory, some women experience neurotic disorders with obsessive ideas that they are terminally ill (see).
  • Temperature - daily fluctuations in body temperature.
  • Feeling short of air.
  • Change in taste sensations.
  • and in the eyes (see).
  • Pain - lower back pain may bother you.
  • Skin and mucous membranes - with the appearance of the first signs of menopause, the stage of skin aging and dry mucous membranes begins. This is explained by the fact that female sex hormones, the production of which is decreasing every day, do not cope with their function of maintaining skin elasticity and do not protect the mucous membranes. Therefore, the skin gradually fades, becomes dry, wrinkles deepen, and inflammatory processes are provoked on both the mucous membranes and the skin.
  • Hair - signs of hair aging begin to appear - women can suddenly turn grey, hair becomes brittle, brittle,...
  • A woman’s figure also undergoes changes; she begins to become less feminine.

The occurrence of these first signs of menopause in modern women signal the age-related decline of ovarian function and the approaching complete restructuring of the woman’s body. It’s sad, but at this age the body begins to age rapidly.

The transition to a new period of a woman’s life aggravates existing chronic diseases, increases the likelihood of new ailments, and also delays the recovery process from sudden onset illnesses. With mild and moderate menopausal syndrome, women do not need medical care, but there are rarely cases of severe manifestations of menopause in which a woman needs drug treatment.