How many years does menopause last? What is menopause in women: symptoms, age, how long it lasts. Relief of unpleasant symptoms
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The most important function of the female body is reproduction. To ensure it in puberty, girls and women have menstruation. The period when women have regular periods is called childbearing. It lasts about 35 years or a little less. Then comes menopause. This article will help you find out how long menopause lasts in women, what are the first signs that indicate their onset, and about the symptoms associated with them that require treatment.
Understanding the terminology
The words "menopause" and "menopause" are often used by people who are far from medicine as synonyms. However, this is not quite true. It is necessary to distinguish the concept of "menopause", meaning the state of extinction of the reproductive function of a person, regardless of gender, from "menopause", that is, a term meaning the last menstruation of a woman. in this article, both words will be used later to refer to the period of cessation of a woman's childbearing years.
Classification
Before finding out how long the menopause lasts in women, you should find out that in medicine there is a distinction between natural and artificial menopause. The natural one is associated with the depletion of the stock of follicles given at birth in the ovaries and is an inevitable phenomenon. If menopause (how long it lasts for women depends on heredity) occurs before the age of 40, then it is customary to talk about ovarian failure syndrome. In addition, some women may be diagnosed with artificial menopause. It can be called:
- bilateral radiotherapy;
- complications that arose after some infectious diseases;
- removal of the ovaries by chemical means;
- changes that have occurred in the body after chemotherapy;
- operations carried out on;
- poor environmental situation in the area where the woman lives;
- strong exposure to radiation;
- thyroid pathology.
Fortunately, artificial menopause is rare.
Women who have not given birth under the age of 40 should be very attentive to the appearance of the first signs of an incipient menopause, since a timely visit to a doctor can prevent the appearance of many health problems.
Age of menopause
Most ladies have their first at the age of 45-50 years. There are also early menopause, which begins at 40-45 years old, and late, when menstruation continues even after 55 years. It is quite difficult to say exactly how many years menopause lasts and what is the age of its onset. These indicators are determined by the characteristics of the organism and heredity.
Stages of menopause
In the process of developing menopause (how long it lasts for women depends on individual factors), there are three main phases.
Stage 1 or premenopause occurs at about 45 years of age. When asked how long the menopause lasts in women at this phase of hormonal changes in the body, doctors find it difficult to give an exact answer. Approximately this period is about two years. During this period of menopause, changes in menstrual function are observed, such as a violation of the intensity or rhythm of bleeding. As a result, both shortening and lengthening of the intervals between regulations can occur.
2nd stage. Actually menopause, which occurs in the period from 45 to 50 years. This phase is characterized by a decrease in the level of female sex hormones in the blood and a persistent absence of menstruation. It is possible to say that menopause has come only if the last independent regulation was more than 12 months ago.
Stage 3 or postmenopause. Those who are interested in how long menopause lasts in women most often forget that it is necessary to take into account not only the time from the moment of menstrual dysfunction until the final cessation of regulation, but also early postmenopause. It usually proceeds within 5-8 years. It is followed by late postmenopause.
The main signs of the onset of female menopause
Doctors call the following symptoms indicating the approach of menopause:
- The appearance of such a phenomenon as tides. This is a specific condition when a woman has a fever and redness of the skin of the face, scalp, neck, chest. It usually occurs in the evening and lasts 2-5 minutes.
- Profuse perspiration at night.
- Palpitations and interruptions in the rhythm of the heart.
- Loss of sexual desire.
- Thinning, vulnerability and dryness of the vaginal mucosa, which causes discomfort during sexual intercourse.
- The appearance of attacks of weakness, shortness of breath, chills. How long this kind of menopausal ailment lasts is definitely difficult to say, since everything is very individual.
- An increase in the number of wrinkles, which is associated with a decrease in the amount of collagen produced by the body itself.
- The appearance of drowsiness, anxiety, irritability and sudden mood swings. Change in weight due to hormonal changes in the body.
At the final stage of menopause (how long it lasts for women, see below), symptoms such as itching and burning in the genitals, pain in the bladder and weight gain may appear.
Postmenopausal symptoms
After the onset of menopause, a woman's immune system becomes more sensitive to external factors. This can be expressed in the appearance of symptoms such as edema, urticaria, intolerance to certain foods, or in the form of vasomotor rhinitis. Due to insufficient secretion of estrogen during the postmenopausal period, the likelihood of osteoporosis increases. Serious problems also include the appearance of night pains in the limbs, skin paresthesias and neurotic disorders. The latter may manifest as increased tearfulness, feelings of anxiety, inexplicable anxiety and fear.
Some ladies with menopause (how long women last, see above) also complain of increased susceptibility to smells and sounds. Others should be aware that a decrease in working capacity, deterioration of memory and attention can also be a consequence of menopause, and be sympathetic to their manifestations in colleagues and relatives of menopausal age.
How long do menopause symptoms last in women
The phase of the rapid flowering of unpleasant manifestations of late hormonal changes in the body is premenopause. The duration of this phase of the menopause determines how long the tides will last. As a rule, its average duration is from 2 to 5 years. The peak of menopause itself takes from 6 to 7 years.
What symptoms of menopause require treatment
Violations in the activity of the genitourinary system that require treatment are observed in 80% of women about 5 years after menopause. In this case, symptoms such as itching, bleeding, inflammation, urogenital infections, frequent or painful urination, as well as urinary incontinence, prolapse or prolapse of the uterus may occur. The latter is associated with a decrease in the tone of the ligaments and pelvic muscles, which is one of the consequences of menopause (you already know how long it lasts for women).
Treating some symptoms
Hot flashes are one of the main troubles that bother women during menopause. Their relief is helped by a diet with plenty of fluids. It involves eliminating spicy foods and alcohol from the diet, as well as enriching the diet with soy products, maintaining a cool indoor temperature, especially during sleep hours, and exercising. For moderate and severe menopausal symptoms, hormonal therapy is used, which is recognized as the most effective and gives the greatest effect during 10 years of postmenopause and in women under 60 years of age.
If the signs that disturb a woman are vaginal dryness, impaired urination and frequent infections of the lower genitourinary system, then estirol preparations are often prescribed locally in the form of suppositories or creams.
In addition, to strengthen the teeth, bones and cardiovascular system, it is recommended to take calcium supplements and vitamin D3. Among other things, they stimulate the production of collagen protein, which is necessary to maintain the normal condition of the skin and hair.
How does menopause affect your appearance?
Menopause affects the condition of hair, skin and nails. Deficiency of the hormone estrogen provokes a decrease in the elasticity of the skin, drying out of the mucous membranes, etc. The structure of nails and hair also changes, which eventually become brittle, brittle and thinner. Changes in the appearance of a woman with menopause (how many years it lasts, you already know) also include a change in weight. And for some ladies, it occurs in the direction of its reduction.
late menopause
A delay in the onset of menopause occurs in women over the age of 55. In such cases, it is also difficult to say how long the menopause lasts for women. The causes of late menopause are usually hidden in genetic characteristics. Unfortunately or fortunately, it is extremely rare to artificially delay the onset of menopause. You should be aware that women who have menopause later than usual are at an increased risk of developing ovarian and breast cancers, since such problems are associated with changes in estrogen levels. If the secretion of sex hormones continues longer than usual, the likelihood of such diseases increases dramatically. To prevent such negative consequences from occurring, every girl or woman, regardless of age, is obliged to undergo an examination by a gynecologist at least once a year, and after 30 years to do a mammogram.
Now you know when menopause begins and how long it lasts for women. This period is inevitable in the life of every woman, so ladies can only strictly follow the recommendations of experts and understand that you can be loved and attractive at any age.
From puberty, women begin menstruation, which lasts until menopause. The associated unpleasant, sometimes frightening, symptoms make women who have reached a certain age or approaching it wonder how long menopause lasts in women and how to slow down the aging of the body.
What is a climax
Menopause is a period when the reproductive system of the fairer sex begins to age, ceases to function and loses its main role - the reproduction of offspring.
This process develops gradually and goes through several stages:
- Premenopause (menstrual cycle failure).
- Menopause (hormonal imbalance).
- Postmenopause.
The climax lasts on average from one to 3 years. But there are times when the restructuring of the body takes up to 8 years.
This is due to the following factors:
![](https://i2.wp.com/krasotka.guru/wp-content/auploads/480009/skolko_dlitsya_klimaksnoe.jpg)
The average age of women who have entered the menopausal phase is 45 years, but it can come earlier or later - it all depends on the individual characteristics of the organism.
How is premenopause
During premenopause, the fair sex has reproductive system failures that last up to 5 years.
A distinctive feature of this stage is the violation of the menstrual cycle.. At first, menstruation appears irregularly, the amount and consistency of discharge begins to change. The cycle goes astray, it becomes less frequent, it can reach the appearance of discharge every 3-4 months, and then they disappear altogether.
This is due to the fact that after 40 years, the level of female sex hormones in the body decreases significantly. The hormonal background becomes unstable, and in the appendages the follicles are replaced by connective tissue.
Premenopause is accompanied by the following symptoms:
![](https://i2.wp.com/krasotka.guru/wp-content/auploads/480007/skolko_dlitsya_klimaks.jpg)
The beginning of the next stage is characterized by very rare discharge, absent up to 2-3 months.
Symptoms and features of menopause
Menopause usually lasts up to 3-4 years, but it can be established only after a year, or even a year and a half.
Menstruation completely disappears, and all the symptoms of premenopause intensify and cause much more discomfort.
The mucous membranes are depleted, which leads to dryness in the genitals, and this, in turn, entails severe pain.
Sexual desire disappears in women, sex does not cause any pleasure, and even, on the contrary, irritates and gives unpleasant sensations.
In this regard, the general aging of the body only intensifies: the nails exfoliate and break, more wrinkles appear, the hair becomes brittle and falls out, and the structure of the skin also changes.
Unfortunately, for all women this period is extremely unpleasant, and for some it is difficult. At this time, chronic diseases and mental problems may also worsen.
Signs and duration of postmenopause
Postmenopause occurs 2-3 years after the last menstruation.
Postmenopause continues for the rest of a woman's life. Over time, unpleasant symptoms disappear and health becomes better.
At this time, the ovaries decrease in size and cease to function. The metabolism is disturbed, which entails a set in weight. The heart and blood vessels weaken, therefore, they require constant monitoring by doctors.
Despite the fact that the genitals lose their functionality, they are still susceptible to infections and diseases. Therefore, do not forget to undergo an annual examination by a gynecologist and monitor your health.
How to alleviate the condition
The following tips will help slow down the process of withering of the body and relieve the discomfort of the middle period - menopause.
Healthy food. As you remember, diets and overeating are the main reason for the duration and severity of discomfort. Therefore, by reviewing nutrition, you can improve the quality of life, especially at such a difficult stage in your life. Smoked and fatty foods should be abandoned and steamed or in the oven. It is also necessary to monitor the amount of salt, spices and sugar in the diet. It is also better to refuse black strong tea and coffee. But 1.5 liters of water per day will benefit your health.
Sports. It doesn't matter what sport is in your life. It can be swimming, aerobics, fitness or yoga. If for some reason you cannot work out with a trainer or in the gym, then at least increase the number and duration of walking.
intimate life. If sex does not cause discomfort and you can continue sexual relations, then you should not completely refuse them. Making love causes the production of the female sex hormone estrogen and also prevents congestion in the genitals.
Supplements and vitamins will additionally help facilitate the entire process of restructuring the body. It is advisable to consult a doctor who will prescribe the vitamin complexes you need.
It is quite natural that ladies care about what happens to a woman during menopause.. This is a very serious stage, after which the whole life changes. However, do not be discouraged: you can influence the course of menopause, prolong good health and health, while maintaining a full and happy life.
Menopause is a physiological period in a woman's life, which is characterized by a gradual decrease in the production of female sex hormones by the ovaries. In some women, this period proceeds easily, without pronounced discomfort, in others, the manifestations of menopause are more pronounced and significantly disrupt the overall well-being. How long menopause lasts depends on many factors - the individual characteristics of the organism, heredity, the time of its onset, the presence of concomitant diseases.
The timing of the onset of menopause
As a rule, menopause occurs at the age of 50, in this case we are talking about its timely onset. With timely menopause, a woman may experience the first manifestations of menopause as early as 45-47 years old.
However, in recent years, more and more women are faced with the onset of menopause at an earlier age. The reason for this may be poor ecology, smoking, gynecological and endocrine diseases.
Depending on age, the following types of menopause are distinguished:
- premature - occurs before 40 years;
- early - up to 45 years;
- timely - 45-55 years;
- late - after 50 years.
In this case, menopausal symptoms usually begin several years before the cessation of menstruation.
Separately, artificial menopause is considered, the cause of which is not the extinction of the hormone-producing function of the ovaries, but the surgical removal of the uterus with appendages.
How long does menopause last in women
The duration of menopause varies greatly depending on individual characteristics. The duration of menopause can be influenced by heredity, the number of births, bad habits (especially smoking), concomitant diseases and the general condition of the body. On average, menopause lasts 5-8 years from the start of a decrease in estrogen production by the ovaries. The course of menopause can be divided into 3 periods - premenopause, menopause and postmenopause.
premenopause
The first symptoms of menopause appear during the menopausal transition. At this stage, there is a decrease in the production of sex hormones by the ovaries, but the estrogen deficiency is not yet very pronounced. The woman's body is trying to adapt to the changed conditions. The main manifestation of menopause is a violation of the menstrual cycle - its duration changes, menstruation becomes irregular. Other symptoms may be observed, but in a mild form. Women usually experience premenopausal changes around the age of 45. The duration of premenopause is on average 3-5 years.
Menopause
Menopause begins from the moment of the last independent menstruation and lasts 12 months. The fact of the last menstruation is established retrospectively after 1 year. In most cases, menopause occurs around the age of 50. This stage is characterized by the extinction of the hormone-producing function of the ovaries, the level of estrogen in the blood is sharply reduced. Estrogen deficiency causes the development of menopausal syndrome. In the menopausal period, the early symptoms of menopause are pronounced - hot flashes, psycho-emotional disorders, weight gain, skin changes. Climacteric phenomena are more pronounced with a sharp onset of menopause, when the body has not yet had time to adapt to the deficiency of sex hormones.
Postmenopause
One year after the onset of menopause, a new period begins in a woman's life - postmenopausal. Postmenopause continues until about age 75, when estrogen production stops completely. However, menopause symptoms disappear earlier. Hot flashes and emotional disturbances bother a postmenopausal woman for another 1-2 years, and then the menopause ends. However, postmenopausal women are more at risk of developing osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
How does it manifest
In some women, menopause occurs physiologically, without any disturbing symptoms. But still, many women are faced with manifestations of menopausal syndrome. The appearance of all changes is associated with estrogen deficiency, during menopause all estrogen-dependent organs suffer - the uterus, mammary glands, urinary tract, brain, skin, heart and blood vessels, bones. All emerging symptoms can be divided into 3 groups: early, medium and late.
Early symptoms
Early signs of menopause appear already in premenopause. They include vegetative and neuropsychiatric manifestations.
The main sign of vegetative disorders is hot flashes. Hot flashes are felt as a sudden feeling of heat, which is localized mainly in the upper half of the body. Feeling hot during hot flashes may be accompanied by increased sweating. Other autonomic disorders include:
- jumps in blood pressure;
- dizziness, sudden weakness;
- increased sweating.
Early signs also include neuropsychiatric syndrome - mood changes and cognitive disorders. The menopausal syndrome is characterized by sharp mood swings, increased irritability and fatigue, and sleep problems. A woman in this period begins to notice that some little things that were previously perceived quite calmly are now brought to tears or aggression. Cognitive functions are impaired: it becomes more difficult to concentrate and remember new information.
Medium Term Symptoms
Medium-term symptoms include urogenital disorders and skin changes. Urogenital disorders are a complex of symptoms from the lower parts of the genitourinary system. Women in the menopausal period may experience the following urogenital symptoms:
- dryness in the vagina;
- dyspareunia (pain during intercourse);
- burning and itching in the vagina;
- frequent urge to urinate.
The skin becomes drier and thinner, its elasticity decreases, wrinkles appear. Due to metabolic changes, a woman can gain weight dramatically, while fat is deposited mainly in the abdomen.
late symptoms
Late symptoms can occur even 5 to 10 years after menopause. They include changes in the cardiovascular system and bone tissue.
In the first few years after menopause, bone loss occurs, which is associated with a deficiency of estrogen in the body. Bones become more fragile, which leads to the development of osteoporosis and frequent fractures in old age.
In the postmenopausal period, the risk of developing cardiac pathology increases several times. Estrogen deficiency leads to loss of vascular elasticity, which is one of the factors in the development of arterial hypertension. Also in postmenopause, the risk of developing atherosclerosis increases, which is associated with a violation of lipid metabolism.
How to ease the flow of menopause
It is impossible to completely prevent the appearance of menopause, since this is a physiological stage in a woman's life. But to somewhat delay the onset of menopause or to facilitate its course is quite real. It should be understood that taking care of your health should start from the reproductive age. It is important to regularly visit a gynecologist, lead an active lifestyle, play sports, eat right.
Treatment may include several components: phytoestrogens, symptomatic treatment, and hormone replacement therapy.
Treatment method |
Explanation |
Phytoestrogens |
Some plants and foods contain phytoestrogens - plant estrogens. Their intake somewhat facilitates the course of the climacteric syndrome, however, phytoestrogens are not able to fully cover the needs of the body. Phytoestrogens are found in flax seeds, whole grains and bran, peas, beans, lentils. |
Symptomatic treatment |
To relieve some symptoms, medications are prescribed: 1. Antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) for depressive disorders and other psycho-emotional disorders. 2. Bisphosphonates for the treatment of osteoporosis. 3. Local estrogens for the treatment of urogenital disorders. |
Hormone Replacement Therapy |
In severe menopause, systemic hormone replacement therapy is prescribed - internal estrogen intake. Replacement therapy allows you to make up for the deficiency of estrogen, which leads to the elimination of symptoms of menopause. Hormonal preparations are of several types: 1. Estrogen monopreparations - are prescribed for women with artificial menopause (after removal of the uterus with appendages). 2. Two- and three-phase combined preparations containing estrogens and gestagens are prescribed for women in the early period of menopause. 3. Monophasic combined preparations containing estrogens and gestagens are prescribed in postmenopausal women. |
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Content
In the life of any woman, there comes a stage when the reproductive function fades or menopause (menopause) occurs. The duration of this interval depends on the individual characteristics of the female body. The average duration of menopause is 15 months.
What is climacteric syndrome
The physiological period of cessation of menstrual and childbearing functions is often called menopausal syndrome. The reason for the development of this stage is a gradual decrease in the activity and amount of estrogens (sex hormones), which provoke the production of the pituitary hormone. The climacteric period is divided into 3 stages:
- Premenopause. precedes the cessation of menstruation. How long does the menopause last at this stage? As a rule, the duration of the stage is from 3 to 7 years.
- Actually menopause. The phase that occurs after the end of menstrual bleeding.
- Postmenopause. This time is determined by the complete cessation of the ovaries.
Many ladies are often interested in how long does the menopause last? It is impossible to answer this question precisely, since everything depends on the individual development of the organism. Although in the normal course of menopause passes for a year. The severity of the symptoms of menopausal syndrome depends on the characteristics of the female body. The main signs of the onset of menopause are:
- headache;
- sweating;
- pressure drops;
- apathy;
- cardiopalmus;
- vaginal dryness;
- burning and discomfort when urinating;
- itching in the vagina;
- frequent urge to urinate;
- sleep disturbance;
- decreased sex drive.
How long does menopause last in premenopausal women?
It is known that the premenopausal phase is the time preceding the onset of menopause, during which a woman's production of sex hormones produced by the ovaries decreases. How long does menopause last in premenopause? The duration of the period averages from one to 7 years. The stage begins after 45 years with a change in the intensity and duration of menstruation. The onset of menopause is a great stress for the adrenal glands, since they are responsible for the independent production of estrogen (without the ovaries). The state of premenopause is accompanied by:
- increased sweating;
- hot flashes;
- rare menstruation;
- rapid heartbeat;
- itching and dryness of the vagina;
- frequent urination.
How long is the menopausal period
The stage when the last menstruation occurs is called menopause. In this phase, the level of progesterone drops to almost zero, the ovaries stop producing estrogens. On average, menopause occurs at the age of 50, although some factors (smoking, alcoholism) contribute to its onset 3 or 4 years earlier. The menopausal period lasts from one to three years. As a rule, according to its duration and premenopause, women calculate how long menopause lasts. Changes during menopause can go like this:
- weight increases;
- fat deposits appear in the waist area;
- frequent dizziness occurs;
- the cervix becomes inflamed;
- disease such as osteoporosis.
How long does menopause last?
The final period, when the ovaries no longer work, but at the same time atrophic changes occur in the uterus, is called postmenopause. This stage can be determined and ascertained if no menstruation was observed during the year. It will last until the end of life. During the postmenopausal period, the production of male hormones may increase, estrone prevails over estradiol, so there is a risk of developing tumors. Main symptoms:
- sleep disturbance;
- hot flashes;
- mood swings;
- sweating;
- emotional swings.
How is menopause in women
Changes in hormonal levels affect the physical and psychological state of a woman. Half of the female population endures menopause easily, but the remaining 50% may experience pain and discomfort. At the same time, no one can accurately determine how long menopause lasts for women, since genetic factors, habits, and working conditions influence the onset of menopause. But the symptoms are almost always the same:
- skin redness;
- flushes of heat;
- decreased libido;
- profuse sweating;
- chills;
- headache;
- increased irritability;
- insomnia.
Change in the menstrual cycle
The regularity of menstruation during menopause and how they go directly depends on the functioning of the female body, her health, environmental conditions, surgeries, etc. For each woman, this process proceeds differently. At first, the discharge is irregular, there may be failures, then menstruation stops altogether. The delay period can reach several months. Menstruation during menopause can occur in several ways:
- The cessation is gradual. Allocations are scarce, the interval between cycles becomes longer. This condition can last from one to three years.
- Sudden stop of menstruation. It may be painless.
- Resumption of discharge after a long period. Gradually, the break will become longer and there will be a complete cessation of menstruation.
How long do hot flashes last during menopause
Many women endure menopausal syndrome easily, without experiencing any particular discomfort or pain. However, some of the fairer sex feel bad during menopause. The most common symptoms of the onset of menopause are hot flashes, which cause serious physical and psychological discomfort to a woman. Hot flashes are a momentary sensation of warmth accompanied by heat and sweating. The cause of their occurrence is the expansion of blood vessels near the surface of the skin.
The duration and intensity of hot flashes in different women depends on individual characteristics. Some may experience them for only one year, others do not feel discomfort at all, and others have to put up with them for many years. The duration of such phenomena can be from one to 2 minutes, in rare cases up to an hour. Gradually, the severity of such ailments is reduced.
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Women are the source of life, their body is able to endure and give birth to a child. But the reproductive function has its own shelf life, it is important to know what menopause is, how long it lasts and how it proceeds. Such information will allow a woman to prepare for age-related changes and meet menopause without psychological trauma.
Menopause is the age-related extinction of the female reproductive function. Due to the aging of the body, the ovaries produce insufficient inhibin, which affects the increase in the level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and subsequently lutsinizing hormone (LH), which leads to the appearance of anovulatory cycles and complete atresia (reduction in size, reverse development without maturation) of the follicles .
In simple terms, a woman's menstrual cycle is disturbed: there is no blood discharge from the uterus and ovulation.
This phenomenon is often called ovarian sclerosis, when the cyclic secretion of progesterone and estradiol is disturbed. Obvious age-related changes usually begin after 35 years, when the time interval between periods increases, the scarcity of secretions is noticed. The older a woman becomes, the more clearly the symptoms of menopause manifest themselves. This process is also called androgenization, when the level of testosterone and other male hormones prevails over estrogen.
Reducing and stopping the production of sex steroids by the ovaries leads to functional and organic changes in organs and systems:
- uterus,
- mammary glands,
- urethra,
- Bladder,
- brain cells,
- myocardium,
- vessels.
In more than 50% of cases in a woman, a change in the secretion of sex steroids causes the so-called climate syndrome, when age-related changes become a pathology.
At the same time, an androgenic effect on the main body systems is observed:
- cardiovascular,
- nervous
- immune.
Menopause is a natural process that changes the female body. The state during this period will not necessarily be depressive and painful. There are ways to help the body cope with menopause and avoid climate syndrome.
Symptoms
During menopause, the female body loses its ability to conceive. Reproductive function is disturbed: from a decrease in the work of the ovaries to their complete extinction. In rare cases, the period of age-related changes passes smoothly and without symptoms.
Menopause is stress for a woman's body. Psychological depression and physiological signs are more often observed. Symptoms appear individually: gradually or abruptly. Much depends on the genetic predisposition and history of the patient.
These are the main symptoms that a woman describes at a doctor's appointment. However, there are also external changes: the appearance of more wrinkles on the face, loss of firmness and elasticity of the skin, dryness and brittle hair, loss of the shape of the mammary glands. The loss of external charm becomes a psychological trauma for a woman.
In addition, the patient may develop problems with the liver, kidneys and pancreas. The endocrine system also suffers, thyroid diseases develop. Some foods can cause symptoms such as epigastric pain, discomfort or spasms in the right hypochondrium.
Pigmentation spots appear on the face that do not go away. This is due to a violation of the melanin level. Wrinkles, pigmentation, hair loss negatively affect psychological health. A woman's self-esteem decreases, she loses interest in life, even shopping and other joys are not able to restore a good mood.
Psychological changes:
- apathy;
- irritability and nervousness;
- development of depression;
- decrease in self-esteem;
- tearfulness.
Migraine often develops against the background of menopause, leg cramps, pain in the joints appear. This is due to a lack of calcium in the body. During hormonal changes and the cessation of the production of antiandrogens, dizziness, deterioration in the quality of memory and concentration are observed.
Stages of menopause
Age-related changes catch the patient suddenly. None of the experts can say exactly when menopause will begin and how quickly it will progress. This process is lengthy, sometimes it can take up to 10 years.
The development of stages depends on the individual characteristics of the organism. Pay attention to how women in the family grew old on the maternal side, how they behaved and reacted to changes. Each patient will go through three climacteric stages.
premenopause
Eggs begin to be produced gradually in smaller numbers after 35 years. However, a woman under 45 is still able to bear and give birth to a healthy child. It will be more difficult for her to do this than for a young girl; strict adherence to the doctor's recommendations and more frequent laboratory monitoring will be required.
Premenopause is the process of reducing a woman's reproductive function. This period begins after 45 years. In this case, the ovaries produce female sex hormones, but in smaller quantities. The duration of the cycle can increase, vary from 30 to 90 days.
The main signs of premenopause:
- lengthening the time interval between periods;
- there is scarcity and less intensity of secretions;
- color changes to brown;
- estrogen levels decrease.
Thus, the body prepares for the next stage - menopause. A gradual decrease in hormones helps to avoid hyperandrogenism - a sharp drop in androgens. Testosterone and estrogen jumps in the results of the analysis confirm the beginning of the premenopausal stage.
Menopause
The full menopause is often referred to as menopause. However, this is only the main phase, the middle stage. The menopause period begins in a woman at about 50-55 years of age. Few people know how long menopause lasts - the duration of the stage usually does not exceed more than 1 year.
Menopause is the complete cessation of the action of the ovaries, the development of their dysfunction. A woman's periods completely disappear, the conception of a child becomes impossible. Even the skeletal system is subject to change.
Signs of menopause:
- complete absence of menstruation;
- pain in bones and joints;
- the appearance of convulsions in the lower extremities;
- tachycardia and other cardiovascular abnormalities.
Often, diabetes and obesity become companions of menopause. However, by controlling the level of sugar and correcting nutrition, the appearance of pathologies can be prevented. The menopausal transition is also characterized by urogenital problems and the appearance of VVD syndrome (vegetative-vascular dystonia).
Postmenopause
The final stage of age-related changes in a woman is postmenopause. This is the end of the stage of hormonal restructuring of body systems. At the same time, the level of estrogen drops by 2 times, most of the unpleasant symptoms of menopause disappear.
The last period is, as it were, resignation to the inevitability of life. A woman becomes more emotionally stable, headaches disappear, general fatigue is eliminated. Often, the fair sex feel a new surge of strength and thirst for life.
Period length statistics
How many years menopause can last is an individual figure. The process of turning a woman into a grandmother takes about 10-20 years. Pay attention to female relatives, how they look and feel. From hereditary factors, one can presumably calculate the course of one's own menopause.
Approximate periods of how long menopause lasts for women:
- Premenopause. It comes after 40-45 years, the duration of changes lasts for a long time - from 2 to 10 years.
- menopause. It is observed after 50-55 years, lasts about 12 months.
- Postmenopause. It begins after 55 years and continues until the end of life.
Do not give up and wait for old age. Modern cosmetic possibilities will help preserve the youth of the face and skin, restore the beauty of the hair. Medications eliminate the symptoms of menopause, helping to more easily transfer age-related pressure on the body.
Factors affecting duration
The hormonal changes that occur during menopause can last up to five years before menopause. This time is necessary for the adaptation of the female body to new conditions. The doctor will offer to undergo a diagnosis of the body to confirm the alleged diagnosis.
The slower the ovaries reduce the level of estrogen, the easier it is tolerated by the body. The period of adaptation to a new hormonal level is difficult. Chronic comorbidities, psychological instability, or hormonal disorders can speed up the process.
It will also not be easy for smokers and people with other bad habits. Alcohol and drugs not only adversely affect health, but also provoke the development of early aging. Also at risk are nulliparous women.
Most of all, the duration of menopause and other stages depends on hereditary predisposition. Many gynecologists believe that the earlier a girl has her first menstruation, the faster menopause will come. However, this theory has not received scientific confirmation.
Negative environmental factors affecting the duration of the menopausal period:
- the influence of stress and nervous work, a tense situation at home;
- the presence of psychosomatic diseases;
- lack of weight;
- the number of pregnancies and births;
- bad habits;
- ecology.
The development of the aging process of reproductive function ahead of time is called premature ovarian exhaustion. Such a pathology can happen even by the age of 36, if the woman's mother had a similar syndrome.
Early menopause lasts against the background of a young, adequately functioning female body. Sudden estrogen deficiency causes a kind of shock, so it is important for a woman to be tested for hormones every year and pass. The body is not ready for such changes, which is accompanied by severe symptoms.
What else affects the duration of menopause and its onset:
- concomitant chronic diseases;
- metabolic diseases (obesity, diabetes);
- heredity;
- endocrine diseases (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism);
- brain injury;
- mental and psychosomatic deviations;
- lack of vitamins and minerals;
- cancerous lesions of internal organs;
- surgical intervention, surgical treatment of the ovaries;
- intrauterine severe infections.
Among the chronic diseases that can affect premature aging are serious pathologies of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. With inflammatory processes in the ovaries at a young age and with untimely treatment of the problem, there is a risk of early menopause.
Ways to delay the onset of menopause
How to deal with aging - an effective way has not yet been found. If cosmetic procedures help to increase the elasticity of the skin, then it is impossible to cope with the extinction of fertility. This is an inevitable aging process.
But there are methods that help women delay ovarian failure and stay young and happy longer. It's a simple lifestyle adjustment. Proper nutrition, small ones will help not only stay in shape, but also live long.
Methods to help delay the onset of menopause:
- Vitamin E. It increases skin elasticity and helps produce more collagen. It is found in cereals, nuts, lettuce and greens.
- Cellulose. Intestinal slagging is a pollution of the whole organism. Bran bread, cereals, fruits and vegetables help to normalize the digestion process and get rid of excess.
- Rejection of salt. It is also recommended to remove sausages, smoked meats and other harmful semi-finished products from the diet.
- Reducing carbohydrates. This technique will help to avoid the development of diabetes and the appearance of excess weight.
- Walk more. Do not forget that movement is life. Hiking daily helps to maintain a high metabolism and accelerate blood circulation in the pelvic organs.
- Compliance with the doctor's recommendations. A specialist may advise taking estrogen-progestin drugs that maintain hormonal stability.
- emotional stability. It is necessary to avoid stressful situations and look for a positive emotional mood.
A woman should not perceive menopause as the end of life. Psychologists recommend finding a hobby, going on a trip, or just a change of scenery. To feel attractive, you need to take trips to spas and shopping.
Relief of unpleasant symptoms
In the postmenopausal stage, there are no longer constant headaches, frequent seizures and other unpleasant menopausal symptoms. Such symptoms manifest themselves individually, some patients do not even feel changes in the body.
However, most women have a hard time enduring menopause. Relatives and close people who support and help to distract from negative thoughts can help to survive this time. Often, against the background of menopause, severe depression develops.
How to relieve menopause symptoms:
- Decreased meat consumption. This rule is especially true for red varieties. It is better to enrich your diet with fresh vegetables and fruits.
- Refusal of caffeine. Replace your usual morning coffee and strong tea with herbal decoction with honey and lemon. This method will also help to increase the immune defense of the human body.
- Rejection of bad habits. It is quite difficult for older people to quit smoking, so at least try to reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke.
- Consumption of dairy products. Include cottage cheese, kefir, yogurt and fermented baked milk in your diet. Also in pure milk contains calcium, which saves from pain in the bones.
- Daily regime. If a woman is not yet retired, then she should rest longer. Give up physical overload, spend your free time for your pleasure.
- Physical activity. Age is not a hindrance to sports, but it is better to consult a doctor or work with a personal trainer. Also keep an eye on your heart rate and blood pressure.
Such methods help to stop the symptoms of menopause and mitigate its manifestation. For severe headaches, you can take a pill. Treatment of migraine, joint diseases and other associated pathologies is carried out under medical supervision.
Drug methods for alleviating menopausal syndrome:
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This is an individual method of treatment, which is selected according to the results of laboratory tests. After undergoing a complete diagnosis, the gynecologist assesses the degree of shortage of certain hormones, prescribes estrogen-gestagenic drugs and progesterone-based drugs.
- Non-hormonal treatment. This is the use of dietary supplements, herbal tablets, vitamin-mineral complexes and other means that can affect the reduction in the severity of menopause symptoms. In most cases, these supplements are an adjunct to hormone therapy.
- Sedatives. They help eliminate tachycardia, cardiovascular disorders and stabilize the emotional state. In complicated cases, the patient is shown antidepressants, tranquilizers or antipsychotics.
- Psychotherapy. Don't underestimate verbal support. Sometimes an explanation of elementary physiological processes helps to accept the changes that are taking place. Especially if they happen to all the fair sex. Turning to a psychologist and psychotherapist helps to understand your own body.
The main thing is to accept yourself for who you are. A real man will love a woman with her wrinkles, short haircut and even slight vulnerability. In the eyes of a loved one, his companion will always remain young and beautiful.
Video
Learn about mental preparation for menopause to feel like an attractive woman again.