Posts Tagged ‘Urinary problems’

Menopause

Menopause is the period that ends the reproductive phase of women. Menopause begins at the end of menstruation. Over time, the ovaries gradually lose the ability to produce estrogen and progesterone, hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. As estrogen production decreases, ovulation and menstruation occur very often, and eventually stop. Menstruation can be stopped before due to an illness or a hysterectomy. In these cases we speak of induced menopause.

In Europe and North America, menopause usually occurs when a woman is around 51-52 years of age. Menopause can happen however, and sometimes to 40. Age and menopausal symptoms also have a strong genetic influence. As a rule of thumb, the woman who started menstruating early are more likely to experience menopause earlier.

The perimenopause is the period of gradual changes that lead to menopause. Some women may experience perimenopause for 35 years. Perimenopause may take several months or even years. During perimenopause, reduced production rate and levels of estrogen in the same range. This causes symptoms similar to puberty, but more intense. The postmenopause is the period after menopause.

1. Symptoms of menopause

Menopausal symptoms are so different and individual women. Some experience symptoms that her friends never suffer. The duration and severity of symptoms are variable. Menopause is a natural part of life because all women are victims, some with more difficulty than others. But one thing that all women have in common is the ability to identify options on how to deal with their menopausal symptoms. In the western world about 12% of women experience no menopausal symptoms, and approximately 14% experience intense physical or emotional problems.
2. The psychological symptoms of menopause

Anxieties, difficulty concentrating, the exaggeration to the slightest problem, easy irritability, forgetfulness and mood swings are typical psychological problems. Studies indicate that many cases of depression relate more to the circumstances with menopause itself. Other events, such as caring for elderly relatives, retirement, divorce or widowhood, children growing and leaving the house occur around the time of menopause. Also, some problems may arise indirectly due to the disruption of sleep. To address emotional symptoms you should exercise regularly. This will help maintain your hormonal balance and preserving bone strength. Talking with other women going through menopause, can help with emotional symptoms. Women approaching menopause often complain of memory loss and inability to concentrate.

3. Hot flashes and other vasomotor symptoms
Hot flashes are the most common symptom of menopause. Hot flashes may start 4 years before the end of menstruation, but they still usually a year or two after menopause. Hot flashes are sudden waves of body heat, usually on the face or chest. May be accompanied by palpitations, sweating, night sweats or frialdades. The heat causes changes in the control of body temperature.

4. Interruptions of sleep
During menopause may experience insomnia or disturbed dreams. These can come in many forms including difficulty sleeping or waking during the night. Menopause can lead to fatigue during the day.

5. Genital and sexual problems
Vaginal dryness and less elastic tissue are common problems in the menopause, an effect due to the declining level of estrogen. Vaginal dryness can cause irritation and pain during copulation. Interest in copulate can decline and is also very common not to reach orgasm. Vaginal lubricants can make less painful copulation.

6. Urinary problems
Incontinence increases with age and there is evidence that loss of estrogen plays an important role. During menopause, the tissues in the urinary tract also change, sometimes leaving women more susceptible to involuntary loss of urine, particularly if certain chronic illnesses or urinary infections are also present. Exercise, coughing, laughing, lifting heavy objects or similar movements that apply pressure in the bladder and may have small amounts of urine escape. Lack of regular exercise can contribute to this condition. It is important to know that bladder training is a simple and effective treatment for most cases.