The term menopause is used to refer to the permanent stopping of menstrual cycle in women when they reach the age fifty-one (the average age in USA). The age might differ in other countries either later or earlier depending on availability of doctor’s care for women, overall nutrition etc in that particular country. A woman is said to have reached menopause when the recurrence of her period has not happened at least for a year since the time she had her last cycle.

Symptoms

Women start having sings of menopause as early as in their mid thirties. Hey cycle becomes long lasting and heavier or shorter and lighter based on the hormones of the person. They can also become very erratic with her not getting her periods for months together.

When she reaches her forties, then the more noticeable menopause symptoms usually set in. These include the most common type of menopause symptom, which are hot flashes. A woman can also be afflicted with sleeping disorders, mood swings and changes to her skin, such as dryness around her mouth and eyes.

In addition, there can be a loss of bladder control and an increase in fat around her abdomen. Her breasts will also start to lose their fullness and her hair may also thin slightly.

However her sex drive is usually retained just like before, but she may also lack in sex drive because of the problem arising in the vagina as it tends to dry up, as a result the intercourse becomes difficult and uncomfortable if proper treatment is not attained.

Causes and tests

The main reason of menopause in a woman is because of the lesser progesterone and estrogen levels in the body when compared to usual levels. Fewer eggs ripen for fertilization and as a result there is lesser rush of progesterone which takes care of the post ovulation course. This drastic change in the level of hormones is the reason behind the mood swings and all the symptoms of menopause in a woman.

To confirm if a woman is going through menopause is to have a blood test which checks out the FSH level and the estrogen level. If they appear below normal then you can be sure that the woman is going through menopause.

If the process in diagnosed in young woman then doctors can treat her by taking the appropriate measures like hormone therapies, changes in the lifestyle etc. Certain procedures like radiation or chemotherapy and hysterectomies can trigger early menopause in a woman.

Know more information on menopause at 34 menopause symptoms website. It is important to know more information on early menopause, menopause treatment and so on