A woman’s transition into menopause usually begins when she is in her 40s or 50s. This natural decline in reproductive hormones signals the decline of a woman’s ability to bear children and comes with many changes, not all of which are pleasant. It also elicits some confusion in women before it arrives or when they are going through it. Before you pick up your OTC soy menopause supplement, here’s a list of commonly asked questions regarding menopause and hormones.
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What Happens to the Body During Menopause?
During menopause, a woman’s estrogen and progesterone levels go up and down, which brings unpredictable ovulation cycles. As the reduction in hormones by the ovaries occurs, it becomes harder to produce eggs. It marks the transition to the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles and during this transition, the ovaries gradually stop producing an egg every month. A woman is considered menopausal 12 months after her last menses.
What Are the 3 Phases of Menopause?
Perimenopause is the phase that occurs in the years leading up to menopause, during which time the body slowly produces less estrogen. Menopausal symptoms ramp up the closer the woman gets to menopause.
Menopause occurs one year after a woman’s had her last period. The ovaries have stopped releasing eggs and producing most of their estrogen. Symptoms are occurring with regularity during this time.
Postmenopause is the period after menopause, during which time symptoms slow down. The woman continues to lose estrogen, which poses potential health risks.
What Symptoms Are Associated With Menopause?
Menopause brings about a range of symptoms and most of them are not pleasant. The most recognizable of these vasomotor symptoms are hot flashes, which are sudden feelings of warmth spreading over the upper body, often accompanied by sweating or blushing. Hot flashes range from mild to severe.
Other symptoms of menopause include:
- Dry eyes, skin or mouth
- Emotional changes
- Vaginal dryness
- Uneven or missed periods
- Sore breasts
- Trouble sleeping
Can a Woman Still Become Pregnant During Menopause?
A common question is: can you still get pregnant during menopause with no period? Perimenopause is the term used to define the years leading up to menopause. During this time, the ovaries are still releasing eggs for fertilization but symptoms are occurring because the change is happening over time. Even though menopausal symptoms may be manifesting themselves, a woman can become pregnant as long as she is having her period, even if it has become irregular.
The perimenopausal pregnancy rate decreases as women age. At age 38, only 20 percent of women are unable to conceive naturally. At age 41, that number grows to 50 percent and grows to 90 percent by age 45. By age 50, the number is close to 100 percent.
Menopause is a natural transition in a woman’s life. The changes that it brings sometimes elicit the need for relief or simply understanding. Equelle reviews advise estrogen-mimicking menopause relief supplements. Visit an online health and wellness store to learn more about how natural supplements are clinically proven to relieve a range of menopause symptoms.
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