Changes During a Woman's Menopause
As baby boomers move into midlife, a woman's menopause does not
have quite the alarming effect that it did some years ago.
However, it remains a time of change in her life, as the ovaries
start shutting down causing hormones to fluctuate. When this
occurs, her childbearing years come to an end. A woman's
menopause is a perfectly normal process that occurs over several
years, but the physical and emotional changes associated with
this "change of life" will vary from woman to woman. Some women
experience symptoms that include hot flashes, mood swings,
memory difficulties, vaginal dryness, and insomnia, while other
women experience no symptoms whatsoever.
Too often, women even confuse natural aging changes with
menopause. The few symptoms actually associated with menopause
can usually be handled with a few minor lifestyle changes.
Contrary to what most women have heard about menopause, it can
be an exciting and challenging time. All women should know that
they will experience menopause at some point in their life,
whether it be premature or natural menopause. So many times, it
is easy to blame other factors on menopause but it should be
understood that not all symptoms a woman experiences are
necessarily related to menopause. For instance, a number of
women will undergo a different stresses in midlife, causing
moodiness and anxiety, but these factors do not mean that a
woman's menopause causes depression.
There is a myth that most women will lose their desire for sex
during the menopausal years when in fact, the midlife years can
be a time of enhanced sexual desire because of the freedom from
having to use birth control and concerns over possible
pregnancy. If a woman experiences vaginal dryness or painful
intercourse, lubricants or creams can be used. A woman's desire
for sex usually has more to do with feelings for her partner
than with her body's hormonal changes. Another factor that might
be blamed on a woman's menopause is weight gain, but some women
may actually lose weight. It is important to be wise, eating
healthy food and exercising regularly to maintain optimal health.
A couple of important things for women to remember while going
through this time in her life is that she should be open in her
communication by sharing thoughts and concerns about the changes
in her body and mind. Open communication helps bring couples
closer instead of creating distance. Another consideration in
helping a woman feel better about going through the change of
life is to connect with female friends, reminiscing about the
past and possible changes to be made in the future.
Additionally, women going through menopause need proper sleep.
If she has trouble going to sleep, she could try taking a hot
shower before bedtime or drinking a glass of warm milk or a
glass of wine (just one). Even an occasional sleeping pill is
recommended if nothing else seems to work, but only when
recommended by her doctor.
Maintaining optimal health by eating healthy and exercising
regularly is important for anyone not just for a woman going
through menopause. Some other suggested ideas include dressing
in layers during the winter and cooler clothing during the
summer for hot flashes. As mentioned earlier, not all women will
have the same menopause process, so if a woman is experiencing
symptoms that are uncomfortable or if she is just plain curious,
she should consult her doctor. The doctor can perform a blood
test for FSH levels to determine if a woman's menopause is
nearing. Menopause is the doorway to a new life, closing one
chapter in life and moving on.