According to Fox-Spencer and Brown (2006), menopause is the point when a woman has her last period which happens when her ovaries stop releasing eggs, and for some women, it happens all at once but for many women, it is a gradual process. If a woman has not had a period in more than a year, is not pregnant, or does not have another illness, she may have most likely reached menopause and this typically, this happens when the woman is in her fifties.
Planned Parenthood, in their website state that perimenopause is the gradual change that leads to menopause which usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55 but it is not unknown to begin as early as 40, a time when menstrual periods usually become less predictable and they may become more or less frequent or may be heavier or lighter. Women who smoke have a higher possibility of going into perimenopause earlier than those women who do not smoke. Perimenopause is a process that can last for few months or can go on for up to 12 years depending on the physiological make up of the woman involved. If a woman has not had a period for more than a year or two, then this marks the end of the perimenopausal stage and the beginning of menopause.
Surgical menopause occurs with the removal of both ovaries in women who have yet to undergo menopause and this induces menopause because they suddenly experience the symptoms of menopause without the normal gradual changes that occur. Women with surgical menopause experience the following changes: hot flashes; sweating at night; the drying of the vagina; heart palpitations; frequent mood swings; unexplained depression; constant fatigue; and some changes in their sexual desire.
Stress menopause is caused by the constant stress experienced by a woman on many occasions which hastens the menopausal process. This type of stress can be caused by the various factors related to stress, for example, exposure to radiation, smoking, excessive alcohol intake or having a poor diet. Most of these factors result in stress or are the symptoms of a woman having stress.
Post menopause is the stage following menopause which normally starts between 24 and 36 months after the last period that a woman experiences. There is a reduction of menopausal symptoms as become less frequent. However, the reduction of menopausal symptoms during the postmenopausal stage is not uniform among all women and some may continue having them for a very long time after their last period while others have them for only a short time.
As a woman approaches menopause, her menstrual period starts to change and the time between periods can be shorter or longer and may vary from month to month and the defining feature of menopause taking place is the stopping of menstrual periods. However, it is difficult to determine whether a woman has experienced her last period or not unless she displays menopausal symptoms. The most common menopause symptoms are: changes in sexual desire, extreme sweating, frequent urinary tract infections, frequent urination, irritability, night sweats, sleep problems, and vaginal dryness.
Many life changes can occur during Perimenopause and menopause which can affect a woman. These changes can cause the increase of the symptoms of menopause and they include: anxiety about future loss of independence; anxiety about disability or loneliness; changes in social relationships; changes in identity or body image; children leaving home; getting divorced; and increased anxiety about illness, aging, or death among many others.
Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bones, increasing the risk of sudden and unexpected fractures which results in the loss bone mass and strength and it progresses without any symptoms or pain. There is a relationship linking the deficiency of estrogen in women during perimenopause and menopause and the occurrence of osteoporosis because of early menopause and the prolonged periods in which hormone levels are low and menstrual periods are absent or infrequent which can cause loss of bone mass.
Wang-Cheng and Neuer (2007) state that some women opt for hormone therapy to treat their menopause symptoms and these therapy may include pills, patches, implants, rings, and vaginal creams whose main purpose is to replace hormones such as estrogen and progesterone that the body stops making during perimenopause and menopause. Some women concerned about the risks of hormone therapy choose alternative therapies including homeotherapy, herbal treatments and Chinese medicines but these therapies may also have undesired effects.
In conclusion, menopause is a very normal occurrence in women which has to happen during their lifetime and at different paces depending on the individual who is experiencing it. This period of gradual change in women should be met with understanding from their partners, family and co-workers because it is a very difficult time for them. By treating them with understanding, the process will be so much easier not only for them but also for those around them. It is important to recognize that whilst the menopause may cause some distressing symptoms, it is not an illness and it will happen to every woman who reaches menopausal age.
Cited Works
Fox-Spencer, Rebecca & Brown, Pam. (2006). Menopause. Oxford, United Kingdom: CSF Medical Communications Limited.
Planned Parenthood. (2012). Menopause. Retrieved from http://www.plannedparenthood.
Wang-Cheng, Rebekah & Neuer, Joan M. (2007). Menopause. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: ACP Press.
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