As a woman, your body has been undergoing many changes. First you were a child with no reproductive capabilities, then you went through puberty as your body went through massive changes that enabled you to conceive a child. Then you may have experienced one or more pregnancies which changed your body in many ways. Now if you are in your late 40′s or 50′s you are, or soon will be experiencing menopause. Menopause has occurred when a woman has experienced her very last period. As you will not know if your current period is your last one, menopause is said to have occurred if you have not menstruated in the last 12 months.  But it does not happen overnight, but usually takes years, with most women experiencing various symptoms.

The first phase of menopause is called  perimenopause, when you will begin to notice some  signs of menopause but will continue to ovulate. This  typically begins several years before you reach menopause, when your ovaries start to slow down their estrogen  and progesterone production, which will lessen your likelihood of becoming pregnant. At this stage, you may still be three to five years away from complete menopause. During this phase you might experience many symptoms or only a few.

These symptoms ( I don’t really like calling them symptoms because menopause is a totally naturally occurrence, not a disease )  usually include the following:

  • Hot flashes
  • Weight gain
  • Fatigue
  • Night Sweats
  • Irregular periods
  • Increased susceptibility to urinary tract infections
  • Insomnia
  • Thinning hair
  • Irritability
  • Acne
  • Lowered fertility
  • Vaginal burning and itching
  • Hair growth on face
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Concentration and memory problems
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Hormonal imbalance

The last phase is post menopause when the ovaries have completely stopped producing eggs and you have not had a period for 12 months.