Menopause

The beginning stages of menopause may be almost unnoticeable to you. As you progress through menopause however you will begin to have more symptoms and usually you will know through the symptoms that you have in fact started your menopause.

You may want to consult your doctor just to make sure that your symptoms are caused by the onset of menopause and as this only requires a short exam and a look at your medical history, it is an easy way to put your mind at rest. The very early stages of menopause are called perimenopause. During this stage the symptoms are much less intense with the most common symptom being the irregularity of your period.

A doctor can perform several tests to see if you are indeed going through menopause. First, your level of estrogen and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) can be determined with a blood test. As you go through menopause your estrogen levels will decrease while the FSH levels will increase.

This will help your doctor conclude that your menopause has begun and that you are not suffering from anything more serious. If this test is inconclusive however or you are slightly too young to be going through menopause then your doctor may recommend a blood test to check your levels of thyroid stimulating hormones as hypothyroidism can have symptoms much like those of the menopause.

Your symptoms will likely be your best indicator of menopause. The symptoms often start with irregularity of your periods. At first, they may be shorter or may be spaced further apart. Keep track of your periods so you can determine their frequency. Be aware that you may experience irregular periods for some time before menopause concludes and you are still able to become pregnant while your body is still producing eggs. Therefore, be sure to continue to use birth control.

Other symptoms that you may start to experience include irritability or moodiness, fatigue, sleep problems and hot flashes. The symptoms are quite individual in that some women may experience all of them while others may not notice any. Whenever you have any questions about your symptoms you should talk to your doctor to ensure that there are no other underlying problems.

Some doctors will recommend using HRT (hormone replacement therapy) to help the body cope more easily with the changes however new studies are finding that there may be links between HRT and some serious diseases such as breast cancer and endometrial cancer. Saying that, HRT is now known to decrease the instance of heart disease and osteoporosis however because of the possible risks, be sure to discuss the options thoroughly with your doctor.

Menopause often starts at a similar age to the age your mother was when she went through it and so it may be beneficial to ask your mother what age she was when she began to experience symptoms so that you can get an idea of when it will happen for you. Smokers may go through menopause one to two years earlier than they would have if they didn't smoke however generally speaking, menopause will start in the mid 40's and conclude by the early 50's. Once you have not menstruated for a year you are considered to have completed menopause.

Menopuase Diagnosis |