The term menopause is used to refer to the permanent stopping of menstrual cycle in women when they reach the age fifty-one (the average age in USA). The age might differ in other countries either later or earlier depending on availability of doctor’s care for women, overall nutrition etc in that particular country. A woman is said to have reached menopause when the recurrence of her period has not happened at least for a year since the time she had her last cycle.

Signs

Women start having sings of menopause as early as in their mid thirties. Hey cycle becomes long lasting and heavier or shorter and lighter based on the hormones of the person. They can also become very erratic with her not getting her periods for months together.

The noticeable symptoms of menopause sets in when a woman gets into her forties which includes hot flashes that is the general symptoms of menopause. They can also be troubled with other symptoms such as mood swings, sleeping dir orders, changes in her skin like dryness around the eyes and mouth.

Apart from the above said there will also be loss of control of the bladder, increased fat around the abdomen, fullness of breasts and slight thinning of her hair.

Usually the drive for sex that a woman has before her menopause started is usually retained. But at times there is also a decrease in her sex drive which could be because of the dryness of vagina which in turn can make intercourse very uncomfortable if appropriate steps are not followed.

Tests and Causes

As for the cause, woman’s body produces estrogen in a certain amount throughout her life, but with the onset of menopause the body’s production of estrogen decreases and the progesterone that helps produce estrogen is also reduced. Eggs which were regularly produced are now fewer and are not suitable for fertilization and if by chance they do ripe then the percentage of success is less because of the inactive progesterone and also for the ovulation period. The hormones are responsible for this major change in a woman’s body and the various mood swings.

Simple test of the blood is the usual method for doctors to check if a lady is into menopause. This test checks on the FSH (follicle stimulating hormones) and estrogen levels. If the hormone levels have decreased than the normal then it indicates that the lady is getting into her menopause.

If the woman is too young to start the process, then the doctors can take the appropriate measures for treatment, such as lifestyle changes or hormone therapies. There are certain procedures that might trigger this early menopause, such as hysterectomies and chemotherapy or radiation treatments.

34 menopause symptoms blog provides more useful information on early menopause, menopause diets, menopause medication and etc