What is menopause?

Menopause is the time at “mid-life” when a woman has her last period. It happens when the ovaries stop releasing eggs – usually a gradual process. Sometimes it happens all at once.

Perimenopause is the period of gradual changes that lead into menopause. It affects a woman’s hormones, body, and feelings. It can be a stop-start process that may take months or years.

“Climacteric”is another word for the time when a woman passes from the reproductive to the non-reproductive years of her life.

The ovaries’ production of estrogen slows down during perimenopause. Hormone levels fluctuate, causing changes just as they did during adolescence.

The changes leading to menopause may seem much more intense than those during puberty. The intensity may be affected by a woman’s feelings about aging, including her reactions to social judgments about aging.

Induced menopause occurs if the ovaries are removed or damaged as in hysterectomy or chemotherapy. In this case, menopause begins immediately, with no perimenopause. The time after menopause is called postmenopause.  Read more...

If you are at the beginning stages of perimenopause or are coming to the end of full menopause; there is something you should know.  Post-menopause is hardly discussed.

Therefore, what’s the good news about post-menopause? Read on.

There seems to be a double-standard for men and women. When men go through a mid-life crisis; they sometimes seek out younger women or buy expensive toys. However, when a woman goes through menopause, it is highlighted by the symptoms she experiences. There is a definite disconnect between how quickly one reaches their destination Vs the journey that is taken to arrive there.

While woman are more open than ever before about their experiences, it seems a far cry from years ago when our moms and grandmothers never even broached the subject of periods, let alone menopause. Well the good news is that there is good news. No more heavy bleeding and hot flashes, mood swings, irritability, night sweats; Kotex pads, Tampax, or pregnancy issues.  Read more...