| Have you experienced sudden hot flushes at | | | | flashes and profuse sweating occurring at |
| night that cause disruptions to your sleep? | | | | night may disrupt a woman's sleep and rest |
| Are you experiencing irregular periods? Or | | | | period, which can cause irritability and bad |
| are you feeling irritable and experiencing | | | | moods in the morning. |
| mood swings? Are you in between the ages of | | | | |
| 35 and 50? What you are experiencing might | | | | 2. There will be irregular periods with |
| be the signs and symptoms of menopause. A | | | | probable alternating heavy and light flow |
| lot of women go through their menopausal | | | | until menstruation finally ceases to occur. |
| period gracefully without experiencing a lot | | | | |
| of problems. You too, can go through | | | | 3. A woman entering the menopausal period |
| menopause with fewer problems. This is | | | | may experience bouts of irritability and mood |
| possible if you know how to handle yourself | | | | swings. Sometimes these mood changes are |
| and the situation. | | | | traced back to the hot flashes, which occur |
| | | | during her resting period. These often |
| A woman's body begins to prepare for | | | | deprive her of a complete rest at night and |
| menopause sometime between her late 30s and | | | | may result to irritability during waking |
| late 50s. During this time, the levels of | | | | hours. |
| her hormones required for pregnancy start to | | | | |
| decline. These two hormones are estrogen and | | | | 4. Vaginal dryness is one of the conditions |
| progesterone. Because of the decline in the | | | | a woman may experience during menopause. |
| production of these two hormones, she will | | | | |
| start to experience irregular menstrual | | | | 5. Intercourse is usually painful because of |
| periods. She will also experience the | | | | less lubrication caused by vaginal dryness. |
| cessation of the egg production in her | | | | |
| ovaries. This condition will finally lead to | | | | Many women may experience only a few or none |
| the termination of her menstruation. | | | | of the above signs and symptoms and may not |
| | | | notice any major changes in their bodies, |
| The occurrence of menopause varies among | | | | except at the end of their periods. Others |
| women. However, the average age is about 51. | | | | may experience all the signs and symptoms of |
| Some conditions like surgery and some | | | | menopause but may not feel very uncomfortable |
| illnesses can cause the earlier occurrence of | | | | at all. |
| menopause but more often menopause is a slow | | | | |
| process that usually takes about 2 to 5 | | | | It is estimated that about 1 in 4 women will |
| years. | | | | have a strong response to the levels of |
| | | | hormonal shift. These changes in the hormone |
| The following are the signs and symptoms a | | | | production may make them feel emotionally and |
| woman may experience as soon as she enters | | | | physically distressed. |
| menopause: | | | | |
| | | | A woman in menopause should tell her family |
| 1. A sudden feeling of heat mostly occurring | | | | and loved ones about the changes she is |
| in the face, neck and chest areas - This | | | | undergoing. This will enable those around |
| condition is more commonly referred to as hot | | | | her to be more understanding about her |
| flashes or flushes. Together with hot | | | | situation and provide her with the necessary |
| flashes, a woman may experience profuse | | | | support she needs during this important phase |
| sweating during the day and night. Both hot | | | | in her life. |