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Surviving the Menopause

By: Linsay Hurst

Sometime during her life, a woman will go through menopause. Normally it will happen when she is between 50 and 54, but it can occur when she's younger or older. Menopause means that a woman's ovaries are shutting down and will stop producing estrogen and progesterone. Menstruation will diminish, and will stop altogether when the ovaries quit functioning.

Menopause is the part of a woman's normal aging process and it will happen to all who haven't had their uterus and ovaries surgically removed. If this is the case, premature menopause will occur. In some cases, only the uterus is taken out and the ovaries are left. Under these circumstances, there are no immediate menopausal symptoms, since the patient is still receiving the hormones mentioned above.

At the onset women don't generally experience symptoms. Over time, as the ovaries produce less of the hormones, the monthly cycle will be affected. One month she may experience heavy menstruation and the next month she may only have a couple of days of spotting.

There are a number of symptoms that start manifesting as she begins to enter the various phases of menopause: (1) hot flashes (2) irritability (3) sweating at odd times (4) sleep disturbances (5) vaginal dryness that can lead to sexual and urinary discomfort (6) mood swings that may include anger and depression. (7) hair growth on the face, arms, chest and stomach (8) memory problems and difficulty with concentration (9) low frustration level, affecting her whole mood.

The best advice for a middle-aged woman is to look for information on menopause. The more she knows about it, the more she will know what to expect and how to cope with it. She will also feel less alone in the world when the symptoms appear.

Eating well-balanced meals and keeping up with her exercise can be among the most positive approaches she can take. Taking charge of her own body, including good nutrition, will help her experience minimal symptoms. She should also consider vitamins and minerals in the form of supplements. Any woman, who has a great deal of difficulty during menopause, may want to consider hormone replacement therapy. It's always vital to stay in touch with her doctor throughout menopause. That way any other changes not related to menopause won't be missed. Some women may want to seek out a support group. It's always helpful to have contact with people experiencing the same life conditions as you.

Article Source: http://www.bodyformind.com/db

Lindsay Hurst is the owner of A Menopause, a fantastic resource for information about Menopause, For more articles on Menopause why not visit: www.amemenopause.com/articles
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