Menopause Periods

Periods And Menopause

At the same time, however, these same women might feel sad at the realization that their fertility has ended.  A period is also referred to as menses, or the menstrual cycle.  It is the process that occurs when each month, an ovary releases an egg to be fertilized.  The uterus prepares for the potential pregnancy and creates a lining where the newly fertilized egg will be implanted. 

When the egg is fertilized, it implants in the lining and a baby will ultimately be born.  If the egg is not fertilized, it will be shed, along with the lining of the uterus in the form of a period.  Most women begin their periods at approximately twelve years old. 

Periods and menopause are the two most important aspects of a woman’s life.  Once a girl begins her period she has entered a new phase of her life and her reproduction cycle has officially begun.  Many women will not enter menopause until they are approximately 50 years old, making the fertile years of a woman’s life lasting for nearly four decades.  There is no doubt that periods and menopause are two of the most important events in many women’s lives.

When a woman begins to enter the early stages of menopause, it is referred to as perimenopuase.  During perimenopause, a woman’s periods may become sporadic or lose their regularity.  Every woman’s body is different and for some, the perimenopausal stage might last several years, while for others it could last as long as eight years.

When a woman enters perimenopause her estrogen levels begin to fluctuate.  Some months, her estrogen levels will be normal, while others they might be quite low.  During these months, she might fail to ovulate, have periods that are significantly shorter in duration, and might even see her periods increase and become lengthier.  All of these signs indicate that a woman is entering the transition period for menopause. 

The cessation of periods and menopause is the result of the ovaries not producing the levels of estrogen needed to promote fertility.  Some women respond to perimenopause the same as they would menopause.  The low estrogen levels can create the same symptoms associated with menopause, including skipped periods, trouble sleeping, anxiety, difficulty with sexual intercourse, vaginal dryness, increased risk for osteoporosis, and a possible decrease in sexual drive. 

It’s important to recognize that the connection between periods and menopause is what defines the term menopause.  In fact, a woman isn’t said to have entered menopause until her periods have stopped for at least one year straight.  If a woman is still menstruating, even though she is skipping periods, she is in perimenopause.

Missed periods and menopause symptoms indicate that a woman is entering this period of her life.  If you feel that the symptoms of menopause are causing you great discomfort then speak to your health care provider.  There are several treatments that you might consider that will help you make the transition without much discomfort or aggravation.