What is Menopause

Menopause is the period of life after the cessation of menstruation and end of woman's fertile cycle. Cessation of menstruation in majority of women occurs in midlife somewhere between ages of 45 and 55 years, while menopause is often the beginning of a new period in women's life. The menopause often results variety physical and emotional changes which can be both challenging and stressful.

The menopausal transition usually takes place gradually. For that reason period which characterized by gradual declining of ovarian function and precedes the menopause is often referred as premenopause. Premenopause usually last for several years and is characterized by smaller and smaller levels of estrogen what can cause symptoms of hormone withdrawal such as erratic or heavy menstruation periods, hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness although menopause transition might pass without any signs except for menstruation cessation. After a while the estrogen levels of estrogen cease to drop and many of the symptoms of menopause disappear or ease. The period that follows after a woman has not had a menstruation period for 12 months and when the symptoms of menopause in majority of women become less severe is often referred as postmenopause. However, even if the menopausal symptoms disappear women in postmenopause are in much greater risks of certain diseases such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases.

Menopause is a natural life change which is caused by progressive decline of ovarian function due aging what results decline of production of the hormone estrogen. Low levels of estrogen greatly affects the hormonal activity of other glands what may result different symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness, and greatly increase the risk of certain diseases such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases. A lot of menopausal symptoms can be avoided with proper lifestyle and education of women about the changes which occur in menopause and how to prevent or relieve the menopausal symptoms.