How long does menopause last? How many years menopause lasts in women and how long does hot flashes last. How to ease the course of menopause

Menopause is a certain period in the life of women, which does not come suddenly and does not pass without a trace. The first signs marking its beginning appear in the years 50-53. Menopause can last from 8-9 years to the end of life.

The course of such a process can be divided into three main stages: premenopause, menopause and postmenopause, which are integral parts of one whole.

The 3 stages of menopause and their duration are described below. All data is current for 2016.

Premenopause

Premenopause is the initial phase of menopause. The first bells that indicate the start of the process of dying off of eggs are:

• weight gain
• dizziness and pain
• increased sweating

All this begins to manifest itself closer to 50, but if the lifestyle was not ideal, then between 30 and 40 years. For 8 out of 10 women I know, this period lasted from 4 to 5 years. The end of premenopause is the moment when the female genitals stop producing eggs.

The course of premenopause can be accompanied by various symptoms. Let me list some of them:

• An increase or decrease in the time period between ovulations, as well as their abundance.
• Hot flashes and restless sleep.
• Frequent uncontrolled mood changes, increased irritability.
• Insufficient production of lubricant in the vagina.
• Elevated cholesterol levels.

Menopause

The beginning of the second phase, menopause, is the end date of the last menstrual period. Due to the fact that during this period in women, the level of follicle-stimulating hormone significantly increases, the risk of developing diseases of the bones, heart, obesity and diabetes increases. After 12 months from the transition from premenopause to menopause, your gynecologist fixes the end of the second stage of menopause.

The symptoms that were the companions of the first phase will not bypass the second. A woman during this period can also be uncomfortable with hot flashes, sleepless nights, uncontrollable mood swings. But for the second phase of menopause, the following symptoms are also characteristic:

• Increased night sweats.
• Estrogen deficiency.
• Spontaneous urination.
• Muscle pain.
• Memory losses.
• Allergic reactions.

The main reason for all the consequences of menopause is a decrease in the female hormone in the body - estrogen. It affects almost everything in our body: bones, heart, muscles, brain function. And its absence contributes to the weakening of immunity to various diseases.

Postmenopause

Postmenopause is the third stage of menopause. It lasts from 5 years to the end of the life path. A woman's entry into this phase begins one year after the last menstruation. Observing my friends, I can say that due to the stabilization of the hormonal background, this period was accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Improving well-being.
• Lack of mood swings.
• Reducing the dynamics of the appearance of physical ailment.

Pros of menopause

1. Reducing the intensity of skin withering is the first and main advantage of menopause, or more precisely, hormone replacement therapy used to prevent and dull the symptoms of menopause. An alternative to them are isoflavones - genistein and daidzein, which are obtained exclusively from plant materials and nourish the aging skin with collagen. The aging process is slowed down not only in the dermis, but also in hair.
2. Lack of menstruation, which means we can say no PMS, pads and tampons.
3. Freedom of sexual intercourse from birth control pills, condoms and birth control devices.

Factors provoking the onset of menopause

The reason that brings menopause closer and affects its course is our own way of life, which in most cases is not ideal. Two of my friends out of ten women, zealous henchmen of bad habits, had premenopause 3 years earlier.

This can also result in a number of negative factors, such as frequent use of alcohol and drugs, lack of sports and regular sex life, harmful environmental influences, stress and weak immunity. The early onset of menopause may be a consequence of the operation.

Treatment

It is impossible to get rid of a single symptom that accompanies menopause forever. But they are all treatable, which can reduce their activity. Replenishment of estrogen deficiency through hormone replacement therapy is a topical method of treating menstruation problems, memory lapses, pain and physical discomfort, hot flashes. But it is worth resorting to this method only under the strict supervision of a doctor and first undergo all examinations and tests. This therapy is contraindicated in the presence of estrogen-dependent tumors. In this case, it will not be possible to muffle the symptoms listed above.

Among folk remedies, tincture of sage, hawthorn and a special herbal collection consisting of linden flowers, mint, fennel fruits, wormwood and buckthorn bark are able to fill the lack of estrogen.

Antidepressants and antiepileptic drug complexes will help reduce the intensity of hot flashes. They help to exclude the possibility of developing insomnia.

To solve the problem with stress and mood swings, tincture of valerian or motherwort will help. Pain and discomfort during intercourse can be eliminated by applying a special lubricant.

For additional reading

Reaching a certain age, every woman is faced with such a manifestation of the natural feminine nature, as menopause. Harbingers of menopause may appear after 35 years, due to factors that negatively affect the body, or surgery. Menopause is a long-term process during which the eggs die and the woman loses her fertility. Menopause is accompanied by a number of unpleasant and uncomfortable symptoms. What are the phases of menopause, their features and consequences, how you can facilitate their action - this was what today's article was about.

Menopause is a physiological period in a woman's life, which is characterized by a gradual decrease in the production of female sex hormones by the ovaries. In some women, this period proceeds easily, without pronounced discomfort, in others, the manifestations of menopause are more pronounced and significantly disturb the general well-being. How long menopause lasts depends on many factors - the individual characteristics of the organism, heredity, the time of its onset, the presence of concomitant diseases.

The timing of the onset of menopause

As a rule, menopause occurs at the age of 50, in this case we are talking about its timely onset. With timely menopause, a woman can face the first manifestations of menopause as early as 45-47 years old.

Recently, however, more and more women are faced with the onset of menopause at an earlier age. The reason for this may be poor ecology, smoking, gynecological and endocrine diseases.

Depending on age, the following types of menopause are distinguished:

• premature - occurs before the age of 40;
• early - up to 45 years;
• timely - 45–55 years old;
• late - after 50 years.

In this case, menopausal symptoms usually begin several years before the cessation of menstruation.

Artificial menopause is separately considered, the cause of which is not the extinction of the hormone-producing function of the ovaries, but the surgical removal of the uterus with appendages.

How long does the menopause in women last?

The duration of menopause varies greatly depending on individual characteristics. The duration of menopause can be influenced by heredity, the number of births, bad habits (especially smoking), concomitant diseases and the general condition of the body. On average, menopause lasts 5-8 years from the moment the ovarian estrogen production begins to decrease. The course of menopause can be divided into 3 periods - premenopause, menopause and postmenopause.

Premenopause

The first symptoms of menopause appear during the menopausal transition. At this stage, there is a decrease in the production of sex hormones by the ovaries, however, the estrogen deficiency is not yet very pronounced. The woman's body is trying to adapt to the changed conditions. The main manifestation of menopause is a violation of the menstrual cycle - its duration changes, menstruation becomes irregular. Other symptoms may occur, but in mild form. Women usually experience premenopausal changes at the age of 45. The duration of premenopause is 3-5 years on average.

Menopause

Menopause starts from the moment of the last spontaneous menstruation and lasts 12 months. The fact of the last menstruation is established retrospectively after 1 year. Most menopause occurs at the age of 50. This stage is characterized by the extinction of the hormone-producing function of the ovaries, the level of estrogen in the blood is sharply reduced. Estrogen deficiency leads to the development of climacteric syndrome. In the menopausal period, the early symptoms of menopause are pronounced - hot flashes, psychoemotional disturbances, weight gain, changes in the skin. Climacteric phenomena are more pronounced with a sharp onset of menopause, when the body has not yet had time to adapt to the deficiency of sex hormones.

Postmenopause

1 year after the onset of menopause, a new period begins in a woman's life - postmenopausal. Postmenopause lasts until about 75 years of age, when estrogen production stops completely. However, the symptoms of menopause disappear earlier. Hot flashes and emotional disturbances disturb the postmenopausal woman for another 1-2 years, and then the menopause ends. However, postmenopausal women are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.

How does it manifest

In some women, menopause occurs physiologically, without any disturbing symptoms. But still, many women are faced with the manifestations of climacteric syndrome. The appearance of all changes is associated with a deficiency of estrogens, during menopause, all estrogen-dependent organs suffer - the uterus, mammary glands, urogenital tract, brain, skin, heart and blood vessels, bones. All emerging symptoms can be divided into 3 groups: early, medium and late.

Early symptoms

The early signs of menopause appear already in premenopause. They include autonomic and neuropsychiatric manifestations.

The main sign of autonomic disorders is hot flashes. Hot flashes are felt as a sharp feeling of heat, which is localized mainly in the upper half of the body. Feeling hot during hot flashes may be accompanied by increased sweating. Other autonomic disorders include:

• blood pressure surges;
• dizziness, sudden weakness;
• excessive sweating.

The early signs also include neuropsychiatric syndrome - mood changes and cognitive disorders. The climacteric syndrome is characterized by sharp mood swings, increased irritability and fatigue, and sleep problems. A woman in this period begins to notice that some little things, which were previously perceived quite calmly, are now brought to tears or aggression. Cognitive functions are impaired: it becomes more difficult to concentrate and remember new information.

Moderate symptoms

Medium-term symptoms include urogenital disorders and skin changes. Urogenital disorders are a complex of symptoms from the lower parts of the genitourinary system. Women in the menopausal period may experience the following urogenital symptoms:

• dryness in the vagina;
• dyspareunia (pain during intercourse);
• burning and itching in the vagina;
• frequent urge to urinate.

The skin becomes drier and thinner, its elasticity decreases, and wrinkles appear. Due to metabolic changes, a woman can rapidly gain weight, while fat is deposited mainly in the abdomen.

Late symptoms

Late symptoms can occur even 5-10 years after menopause. These include changes in the cardiovascular system and bone tissue.

In the first few years after menopause, bone loss occurs, which is associated with a deficiency of estrogen in the body. Bones become more fragile, leading to osteoporosis and more frequent fractures in old age.

In the postmenopausal period, the risk of cardiological pathology increases several times. Deficiency of estrogen leads to loss of vascular elasticity, which is one of the factors in the development of arterial hypertension. Also, in postmenopausal women, the risk of developing atherosclerosis increases, which is associated with a violation of lipid metabolism.

How to ease the course of menopause

It is impossible to completely prevent the appearance of menopause, since this is a physiological stage in a woman's life. But to delay the onset of menopause or ease its course is quite possible. It should be understood that you need to start taking care of your health from the reproductive age. It is important to regularly visit a gynecologist, lead an active lifestyle, play sports, and eat right.

Treatment can include several components: taking phytoestrogens, symptomatic treatment, and hormone replacement therapy.

Treatment method	Explanation
Phytoestrogens	Some plants and foods contain phytoestrogens - plant estrogens. Their reception somewhat facilitates the course of climacteric syndrome, however, phytoestrogens are not able to fully cover the body's needs. Phytoestrogens are found in flax seeds, whole grains and bran, peas, beans, and lentils.
Symptomatic treatment	To relieve some of the symptoms, medications are prescribed: 1. Antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) for depressive disorders and other psycho-emotional disorders. 2. Bisphosphonates for the treatment of osteoporosis. 3. Local estrogens for the treatment of urogenital disorders.
Hormone replacement therapy	In severe menopause, systemic hormone replacement therapy is prescribed - an internal intake of estrogens. Replacement therapy allows you to make up for the estrogen deficiency, which leads to the elimination of the symptoms of menopause. There are several types of hormonal drugs: 1. Monopreparations of estrogens - are prescribed for women with artificial menopause (after removal of the uterus with appendages). 2. Two- and three-phase combined preparations containing estrogens and gestagens - are prescribed for women in the early period of menopause. 3. Monophasic combined preparations containing estrogens and gestagens are prescribed in postmenopausal women.

Video

We offer for viewing a video on the topic of the article.

With age, a woman's body undergoes certain transformations - the hormonal background changes, and reproductive function dies out. This period is called menopause or menopause. It can be of different duration. It all depends on the genetics, state of health and individual characteristics of the organism of each representative of the fairer sex.

On average, the duration of menopause in women is about 2-6 years.

Menopause occurs in women after the age of 42-50 years. Menopause is characterized by the cessation of the production of female sex hormones by the body. This leads to a gradual decrease in the size of the ovaries and uterus, the disappearance of menstruation. As a result, a woman loses the opportunity to conceive and have children.

In addition, menopause is accompanied by various unpleasant symptoms that make women uncomfortable and cause depressive conditions.

And if all women come through menopause, then not everyone has climacteric syndrome. Most often, the problem occurs with hereditary, cardiovascular, gynecological and other diseases, a decrease in the adaptive function of the body, stress, disorders of the nervous system, etc. The syndrome can occur seasonally. Most often, he worries a woman in spring and autumn.

Periods and symptoms

Speaking about how long menopause lasts in women, you should consider its individual periods and symptoms.

Signs of menopause are:

• hot flashes / fever of the body or skin;
• hyperhidrosis;
• regular headaches;
• sudden mood swings;
• blood pressure surges;
• depressive state;
• unmotivated aggression;
• tachycardia;
• panic attacks;
• dry genitals;
• painful sensations when urinating;
• itching and burning in the internal genital area;
• increased urination;
• insomnia;
• decreased libido.

Other less common symptoms of menopause may also be present.

There are several periods of menopause. So, experts distinguish:

• premenopause;
• menopause;
• postmenopause.

Each of them has its own characteristics and characteristics.

Premenopause

Premenopause is the beginning of the menopause, during which changes in the menstrual cycle occur. According to statistics, it occurs in the period between 42-47 years and can continue for a long time. On average, the phase lasts 2-10 years.

A woman may have an unstable menstrual cycle. Specialists distinguish several relevant periods:

• Hypomenstrual. It is characterized by an increase in the duration of the cycle and the intervals between menstruation. The amount of uterine discharge becomes much less.
• Hypermenstrual. The interval between periods remains stable. The amount of discharge and the duration of menstruation increase.
• Lack of menstruation. Sometimes there is a complete cessation of menstruation. There are no other symptoms of menopause.

The emergence of a particular period is due to hormonal changes, a decrease in the production of estrogen and the individual characteristics of the young lady's body.

Menopause

Menopause occurs in women 50 years or more. The duration of the period is 2-6 years.

It is characterized by various manifestations:

• Fever, hot flashes, sweating. Periodically, there is a sensation of heat in the face and body, with or without reddening of the skin. This significantly increases sweating. The phenomenon is usually called tides. The duration of the attacks does not exceed a few minutes. The frequency may vary.
• Sleep disturbance. Menopause and hot flashes contribute to poor sleep quality and insomnia.
• Migraine. Cessation of the production of sex hormones and a nervous shock lead to recurrent headaches.
• Nervousness. During menopause, many women experience a sharp change in mood, apathy, aggression, increased irritability, panic attacks, and tearfulness.
• Chronic disease progress. During the menopause, various diseases are often exacerbated, which have passed into the chronic phase and did not make themselves felt for a long time.
• Deterioration of the cardiovascular system. During menopause, there are jumps in blood pressure, an increase in heart rate. This is due to the restructuring of the body.
• Decreased attraction. Many patients experience vaginal dryness, discomfort during sex, and a general decrease in libido.

There is also increased fatigue, decreased performance.

In some cases, hysteroctomy is indicated. This is the complete removal of the uterus. The operation is performed under general anesthesia. Indications are multiple formations in the cavity, premature drying out and other problems. Removal speeds up the process of wilting of the body and the cessation of the production of sex hormones.

Postmenopause

After the final restructuring of the hormonal system, postmenopause comes. The period continues for all subsequent years of life. At this stage, the ovaries and uterus decrease in size and cease to perform their functions.

The period may be asymptomatic. Health problems arising in postmenopausal women are caused by age-related changes. Most often, during this period, the work of the cardiovascular system deteriorates, excretory functions are impaired, immunity and performance decrease, etc.

To avoid a heart attack, stroke and other problems, you should promptly seek help from a doctor who can prescribe adequate therapy and, possibly, surgery.

How is menopause in women

Speaking about how long menopause lasts in women, it is worth focusing on the features of how the period goes.

Hormonal changes in the body invariably lead to a deterioration in the emotional and physical condition of the lady. It manifests itself in different ways for each person. Someone quite easily goes through this period and continues to lead their usual way of life, others suffer from painful sensations and other unpleasant consequences.

Change in the menstrual cycle

During menopause, women experience a change in the menstrual cycle. It can grow or shrink in size. Periodically, menstruation disappears, returning again after a few months. In each case, the process takes place individually. This may depend on genetics, the presence of concomitant diseases, individual characteristics of the body, stress, and other factors.

Features of the menstrual cycle during menopause:

• Smooth cessation and reduction of menstruation. The average length of the period is several years.
• Abrupt disappearance. At a certain point, menstruation stops completely and does not go on for a long time. In some cases, it no longer appears.
• Repeated renewal of menstruation. After a few months, menstruation resumes on its own. The interval between periods can be 2-12 months.

Regardless of the nature of the menstrual cycle, it gradually fades away and stops completely. For some it takes several years. Others have more than a decade.

How long do hot flashes last during menopause

More than half of women have a hard time tolerating menopause. The greatest inconvenience is caused by hot flashes. For many, this phenomenon occurs at night, which contributes to sleep disturbance. Hot flashes irritate the nervous system and lead to excessive emotionality, breakdowns, and depressive states.

On average, the duration of an attack is several minutes. The intensity can be - from once every few days, but 2-3 attacks per day, sometimes more. The average duration of the period is individual. It can range from one to 3-4 years.

Watch the video to learn more about menopause and how long your menopause lasts:

How long does menopause last?

A synonym for this term is also the concept of menopause, that is, the termination of the regular menstrual cycle. Normal menopause is not a disease or a pathological condition, it simply means that conception and pregnancy are no longer possible. Consider the features of this phenomenon, its symptoms and the average duration. Menopause is a physiological process, accompanied by the cessation of the secretion of female sex hormones.

Menopause begins when a woman's ovaries are depleted of the structural components - the follicles. This is a signal to reduce the production of estradiol and other female sex hormones. A feedback mechanism is activated, stimulating hormones of the pituitary gland also stop being produced. These processes lead to a decrease in the size of the ovaries and the extinction of their functions. During this period, male hormones, produced by the adrenal cortex, begin to dominate in the woman's body.

A decrease in the level of estrogen in the blood causes changes in almost all systems and organs. Half of women tolerate menopause relatively easily, but the remaining 50% develop various disorders in the reproductive system and other organs. This condition is called pathological menopause and can last for several years. It is characteristic that climacteric syndrome can develop not only during the menopause itself, but also before it, and also a few years later after the cessation of menstrual bleeding. The early signs of pathological menopause are known as hot flashes.

These are conditions of hot flashes in the face, head, or upper body. Hot flashes last from 20 seconds to 3 minutes. The condition may be accompanied by the following manifestations. In some cases, hot flashes can take on the character of a crisis; the heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, and a feeling of loss of consciousness appears. Sometimes there are pains in the heart of a neurotic nature.

In rare cases, women develop ischemic heart disease or climacteric cardiomyopathy. Pathological menopause is also accompanied by disorders of the wasps of the psyche and nervous system. In women, it can occur. In some women, fat metabolism is disturbed and weight gain occurs. Metabolic disorders can cause diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism, thyroid dysfunction.

From the reproductive and urinary systems, disorders also occur. A normal menopause in women can also cause hot flashes, but they go away after menopause ends. If the hormonal level decreases gradually, women do not experience any unpleasant symptoms, or they are mild and do not last long. In some women, during menopause, breasts, height and weight decrease, there are also problems with the skin (it becomes thin and dry) and hair (they become brittle. Pathological menopause requires mandatory clinical observation and treatment.

How to behave during menopause?

If you have crossed the 45-year mark, you need to be prepared for the fact that menopause will begin soon. This difficult period for every woman cannot be avoided. But don't despair! Menopause is not a serious illness, not the end of life, but just its next stage. However, the course of this "new life" depends entirely on you: on the attitude to your own state, on how early you understand what is happening to you, and what measures you will take.

About how to recognize menopause and how to help ourselves during this period, we talked with Olga Viktorovna Veselova, a gynecologist-endocrinologist of the highest category of the Diagnosis MC.

How does a man in love behave with the lady of his heart?

At a certain stage of the relationship, every woman really wants to know whether her chosen one is in the "network", or it is not yet time for a more confident attack. But, alas, it is not so easy to do this. Every woman sooner or later asks the question of how a man in love behaves, what signs of falling in love exist, and in general - can this somehow be understood?

If you are very attentive, you can read in his eyes, evaluate by actions or words spoken. Although a loving man can behave very outside the box, after all, he is an individual person, with his own feelings and views on relationships. In any case, all men in love can be divided into those who love and those who are trying to hide their feelings for a woman.

How to recognize a cold heart?

How many wonderful feelings we can see every day, people fall in love and enjoy emotions, sensations, but there are people with different outlooks on life. A man can doubt his feelings, but it is worse if there are no feelings, and he knows about it. Here a woman should be extremely careful, she needs to recognize the falsity in time.

There should be no secrets or secrets between lovers, and if a person is trying to hide something, then you should think twice about what the problem is. Not without exceptions, of course, but in most cases it is. After all, secrets are based on long-standing sins that a man can hide for years. Undoubtedly, there are secretive people, but if they love, then sooner or later everything should be known to both. This advice should always be used carefully, it is not necessary to rush and interrogate your loved one immediately after confessions.

Love “walks alongside” not only with trust and care, but also with jealousy, if there is no pure relationship with the manifestation of jealousy at least sometimes, then we can say that there is no love either. This can be explained simply: if all the women who surround a man are indifferent to him, then he does not care about them and is not jealous.

Harsh criticism of his chosen one, and sometimes tyranny, betrays a cold, indifferent person. Here, of course, there are no feelings. A man may even disregard the lady, her desires. All major decisions are only behind him, and her word will mean nothing. The girl can act as a comfortable toy, but by no means a favorite. And besides, it should be remembered that criticism, witty and sharp, like the sting of a wasp, is not only a sign of a cold heart, but also a liar-actor.

An excessive amount of compliments that have nothing to do with the truth is simply "blurring" the ears. An experienced seducer knows that ladies love with their ears, so his weapon is his flattering word. You have to be very careful with such persons who already on the first date scatter in compliments and shout that they fell in love like a boy. They do not speak about sincere feelings right away, but only when there is no more strength to keep silent about them!

The first signs of menopause in women are emotional stress.

The psychological signs of menopause in women are very common. They are associated not only with the effect of low hormonal levels on the state of the nervous system, but also with emotional experiences.

After all, menopause is a new and, what can I say, not a very pleasant state in the life of every woman who has reached the age of 50.

The initial manifestations of menopause - fears and experiences

For a woman, the onset of menopause is emotional stress! Most often, you have to independently cope with solving the problems of the climacteric period. But there is not enough life experience. As a rule, psychologists are not consulted. Girlfriends can't help either. So they cook, poor fellows, in their own juice.

An inner voice prompts that menopause is a transition to old age. This generates fear and protest. This is very difficult to come to terms with. And now, after 40 years, a woman is not so much afraid of the future physiological manifestations of menopause as she is worried because of the appearance of wrinkles, a gradual weight gain.

Do you know the golden rule of psychotherapists? If you cannot change the very situation that causes trauma, you need to change your attitude towards it. We will try to do it ourselves. Otherwise, sad thoughts will eventually lead to depression. And then, without the help of psychoneurologists and psychotherapists, you will not be able to get out.

Usually, when a person is afraid of something, he drives these thoughts away. Creates an illusion or psychological defense for himself. For example, "I won't have a climax soon." "M.b. in general, it will come very late for me, when I will be very old ”. A woman behaves with a bit of protest: both in behavior and in clothes, she tries to appear younger, as if postponing aging in this way.

Uterine fibroids, symptoms and signs in menopause: progress or regression?

Our reader asks the question of how uterine fibroids behave during menopause, what are her symptoms and signs. Our expert gynecologist Alla Garkusha tells in detail about all the nuances of the behavior of uterine fibroids, about the symptoms and signs of progress or regression of nodes during menopause.

The uterus is one of the first organs to respond to female hormones when they are out of balance. Two of the most common conditions in menopause are endometriosis and uterine fibroids. Women with premenopausal syndrome often experience painful periods (dysmenorrhea), which most often occurs when the uterus is affected by myomatous nodes. Hormonal imbalance in different periods of a woman's life is the cause of fibroids. When the endometrium is rejected, menstruation occurs, and blood enters the muscle layers, causing severe pain. Traditional medicine treats this pain with non-narcotic anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, diclofenac, but ignores the metabolic hormonal imbalance that caused myomatous growth. The problem can often be resolved simply by maintaining proper progesterone levels, which restores normal and rejection of the endometrium. The location of fibroids that cause symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding is submucosal or submucosal, just below the endometrium. Even tiny submucous nodules are the cause of extremely heavy menstruation with large clots. Myoma of the uterus, located in the thickness of the muscle layer, may not have symptoms at all, the only sign is an increase in uterine size, which is discovered by chance. Myoma, located on the surface of the body of the uterus, the so-called subserous, especially if it is large, or has a leg, undergoes necrosis, and causes various symptoms.

More than half of all women have fibroids. They are common, benign lesions. If fibroids occur in your family, then you have a genetic predisposition. Fibroids often develop without symptoms. Most women do not suspect they have this disease until the doctor detects an enlarged uterus during a pelvic exam. The causes of uterine fibroids are unknown, but increased amounts of estrogen, especially estradiol, promote nodule formation. After menopause, myoma disappears in most cases. But since estrogen levels can rise at the onset of menopause, previously asymptomatic fibroids can begin to grow during this period (until menstruation completely stops). As a result, the symptoms of uterine fibroids during menopause, such as a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen, back pain, pain during intercourse, frequent urination or urinary incontinence, difficulty emptying the bowels, or severe menstrual pain and bleeding may appear and cause distress. An increase in estrogen in the blood without the monthly balancing effect of progesterone is the cause of fibroids. Sometimes this leads to a significant increase in the body of the uterus, which presses on other organs. New signs appear, such as frequent urination, constipation, abdominal discomfort, and heavy menstrual bleeding. Some fibroids can grow to the size of a grapefruit or melon, causing constant bleeding and prolonged painful menstrual periods.

Progress or regression

Fibrous, myomatous tumors are not cancerous, they are not malignant. Less than 0.1% of all uterine fibroids become malignant. The myomatous node consists of smooth muscle cells and connective tissue; fibroids generally grow slowly until menopause occurs. Fibroids have two predictable growth spurts that are natural and not a cause for concern. After menopause, fibroids shrink and become small nodules and calcified. The first rapid growth spurt usually occurs at the age of 30-40, after several years of slowdown in growth. The second - just before menopause - when women experience hormonal changes associated with the onset of menopause. About a year after menopause, myomatous nodules begin to slowly and gradually regress to a negligible size. The sizes of the uterus with fibroids are different.

The moment comes - and the woman's body stops actively producing estrogen - a female hormone. A gradual decrease in estrogen leads to menopause - a phenomenon when fertility begins to fade away, and a new phase of life begins for a woman.

How to Ease Menopause Symptoms

This process does not go smoothly and smoothly for everyone: menopause, unfortunately, is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms.

The body is rebuilding, therefore it reacts to changes with hot flashes, headaches, sleep disturbances, disruptions in the menstrual cycle and many other annoying deviations.

During hot flashes, the body is engulfed by a hot wave that starts from the head (face) and covers the neck, chest. Feeling hot is unpleasant in itself. Hot flashes are often accompanied by ringing in the ears, dizziness, nausea, lethargy throughout the body, and profuse sweating.

Clothes can get wet through in seconds. And if this happens in the cold season, chills follow the heat, and wet clothes can provoke colds and even pneumonia.

In the climacteric period, it is advisable to wear linen from natural fabrics, wear wardrobe details that can be easily replaced or removed: T-shirts, sweaters, jackets. The purse should contain a spare change of linen, a blouse, a bottle of cold water. While the fever lasts, you can apply a cold bottle to the hot face and drink water in small sips - this helps to cope with the tidal wave.

With tachycardia, it is advisable to use sedatives: valerian, motherwort, corvalol or other drugs. What to take with menopause, the doctor advises http://klimaxan.ru/useful/chto-prinimat-pri-klimakse/.

Hormonal imbalance also affects the general condition: at this time, mood swings, nervous breakdowns are characteristic, stressful situations are created that are difficult to cope with. Therefore, a visit to a gynecologist will help to cope with possible deviations in health. An experienced doctor knows the menopause, symptoms and treatment that is optimal for his patients http://klimaxan.ru/useful/klimaks-simptomy-i-lechenie/.

With symptoms of mild and moderate severity, non-hormonal preparations based on phyto-based are prescribed, for example, Climaxan, which contains plant components that can improve hormonal levels, reduce the manifestation of hot flashes, and stabilize sleep.

With menopause, it is important to adhere to the daily regimen, engage in light exercise, avoid excitement and food that provoke an exacerbation of climateric symptoms.

How long does menopause last?

Typical signs of menopause are:

• sudden mood swings;
• sleep disturbance;
• sweating and hot flashes;
• panic attacks;
• dry skin and vaginal mucosa;
• pressure surges.

Many women have infectious diseases of the genitourinary system, loss of libido, severe headaches. Each woman reacts differently to hormonal changes: some suffer from severe symptoms of menopause, while others feel only mild anxiety.

When menopause begins and how long menopause lasts, depends on the individual characteristics of the woman. Usually menopause begins at 45-50 and ends at 65-70 years, that is, the duration of this process takes on average 15 to 20 years.

Menopause stages

From a medical point of view, there are three phases of the climacteric period. The time before the last menstrual period is premenopause. During this period, the production of follicle-stimulating hormone slightly increases and the synthesis of progesterone decreases. This leads to an increase in the menstrual cycle, but its regularity is still maintained. As estrogen levels are elevated in premenopausal women, menstrual bleeding becomes more intense and prolonged.

Premenopause is the heyday of acute symptoms of the climacteric period. Its duration determines how long the hot flashes will last during menopause. As a rule, the average duration of premenopause is 2 to 5 years.

The peak of menopause takes an average of 6 to 7 years. In this phase, significant menstrual irregularities occur. The formation of progestins can occur faster than the production of estrogen, in the ratio of their concentrations, abrupt changes are observed, which provokes mood swings, an increase in nervousness, and heartbeat attacks.

The postmenopausal phase begins one year after the last month and lasts until the hormonal balance reaches a new stable level. How long the menopause will last until a new hormonal balance is achieved depends on the individual characteristics of each woman's body. Over the course of five to ten years in postmenopausal women, all symptoms lose their severity and are significantly reduced.

Studies show that vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and sweating affect European women for an average of 6.5 years. Women of African descent are in menopause longer than Japanese and Chinese women. By comparing the effect of menopause symptoms on all races, it can be concluded that the average duration of menopause is 7.4 years.

But there are other factors that affect the duration of menopause:

• frequent and prolonged stress;
• genetic predisposition;
• surgical operations on the reproductive organs and mammary gland;
• the use of hormonal contraceptives.

Read also:

• Insomnia with menopause
• Menstruation with menopause
• The consequences of menopause
• Yoga and menopause: exercise
• How to distinguish menopause from pregnancy?

In women in menopause, it is possible to conceive a child, so it is important to clearly establish the time when ovulation stops. Safety in terms of unwanted pregnancy comes if you have not had your period for a year.

This guide has been compiled to help women find answers to their most important questions regarding menopause (menopause).

Since most women have menopause naturally, with reaching a certain age, speaking below about "menopause" or "menopause" we will mean exactly "menopause, which came naturally."

As you know, menopause can also occur at a younger age, after an operation during which a woman's ovaries were removed. In this article, we will call such a climax "surgical" and in those points where it will be necessary, we will give separate recommendations on this matter.

Before proceeding directly to the answers to the questions about menopause, we would like to list the most important facts regarding menopause:

Re-emergence of "menstruation" or bloody discharge during menopause (after they have not been for almost a year or more) can be a sign of serious illness

If you notice that after a long break you have “menstruation” again, be sure to consult your gynecologist. In women who have reached menopause, bleeding can be a sign of serious medical conditions (including uterine cancer) that can be cured if detected early.

The unpleasant symptoms of menopause can be relieved

Many women who are approaching menopause (menopause) develop unpleasant symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and heavy sweating at night.

If you are concerned about these symptoms, you should know that they can be eliminated with the help of special treatment, which we have described in detail below.

short information

Menopause is the time when a woman's menstrual cycles stop. In connection with the transition to menopause, hormonal changes occur in the body, which affect its well-being and have various manifestations. When menopause occurs, the strength of bone tissue often decreases, which is associated with its rarefaction. Blood cholesterol levels rise, which increases the risk of heart disease.

How many years does menopause begin and how long does it last?

The average age of women at the time of menopause is 51. Average duration is from 48 to 55 years. About 1% of women experience the premature onset of this condition, when the first signs of menopause appear as early as the age of 40.

The onset of menopause occurs earlier in women who smoke, have never been pregnant or live in high altitude conditions.

The hormonal changes associated with menopause (menopause) usually begin 4-5 years before the last menstrual bleeding, this time is called premenopause. Women begin to experience the first symptoms of menopause, even if their periods are still normal. The period of premenopause and the year after it are united by the concept of "perimenopause". Postmenopause is the time that begins with menopause and lasts until about 70 years of age (up to 5 years - early, after that - late postmenopause).

Menopause is when a woman does not have her periods for a year. However, the menopause preceding the cessation of menstruation and continuing after that has a different duration and in some women it can last up to 10 years. Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 50. If it occurs before the age of 45, it is called early, and before 40 it is called premature. Most of these patients develop climacteric syndrome.

Late climax

It occurs in women over the age of 55. The reasons are usually hidden in genetic characteristics; it is almost impossible to artificially delay the onset of menopause. The danger of this condition lies in the increased risk of oncological formations of the ovaries and mammary glands, because these are estrogen-dependent tumors. Therefore, with the continued secretion of sex hormones, the likelihood of such diseases increases. To prevent negative consequences from occurring, every woman, regardless of age, should be examined by a gynecologist annually, as well as mammograms on time.

Surgical menopause

The cessation of menstrual bleeding in this case is associated with the removal of the ovaries. This may be necessary for diseases such as ovarian cancer, polycystic disease, ovarian endometriosis, advanced inflammatory processes of the genital organs, tuberculosis. After surgery, an artificial menopause occurs, while its symptoms begin suddenly and develop rapidly. To avoid this condition, immediately after the operation, it is necessary to start taking hormonal drugs that will mimic the normal cycle.

If the uterus is preserved, then with an intermittent dosing regimen, menstruation will also persist. Menopause after removal of the uterus often occurs with simultaneous removal of the ovaries. Such an operation is sometimes necessary for endometriosis, tumors, prolapse of the genitals. However, even with preserved ovaries, their function after hysterectomy fades away earlier than normal. Such patients need competent hormone therapy.

See also: Early menopause

Causes of menopause

Menopause occurs due to a complex of complex hormonal changes. First of all, a decrease in the number of active eggs in the ovaries is associated with the onset of this period. At birth, women have from 1 to 3 million eggs, by the beginning of menstruation, a girl usually has about 400,000 of them. By the time of menopause, about 10,000 eggs remain.

A small percentage of eggs are lost during monthly ovulation during the menstrual cycle. Most of them undergo atresia (degeneration and subsequent resorption of immature ovarian follicles).

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is responsible for the growth of follicles in the first half of the menstrual cycle. As menopause approaches, the eggs become less and less sensitive to this hormone, and the ovaries drastically reduce the production of estrogen. The secretion of FSH increases compensatory, but it is not able to restore the work of the ovaries. This condition is called hypergonadotropic hypogonadism.

During menopause, the number of eggs decreases very quickly, and after the cessation of menstruation, single follicles remain, and then they also disappear.

Estrogens (female hormones) affect many parts of the body, including blood vessels, heart, bones, mammary glands, uterus, urinary system, skin, and brain. A decrease in estrogen levels is believed to be the cause of many of the symptoms of menopause. With the onset of menopause, the production of the hormone testosterone, which is responsible for sexual desire, also decreases in the ovaries.

Symptoms

How does menopause manifest? We list 10 common signs of menopause:

1. Its very first companions are tides. According to some studies, 75% of women experience hot flashes. The symptoms of this condition can vary. A hot flush is usually felt as a feeling of warmth spreading throughout the body, lasting from 30 seconds to several minutes. This condition is often accompanied by redness of the skin, palpitations, chills, sweating, and insomnia. Hot flashes usually last up to 3 years, but in some women they persist for 5 years or more. A small number of patients had hot flashes of up to 15 years.
2. Urinary incontinence, burning when urinating.
3. Vaginal changes: estrogens affect the vaginal mucosa, therefore, pain during intercourse and a change in the nature of vaginal discharge may appear in perimenopause. Discharge during menopause may resemble menstruation, but if they appear, you should see a doctor.
4. The mammary glands change shape, which is associated with a gradual atrophy of the glandular tissue.
5. Dry and thinning skin, hair loss.
6. Rapid reduction in bone mass. Most women reach their peak bone density at the age of 25-30, then bone mass decreases by 0.13% annually. During menopause, the rate of bone loss increases to 3% per year. This condition does not cause any pain or any other discomfort, but osteoporosis gradually develops, which can lead to bone fractures. Fractures can significantly impair quality of life and even cause death. Often there is a fracture of the hip or spine when falling, even from the height of one's own growth.
7. During menopause, the cholesterol profile changes significantly. The level of total and "bad" cholesterol increases. This increases the risk of heart and vascular disease, and blood pressure may rise. Many patients also complain of low blood pressure and headaches.
8. Increased likelihood of heart disease after menopause. It is unclear how much this is due to the aging process, and how much - to hormonal changes in the body. With premature menopause or surgical removal of the ovaries, cardiovascular diseases occur at a young age, largely due to the development of tissue resistance to the action of insulin in perimenopause, which leads to increased blood clots in the vessels and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Dyshormonal myocardial dystrophy also develops, manifested by heart rhythm disturbances, decreased load tolerance, shortness of breath, stabbing pains in the apex of the heart.
9. A study of healthy women in menopause showed that, on average, their body weight increases by 5 kg over 3 years. Possible reasons include both manifestations of menopause and general aging of the body. The so-called menopausal metabolic syndrome is formed, accompanied, in addition to weight gain, by impaired metabolism of fats and carbohydrates with the formation of prerequisites for the development of myocardial ischemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
10. Emotional changes often appear - irritability, anxiety, depression, unmotivated weakness, instability of mood. They are associated with both the direct influence of hormonal imbalance and stress factors - loneliness, fear of losing beauty, a feeling of approaching old age, and so on.

Menstruation with menopause is initially normal, regular, as a result of the ovulatory cycle. The number of anovulatory cycles gradually increases (without the formation of a mature egg and its release into the abdominal cavity), bleeding becomes irregular, long delays are possible, as well as uterine bleeding.

Causes of bleeding with menopause:

• natural hormonal changes;
• diseases of the reproductive system: myoma, tumor or polyp of the endometrium and others;
• taking hormonal drugs;
• diseases of other organs, for example, the blood system or liver.

Besides the troubles, perimenopause can also help a woman. So, often uterine myoma and endometrioid ovarian cyst with menopause begin to gradually decrease, since the stimulating effect of estrogens in these diseases ceases. However, this only applies to small formations.

Large fibroids, on the other hand, can cause uterine bleeding. If she has a leg, her torsion and necrosis of the myomatous node is likely, which requires immediate surgery. If the patient's ovarian cyst does not decrease after menopause, this is a very suspicious sign of the development of a tumor of this organ. In most cases, such cysts are subject to surgical removal, which can be done using laparoscopy (without long incisions and heavy surgery).

When to see a doctor

All perimenopausal women should have a full examination by a general practitioner or family doctor each year. In addition, they should be examined by a gynecologist and breast examination, including mammography. Ultrasound of the mammary glands in menopause is usually not very informative due to the onset of atrophy of the glandular tissue, which makes it difficult to detect formations in the gland.

Women of this age need to know about the risk factors for heart disease and bowel cancer and, in consultation with their doctor, undergo screening tests for these diseases.

Is it possible to get pregnant during menopause?

Women with persistent menstruation (even irregular) and ongoing sexual activity may become pregnant. To prevent pregnancy and relieve symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, your doctor may recommend taking oral contraceptives containing low doses of estrogen. In any case, if menstruation is delayed by more than 1-3 days, it is recommended to do a home pregnancy test in order to make a difficult, but very important decision in the life of every woman about having a baby in time.

Medication and lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise can help manage hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause, including high cholesterol and bone loss.

During menopause, it is necessary to monitor the menstrual flow. You should immediately consult a doctor with such signs:

• bleeding accompanied by abdominal pain;
• selection of dark clots;
• more profuse bleeding than before;
• reducing the interval between bleeding less than 3 weeks, or lengthening it - more than 3 months.

Diagnostics

In order to determine that a woman is in the period of perimenopause, blood is examined for FSH content, that is, an analysis is performed for hormones. An increased concentration of FSH and a reduced level of estrogen are determined. The menopause test gives the following results:

• the content of estradiol in the blood is less than 80 pmol / l;
• fSH levels are higher than luteinizing hormone;
• the concentration of estrone is greater than that of estradiol;
• testosterone levels can be lowered or relatively high.

Additionally, a Pap smear is performed, the function of the thyroid gland is assessed, a biochemical blood test and a coagulogram are taken. To determine the state of the endometrium, a transvaginal ultrasound is prescribed.

The standard for detecting bone loss, or menopause-related osteoporosis, is dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). This test measures bone density and compares it to the normal value for healthy young women. The World Health Organization defines osteoporosis as a decrease in bone density of more than 2.5 standard deviations from the mean. A condition known as osteopenia means less severe bone loss (1 to 2.5 standard deviations).

DEXA is usually performed before prescribing osteoporosis medications that restore bone minerals. The femoral head and bones of the lower spine are assessed. The scan is repeated once every 2 years to assess the effectiveness of treatment.

Simple screening for osteoporosis can be done with ultrasound (ultrasound) of the heel bone. If low bone density is found, the patient should be referred to DEXA.

To determine the risk of heart disease, the doctor prescribes a blood test for cholesterol. If cholesterol levels are high, heart disease risk factors are corrected.

How to relieve menopause

Menopause cannot be prevented, but measures can be taken to reduce the risk of related problems. Some trace elements and vitamins are especially useful for menopause. A woman should consume 1200-1500 mg of calcium daily with food, if necessary, use calcium-containing food supplements, as well as 800 units of vitamin D.

With proper nutrition, you can easily get 1000-1500 mg of calcium per day. So, a glass of regular or skim milk contains 300 mg of calcium, a glass of kefir - 400 mg, 100 grams of salmon contains 200 mg of this trace element.

You can also take calcium supplements. Calcium carbonate products are the cheapest, but they can cause bloating in some women. Calcium citrate supplements are the best option.

You need to know that no more than 500 mg of calcium is absorbed from one serving of food or supplements, so its intake must be distributed throughout the day. Excessive doses of this trace element cannot be taken, as they can lead to urolithiasis. Women with kidney disease should consult a doctor before using any calcium supplements. Vitamin D overdose should also be avoided.

For a full life during menopause, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the skin: strengthen it with massage and hardware procedures, moisturize it using special anti-aging creams, and be sure to protect it from the sun. Mild scrubs are also helpful to speed up the renewal of skin cells.

Finally, here are some psychological tips that can help you deal with pre-climax confusion:

• at this time, the woman already knows what she can give to her companion and what she wants to receive in return; in many cases, she has an established relationship not only with a man, but with life in general;
• at this age, a lot is already known about her own sexuality, a woman can afford to be more liberated, she has something to talk about, a smart man is simply more interesting with her than with some young girls;
• children have already grown up or have become adults, you can relax a little and make your old dreams come true, especially since usually by this time important steps have already been taken along the career ladder, and financial independence has been achieved;
• a woman can start taking care of herself, update her wardrobe, hairstyle, makeup, so she will become more confident and attractive;
• finally, you can stop depending on the opinions of people around you; menopause is a time of liberation from complexes and gaining freedom.

So, the right attitude to yourself and taking care of your health will help you survive such a difficult period in life as menopause.

What determines the time of onset and duration of menopause?

Each human organism is individual, and all processes taking place inside it also differ in their own scenario. A number of factors affect when and how long the menopause occurs:

1. Heredity is one of the fundamental indicators that determine the time criteria for menostasis. If your grandmother and mother had an early or, conversely, a late onset of menopause, then it is likely that you will repeat this scenario. The duration and nature of symptoms can also be inherited. Therefore, in order to get approximate information on how your menopause can proceed, have a heart-to-heart talk with your closest relatives.
2. Postponed genital infections, surgical interventions, diseases of the organs of the reproductive system, abortions can also negatively affect when and how menopausal changes will proceed. Any hormonal "bursts" leave their characteristic traces.
3. Harmonious intimate life, pregnancies that ended in successful childbirth and prolonged breastfeeding have a positive effect on the functioning of the reproductive system and hormonal levels. The conception and birth of children is the mission of the female body laid down by nature itself, therefore its successful implementation serves as a certain guarantee of maintaining health until old age.
4. Pathologies of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, diabetes mellitus are additional provocateurs to accelerate reproductive decline.
5. Oncological diseases, the treatment of which is accompanied by radiation and chemotherapy, can cause an early onset of menopause, inhibiting the work of the ovaries, in addition, these methods of exposure have a detrimental effect on the nature of its course.
6. Removal of the ovaries or uterus leads to early menopause.
7. Strong emotional upheavals, as well as diseases of the central nervous system, can provoke an early onset of reproductive decline.
8. Addictions can increase the severity of pathological manifestations and their duration.
9. The socio-economic conditions of life, as well as the climatic zone in which the woman lives, also have an impact.

How long can menopause last in women?

By nature itself, the gradual completion of the reproductive mission is laid. To answer the question of how long menopause lasts in women, it is necessary to consider the dynamics of the development of menopausal restructuring of the body.

Modern medicine distinguishes 3 stages of menopause:

1. Premenopause is the initial stage of climacteric changes. The average age of the first menopausal signs is 45 years. It was at this time that the characteristic symptoms of menopause are noted, although internal changes that do not manifest themselves in any way outwardly, start at the age of 35-40, when the production of female sex hormones by the ovaries gradually begins to decrease. But premenopause begins its countdown precisely from the registration of the first symptoms. As a rule, at this time there are disruptions in the menstrual cycle, a woman has episodes of hot flashes, headache attacks become more frequent, signs of psychoemotional instability appear. The duration of this period is individual for each case, but on average it varies in the range from 2 to 5 years, in rare cases, dragging on for a whole decade.
2. Menopause is the main stage of menopause. This is the time of the most significant changes. There is an active restructuring of the reproductive system, the production of sex hormones by the ovaries tends to zero, ovulation gradually stops and menstruation disappears completely. Many women have pronounced climacteric symptoms: emotional lability arises, intense hot flashes, insomnia, sweating suffer, sexual interest in a partner often decreases, memory and concentration deteriorate. During this period, signals of trouble from all systems and organs may appear, especially if there are any chronic diseases. Only about 10% of women go through this period of life relatively asymptomatic. Menopause usually occurs at the age of 50 and is considered complete when a year has passed since the last menstrual period.
3. Postmenopause is the final stage of menopause. Its duration is limited by the woman's life span. Pathological symptoms are gradually smoothed out, although they can remind of themselves for another 3 - 5 years. At this time, external and internal age-related changes become more pronounced. The reproductive system enters a phase of complete rest, the synthesis of hormones by the ovaries finally stops, a certain amount of estrogen continues to be produced by peripheral structures. Atrophic phenomena gradually cover the work of all organs and systems.

If we combine the above indicators, then the answer to the question of how long menopause can last is as follows: the average value of the duration of active menopausal changes is about 5-6 years. And then comes the postmenopausal period.

Menopause is an absolutely natural process that takes place in the body of every woman who has reached the age of about 45 years. Menopause, or, as it is also called, menopause, implies a complete cessation of the menstrual cycle, as well as the inability to get pregnant. This condition does not need to be treated: menopause is not a disease and pathology, however, in order for it to proceed more normally, some preventive measures must be followed. Most often, women are interested in the question: how long does menopause last?

Some women, about half, tolerate menopause much easily, practically without experiencing any difficulties. But the other part is having a hard time: there are violations in the work of some organs, which leads to the so-called climacteric syndrome.

Attention! Paradoxically, climacteric syndrome can begin to develop long before the onset of menopause as such, or it can occur after it, even when menstrual bleeding has completely stopped.

1. The most common symptom of pathological menopause is hot flashes, which are characterized by fever in the chest, arms and head, severe sweating, and uncontrollable fear.
2. Frequent headaches accompanied by dizziness.
3. Unstable body temperature, due to which a woman can sweat a lot, or she has chills.
4. The level of sexual desire and libido as such decreases markedly.
5. Since a woman does not feel well, it often prevents her from falling asleep at night and having a normal rest. After that, working and leading an active lifestyle becomes simply problematic.
6. The psycho-emotional state is unstable, the woman becomes whiny and touchy.
7. During menopause, some women can gain noticeable weight and develop diabetes. In the latter case, you need to go to an endocrinologist.
8. The period of menopause is characterized by the fact that the walls of the vaginal mucosa become noticeably thinner: a woman experiences pain during sex, after sexual intercourse, there may even be bleeding from the vagina caused by mechanical damage. In everyday life, this phenomenon makes itself felt with itching and discomfort.
9. Frequent urge to use the toilet in a small way in a short time.

For those women who experience these or similar symptoms, there are many herbal and hormone-based medications. They can seek help from a doctor, and he will select something optimal for them on an individual basis. He will also talk about how long climacteric syndrome can last, and when everything starts to decline.

How many years does menopause begin, and how long does it last?

Usually menopause begins in women aged 45-50 years, and its duration lasts up to about 50 years. However, not all women fit into this framework; some of the fair sex have signs of menopause as early as 40 years old.

Attention! Early menopause occurs in those women who have never given birth, have bad habits (especially smoking), as well as those who have been engaged in hard physical labor all their lives, lived in areas and areas with poor ecology.

However, the first signals of the onset of menopause appear 4-5 years before a woman's menstruation stops. The very period of intensive hormonal changes is called menopause, and then postmenopause begins, which lasts until the end of a woman's life. Menopause continues without any special symptoms.

Late climax

There are times when the menopause in women occurs somewhat later than usual. This is due to hereditary factors, since it is almost impossible to artificially delay the onset of menopause. We can talk about late menopause when its signs begin to appear after 55 years.

It would seem that such a duration of youth should only be beneficial, and one should be glad that the aging processes of the body have slowed down, and a woman can remain much more young and beautiful. However, this condition is fraught with extremely unpleasant consequences, including the risk of developing a tumor process in the reproductive organs and breast.

In order to prevent such consequences from occurring, a woman must be examined by a gynecologist and regularly do mammography.

Surgical menopause

This is a special type of menopause, which is associated with the fact that an operation was performed on the female genital organs with their complete or partial removal. After the operation, an artificial menopause occurs, the symptoms of which develop in an accelerated mode. In order to avoid this, immediately after the operation, you need to consult with your doctor about taking hormonal medications that would help simulate a normal menstrual cycle.

Attention! As a rule, some organs of the reproductive system are removed due to severe prolapse, with oncological formations and uncontrolled inflammation.

How to delay the onset of menopause?

It is impossible to radically change the arrival of the menopausal period, but observing some simple rules you can stay young for a little longer.

1. After 40 years, you need to start actively eating much more foods that contain vitamin E. These are various greens, green fruits and vegetables, nuts, bread and bread with bran and whole grains. In addition, it is important to increase the fiber content in the diet, and it is found in exclusively fresh vegetables and fruits.
2. Since bones become more fragile after 40 years, it is important to eat as many foods with calcium as possible, and, if necessary, additional vitamin and mineral complexes during menopause.
3. Try to lead an active lifestyle: walk more in the fresh air, do exercises. If possible, sign up for a gym or dance class. Many people can improve their health in this way, a woman at the age of menopause is no exception.
4. Find a new hobby or make friends to help keep you cool and reduce your stress.

Thus, it is impossible to say exactly how long the menopause lasts: it does not have a strictly fixed time frame, it usually comes to a woman at the age of 45-50 years. Its active phase is called menopause, but after it the menopause will continue more calmly, and will accompany the woman until the end of her life.

Interesting video

Many beautiful women often feel anxious when it comes to menopause. This natural bioprocess induces hormonal changes in the female body and affects the quality of life. With the onset of menopause, a woman's reproductive activity gradually comes to an end, therefore, anxiety about how it begins, how it proceeds, what is the duration of menopause, how to behave during this period is often justified.

The manifestation of climacteric syndrome depends on the individual characteristics of the woman's body. The first signs of menopause are very diverse and different in intensity. All the symptoms of the severity of this syndrome are divided by experts into three groups.

1. Neurovegetative . These include:

• hot flashes lasting from a few seconds to two minutes;
• increased sweating that accompanies the so-called "hot flashes";
• the appearance of red spots in the neckline;
• changes in blood pressure, hypertension;
• numbness of the limbs;
• dry skin;
• swelling;
• lethargy or nervousness;
• panic attacks, etc.

2. Psychoneurotic . Among the symptoms of a psychoneurotic nature are:

• memory impairment and inattention;
• personality disorder;
• constant feeling of tiredness;
• an unreasonable feeling of fear;
• sensitivity to certain smells or sounds;
• decreased libido;
• depressed state.

3. Somatic. Such symptoms are caused by both age-related changes and the body's response to a decrease in the amount of estrogen. Among them, the following are noted:

• inflammatory processes in the vaginal walls;
• dystrophy of the vulva;
• uterine bleeding;
• itching sensation;
• violation of urination;
• decreased skin elasticity;
• osteoporosis, pain in the limbs;
• pain during intercourse;
• displacement of the bottom and cervix (prolapse);
• dysfunction of the thyroid gland.

In the rarest situations during menopause, a woman's voice decreases and facial hair appears. This can be caused by a decrease in the amount of female hormones.

The duration of menopause symptoms depends on the characteristics of the female body.

Depending on how it proceeds, how long the menopause lasts and what is the severity of the syndrome, three clinical forms are classified.

1. Approximately 16-17% of women are diagnosed with a mild form, in which there are up to 7-10 hot flashes per day, so the woman's quality of life and the state of her body are not subject to changes.
2. With an average form, the number of hot flashes increases (10-20). This form is typical for 33-34% of women who are worried about headaches, forgetfulness and insomnia.
3. A severe form of the syndrome is observed in 49-51% of women, whose working capacity decreases and the state of the body deteriorates sharply. The disorders that arise in such cases can provoke serious psychosocial disorders.

The root causes of the termination of menstruation

Many factors influence the approach of the climacteric period. The most common causes of menopause are as follows:

• characteristics of the body transmitted from parents;
• poor environmental conditions;
• problems with the thyroid gland;
• ionizing radiation;
• stressful situations;
• alcohol abuse and excessive smoking;
• gynecological operations;
• taking medications that lead to disorders in the functioning of the reproductive organs.

Duration of menopause

After the reproductive period (after 40 years), menopause occurs. From this time on, the functions of the ovaries begin to fade away until the complete cessation of the reproductive function. Many women wonder how long menopause lasts. This period is rather long (about a third of life), therefore it is divided into premenopause (often at the age of 45-50 years), menopause (about 50 years) and postmenopause (from the last menstruation to the end of life).

In the premenopausal period, the function of the ovaries is impaired, the maturation of eggs decreases, so the likelihood of getting pregnant at this time is very low. During the postmenopausal period, the production of the female hormone, estrogen, is sharply reduced.

The duration of menopause in total ranges from several months to 10 years, in rare cases - more than 10 years. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the organism.

Features of menopause

The climacteric period is characterized by the cessation of the work of the glands that produce those hormones in the female body that are responsible for the formation of the menstrual cycle.

The number of reproductive cells in the ovaries is already laid down during the intrauterine development of the girl. When egg production stops, menopause occurs.

The climacteric period proceeds in several stages (premenopause begins the process, menopause, postmenopause).

Before menopause, menstrual irregularities are observed. This is due to the fact that the production of estrogen and progesterone is reduced. Also, endometrial cells - the mucous membrane of the uterine cavity - grow rapidly. At the onset of menstruation, the accumulated endometrium is thrown out by the uterus. If there is too much of it in the uterine cavity, it becomes abundant and prolonged. There is also a risk of menstrual bleeding. In such cases, cleaning is prescribed.

It starts with the following symptoms:

• increased sweating;
• blood flow;
• malfunctioning of the heart;
• delayed menstruation.

Such symptoms bring discomfort to a woman's life, therefore, in order to smooth out the symptoms of menopause, it is necessary to consult a gynecologist.

With menopause, physiological changes also occur. The skin loses its elasticity and changes color, the growth of hair and nails slows down, their dryness and fragility appears. Therefore, at this time it is necessary to moisturize the skin and saturate it with useful microelements.

During menopause, the metabolism is disturbed, so weight gain is possible. In some cases, metabolic processes lead to a decrease in body weight. Taste and sense of smell in women also change in menopause, sexual desire worsens, gas formation increases, possibly with tension in the abdomen.

Since the protective function of the body decreases during menopause, many women experience allergic reactions. The female body suffers during this period from disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system (apathy, depression, excessive anxiety, etc.).

It should be emphasized that about 20% of women perceive menopause sustained, about 15% refuse to accept this fact, while experiencing mental problems. But 10% of the fair sex, both physically and socially, become more active.

Change in the menstrual cycle

The onset of menstruation depends on the production of certain hormones. When (FSH) enters the blood at the beginning of the cycle, the amount of estrogen increases, towards the middle - its level falls, and the production of luteotropin increases. During the reproductive period, LH affects the corpus luteum, which forms after the reproductive cell leaves the follicle. It is it that is responsible for the production of progesterone, which prepares the endometrium for the introduction of the egg into the uterine cavity. Such a circularity of hormones ensures the correct functioning of the genitals and the ability of a woman to give birth to children.

With the onset of menopause, the ovaries become smaller and less sensitive. The hormonal background changes, the volume of FSH and LH increases, the amount of estrogen and progesterone decreases and the cycle begins to malfunction. Menstruation is irregular and difficult to predict. At first, they are delayed for 8-10 days, and then it reaches 20 or more days. It happens that periods go on for several months in a row, stop for a while and then resume again. Experts advise to record all changes in the menstrual cycle in the calendar.

Hot flashes with menopause and their duration

The first sign of a possible climacteric onset is a periodic sensation of heat in the chest, neck and blood flow to the face. The so-called pain in the head, arrhythmia and sleep disturbance are associated with it. According to the number of hot flashes, the forms of climacteric syndrome are classified. With mild - blood flow occurs 10 times a day, medium - 10-20 hot flashes, and in severe cases there are 20, or even more attacks.

They occur suddenly and spread over the upper body for about 1 to 2 minutes. They can bother about six months to 2 years, but in the rarest cases, they happen for 10 years or more. Hot flashes are observed more than 90% of patients. Hot flashes stop when menopause ends.

Overcoming climacteric changes

The extinction of reproductive activity and the onset of menopause bring some discomfort to the usual life. Some women, in order to make it easier to endure menopause, resort to the use of folk remedies. However, you can use medications to minimize discomfort. It can be both synthetic hormonal drugs and natural ones, which include plant compounds that have an estrogenic effect.

To protect yourself from hot flashes, and also to endure them easier, you should heed the following advice:

• avoid stressful situations and do not panic during blood flow;
• carry a bottle of cold water with you to take a few sips during an attack
• if there is no water when you feel the tide, you need to close your eyes and breathe deeply (the nervous system will calm down and the tide will go away);
• put a fan in your purse to just cool yourself if necessary;
• do yoga, learn to breathe and relax, this will reduce the number of hot flashes.

In order to make it easier to endure climacteric changes, it is best to consult a doctor. To treat hot flashes, he will prescribe antidepressants (paroxetine, fluoxetine, or zoloft), as well as gabapentin (for seizures) and clonidine (clonidine) to lower blood pressure. All treatment, how long menopause lasts, should be under the supervision of a specialist.

Sports activities

The climacteric period is not a reason to give up physical activity. Walking, pilates and swimming are especially helpful during this time. It is recommended to practice yoga. Dance movements, fitness, breathing exercises and tennis will also benefit the body. You need to exclude only those exercises that cause tension in the abdominal muscles.

The plus is that playing sports will help you control your weight. In addition, in order to avoid it, it is recommended to strengthen the pelvic muscles according to the Kegel system.

Balanced diet

As long as the climax lasts should be correct. The diet should contain fiber and fibrous substances (coarse flour, bran, cereals, fruits and vegetables, etc.). The consumption of carbohydrates when hormonal changes occur in the body should be limited. The menu includes seafood, herbs, excludes smoked meats, sweets, fatty and salty foods. To avoid the risk of fractures, you need to consume calcium-containing products (milk and cheese with a low percentage of fat). The body benefits at a time when the menopause in women continues, products containing phytoestrogens (legumes, cereals, garlic, etc.) will also bring. These natural analogs of sex hormones will replenish the amount of estrogen.

Sex life

During the onset of menopause, some women have decreased libido. However, it happens the other way around - libido increases.

Doctors recommend that women have regular sex during the menopausal period. This will make it possible to keep the vagina in good shape, since sexual abstinence leads to dryness of the vaginal walls and discomfort during intercourse.

Studies show that regularity of sexual activity activates the production of lubricant in the vagina and speeds up metabolic processes, as physical activity increases. The recommended frequency of having sex is 1-3 times a week. It is imperative to protect yourself, since pregnancy with menopause is quite possible.

Psychological comfort

During menopause, you need to monitor your mental health and create a good mood for yourself. Even before the onset of menopause, you need to feel like a successful person, so that for how long a woman's menopause lasts, she feels lucky. A woman must understand: her current state is temporary, therefore, one should not forget about her life.

You need to please yourself as long as menopause lasts. Fall asleep at the same time, eat well, take baths with herbal infusions, take walks in the fresh air, etc.

Since the duration of menopause in women can be delayed, it is imperative to monitor the mental state. Emotions must be "poured" out, not "driven" inward, and also listen to your needs.

No matter how long menopause lasts, a woman needs to be provided with additional resources so that she can deal with possible stress. For this, the diet is enriched with vitamin supplements. You need to monitor the state of your body regularly in order to prevent menopausal disorders in the work of all systems.

It is not so important how long the climacteric period lasts, more importantly, how well it is. So listen to your body, love yourself and take care of your body. This will help overcome all menopausal problems.