Menopause is the absence of menstrual periods for one year. It is a period when the functions of the ovaries ceases. Although it may be a time to experience wellness, many women have believes on few un-truths about menopause. Menopause does have few challenges, but it is nothing like it cannot be surmounted as what majority of women think.
Few of the myths about menopause are:
Menopause begins at the age of 50:
Many women thinks that menopause starts at the age of 50 which is one of the myths about menopause. The menopause can start anywhere from the age of 30 to 60. Mostly when women have symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, irritability unusual fatigue and weight gain, then they might be in a condition called Perimenopause. Perimenopause is the shift leading to menopause, which can last from few months to 13 years prior to menopause. Few women experience more symptoms during Perimenopause than menopause due to inadequate fluctuation of sex hormones.
Weight gain is inevitable in menopause:
Once a woman shifts from Perimenopause to Menopause, the ovaries starts making fewer hormones resulting in hormones imbalance. To respond to the hormones imbalance, the body try to protect itself by storing fat, especially around the waist, hips and thighs. Fat stored to these areas leads to more fat production by producing estrogen. In spite of these changes, it is completely possible to achieve a healthy weight by adding healthy diet and physical activities into daily routine.
Sex desire will decrease with menopause:
Many women have been told that the decrease of sex desire is normal after the age of 40. Decrease in sex drive is a sign of hormonal imbalance and can have both emotional and physical effect on the sex life. Sex can be enjoyable and healthier at any age.
The first sign of menopause is hot flashes:
Hot flashes are common in menopause. Despite it is not the first sign of it. The first sign of menopause can be any of these symptoms below:
- Anxiety
- Irregular periods
- Depression
- Weight gain
- Hair loss
- Cravings
- Fuzzy thinking
- Low sex desire
- Heavy menses
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Mood swings
Body doesn’t produce hormones after menopause:
Hormones production can decrease but it cannot be over. Some reproductive hormones like estrogen and progesterone do decrease once it is needed less. For some women, the hormonal imbalance disappears or decrease after menopause. For some women, the symptoms continue and include vagina dryness, hot flashes, urinary infection and weight gain. So it is very important to take care of oneself to live a healthy life after menopause.
