Why did I get my periods after 55 years? At what age do menstruation end: what you need to know about menopause

How to prevent unpleasant symptoms of menopause?

Lyudmila Alekseevna Ilchenko, a doctor of the first qualification category of the antenatal clinic of the Leninsky district of Voronezh, answers the readers’ questions.

“What determines the age at which menopause usually occurs? Can the number of births, the regularity of intimate life, and stress influence it?”
V. Petrova, Saransk

The age at which menopause occurs is determined primarily by heredity. If the mother and female relatives had an early menopause, their daughter will almost certainly share their fate. It is impossible to stop or slow down the internal biological clock. To date, no means have been found that can prevent inherited insufficient ovarian activity.

Gynecological surgeries, severe and prolonged stress, and infectious diseases during puberty can hasten the onset of menopause. Menopause can begin earlier in case of severe illness or exhaustion.

Menopause is caused by removal of the ovaries or disruption of their function due to radiation or chemotherapy. It is believed that menopause occurs 1-3 years faster in women who smoke a lot.

The number of pregnancies and births does not affect the age at which menopause occurs.

Thus, it is almost impossible to delay the age of entry into menopause. But you can try not to speed up your internal biological clock. It is especially important to avoid smoking and in case of prolonged stressful conditions, seek help from a specialist.

"I am 48 years old. A year ago, my periods became less frequent and less abundant. This continued for 8 months, then the cycle was restored and became as before. What was that? Did I really start menopause?"
L.V., Tambov

The main manifestation of a normally occurring menopause is rare and less heavy menstruation.

Temporary irregularities in the menstrual cycle may indicate approaching menopause. But there is no point in saying that menopause has already begun. The change in the nature of menstruation was most likely a harbinger of upcoming hormonal changes.

You need to see a gynecologist. Based on the results of a blood test for hormones - FSH, LH, prolactin - the doctor will be able to conclude what was the cause of the disruptions in the menstrual cycle.

“Are there any benefits to late menopause? My friend started it at 44, and I’m already 56, but I still don’t feel any changes in my body.”
Natalya Chetverikova, Moscow region.

The average age of menopause in temperate countries, which includes Russia, is about 50 years. Most women stop menstruating between the ages of 45 and 55. In 5 women out of 100, regular menstruation continues after 55, and in some even after 60 years. In 3% of women, natural menopause begins before age 40.

It has been noticed that those women who experience menopause at an average age most easily endure menopause. Early menopause, as a rule, lasts a long time and is often accompanied by unpleasant symptoms.

Late age at menopause is beneficial to some extent. Estrogens, which protect the heart and blood vessels, affect the body longer. A woman’s skin and hair begin to age later, and her figure retains its femininity longer.

The only real downside to late menopause is a slight increase in the likelihood of breast or ovarian cancer. Therefore, you, and everyone else, definitely need to undergo preventive examinations with a gynecologist once a year and have a mammography examination.

“I am 53 years old, for several months now I have been tormented by hot flashes and irritability. What should I do to make it easier to endure menopause?”
Tatiana Vasilyeva, Moscow

Menopause is not a disease, but just a period of adaptation of the body to low hormonal levels. It is recommended not to smoke and limit the consumption of alcoholic beverages. It is important to enrich your diet with calcium, eat a well-balanced diet low in animal fats, and exercise.

Spend more time in the fresh air, as under the influence of sunlight the body synthesizes the very important vitamin D. It is dangerous to go on strict, especially protein-free, diets, as they are additional stress for the body.

Hot drinks, alcohol, spicy food, physical overexertion, excitement, and too warm clothing can trigger hot flashes. You need to track what factors cause hot flashes for you and try to avoid them.

Women with moderate symptoms of menopause are often helped by vitamin E. Excellent sources of it are wheat sprouts, nuts, and vegetable oils.

If these simple measures do not help, consult your doctor. There are a number of modern hormonal replacement drugs that can significantly alleviate the symptoms of menopause.

“Nowadays there is a lot of talk about the dangers of hormones. How true is this? Maybe they shouldn’t be taken at all?”
Elena Grinevich, Novgorod

Essentially, these drugs “deceive” the body. He receives the hormones he needs in just the right amount so as not to be “indignant,” but in much less than what was produced by the ovaries. Therefore, the process of restructuring does not slow down, but proceeds smoothly and almost painlessly.

The question of how widely hormone replacement therapy should be used still remains open. Many experts are inclined to believe that replacement therapy is justified if only a woman feels very bad, and the symptoms of menopause significantly reduce her ability to work.

Although hormonal drugs alleviate the condition and help you age less, they are not indifferent to the body. Therefore, if the ailments can be tolerated, it is better to put up with the symptoms, but avoid the dangers of prescribing therapy.

If you can’t bear it, you need to have a very good specialist select the scheme. When treating with hormonal drugs, it is recommended to periodically do mammography.

If there are nodules in the mammary gland, replacement therapy is not carried out. Hormonal treatment is also contraindicated for liver disease, diabetes mellitus, disorders of the blood coagulation system and tumors of any origin.

Instead of hormones, the doctor can select homeopathic remedies and preparations containing phytoestrogens - Klimaktoplan, Remens and others. They also alleviate the symptoms of menopause, although the strength of their action, of course, is noticeably inferior to hormonal drugs. With increased irritability and insomnia, the new homeopathic medicine “Klimased-Clinic” helps a lot.

All manifestations of menopausal syndrome are affected by the non-hormonal drug Enerlit-Klima.

Among the modern herbal medicines, the drug "Klimadinon" is successfully used, effective in the treatment of moderate menopausal symptoms. Klimadinon reduces hot flashes, relieves irritability, normalizes sleep, and also has a positive effect on the preservation of bone tissue.

"Is pregnancy possible during menopause?"
Svetlana, St. Petersburg

The ability to become pregnant decreases already during the period when a woman's menstruation becomes irregular or scanty after 40 years.

However, sometimes a temporary hormonal imbalance may occur that is favorable for conception. "Unexpected" pregnancies in women aged 45 to 50 are not uncommon.

A hormonal blood test can indicate a woman’s ability to conceive with a high probability. The main indicator that the doctor evaluates is the level of follicle-stimulating hormone - FSH. This hormone controls ovarian function. When it decreases significantly, the eggs stop maturing.

It is believed that if there has been no menstruation for one year, it is impossible to get pregnant.

Discussion

In general, I am not in late period. I came across an article and decided to share some useful advice. I am sure that those who have already experienced menopause understand well what kind of discomfort we are talking about. I recommend the following - Menopace is not a hormonal drug and you can start drinking it regardless of your cycle. I had little faith in him, but it really helps. Not quickly, but the hot flashes went away after about 3 weeks of use and my mood appeared and my strength increased, but this is not a hormonal drug. I really like it, only they can tell me and I’m saved.

12/10/2015 12:16:37, Valeria 770

Mom took Remens and liked it. And although the article talks about the milder effect of remens, my mother said that she noticed the effect after just a few days.

Wonderful article. In fact, it is very important for women at this age to know more information. And to the last post, I want to support. I just drink Klimafit myself. Well, it was in this drug that I found support. After all, many are saved in different ways, some do not accept anything. But I needed help, but the hormones weren’t suitable. So, everyone look for their own helper)

I have been taking Klimafit (these are non-hormonal capsules) for about three months. I don’t know how I lived before without him. I was tormented by: insomnia, palpitations, dizziness, high blood pressure. After I started taking Climafit 911, after about a week the symptoms began to gradually go away. I feel good now. Of course, this is all individual, but I advise you to try.

07/19/2012 22:04:04, Sofiana

The article is interesting and useful, but alas, at the very end there was a mistake that FSH decreases during menopause. The opposite is true - it is the increase in FSH that indicates the approaching or onset of menopause. You can easily check by looking at laboratory websites for the norms for this hormone.

07/03/2009 03:27:59, karkade

Skazite, what is the preparation Mulimen S, help li on pri mastopatii i klimakse?

10/22/2006 11:23:53, ella

The article is very interesting, useful, and specific. It is not only interesting, useful, but also very important for all women to know such information for their health, to have the necessary accessible knowledge about their condition and the treatment of menopause, the onset of menopause, and to have basic literacy in such an important issue for themselves. I would completely trust such a qualified doctor.

13.10.2006 15:39:31, Irina

Thank you for informing us about new drugs. For me and my friends, this article appeared just in time! I tried from various sources to form my opinion on what drugs to use, and now I have this information. I have a question: What would they say about drugs such as Femicaps (hot flashes are not was able to relieve) and the Women's doctor (relieved hot flashes)? How to support the heart and skin. bones? What tavs would you recommend? I use Saphora japonica tincture - the result is amazing

05/17/2006 13:13:57, Nadezhda

05/17/2006 13:13:15, Nadia

Comment on the article "Late menopause"

I took the Climafit 911 complex, containing phytoestrogen, vitamin and amino acids. Everything a woman needs during menopause. I removed the symptoms of menopause, and things got better...

Discussion

I took the Climafit 911 complex, containing phytoestrogen, vitamin and amino acids. Everything a woman needs during menopause. I removed the symptoms of menopause, and my emotional state improved.

02/15/2019 10:35:33, marisha02

In general, you need to not only take vitamins, but also eat right. But even this did not help me. The drug Qi-Klim saved me. And all this together had a positive effect on my body.

03/21/2018 15:02:03, Anna1.2

Discussion

I really didn’t like the way I smelled during IVF and 1.5 months after it. I even wrote about it here.
The hormones came out and everything went away

I myself am at that age and I work with several of the same colleagues: the smell comes from diabetics, from those who after an illness with a fever, one smelled the same in my youth as I do now, the rest don’t smell.

Discussion

Nowadays, early menopause is becoming more and more common, for various reasons, but there is no need to despair, there are special medications that help you survive changes in the body and reduce the manifestation of symptoms, mom drinks a dietary supplement based on lignans, leads a healthy lifestyle, travels a lot and feels great!

For most women, menopause begins at 45-52 years of age. In only 5%, the decline of reproductive function occurs much later - after 55 years. The opinions of doctors on this matter are ambiguous, since this condition can have both a positive and negative connotation. Late menopause is a phenomenon that requires careful monitoring by specialists. If a woman has not stopped menstruating after 53-55 years of age, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination to exclude life-threatening pathologies.

The onset of menopause in women is associated with the fading of the ovaries, which leads to loss of reproductive function. At this time, there is a significant decrease in the concentration of sex hormones, which is a completely natural process. If menopause in women does not occur after 55 or even later, we can talk about a certain disorder.

This condition occurs due to the following reasons:

hereditary factors. If late menopause was observed in the mother and grandmother, then there is a very high probability that the daughter will have the same. Age-related changes in a woman’s body are determined by heredity, which is not a pathology;
presence of tumors. For some women, menopause does not occur for a long time due to a pathological increase in estrogen levels in the blood. In this case, the ovaries cease to function, and the tumor takes over the production of hormones. This pathology can appear at any age. The main sign that indicates the presence of a tumor is an abnormal increase in estrogen levels;
taking aggressive drugs. Late menopause is sometimes observed as a result of radiation or chemotherapy, which were used to treat cancer of various locations.

Are there any benefits to late menopause?

If late menopause is caused by natural causes, and the woman does not have any pathologies leading to this condition, this phenomenon should be considered positive. Maintaining high levels of sex hormones after 50 years has great benefits:

bone strength is maintained. In women, upon the onset of menopause, the risk of developing osteoporosis and other diseases that affect the musculoskeletal system increases significantly. The presence of high levels of sex hormones for a long time allows you to maintain the optimal concentration of calcium in the body longer. This prevents bone fragility, which is often observed during menopause;
the psycho-emotional state is more stable. Women with delayed menopause have a clearer memory, sound sleep, no mood swings, and no tearfulness. They are less susceptible to depression than their peers;

best look. Women with high estrogen levels remain youthful longer. They do not have many wrinkles because the body produces enough collagen. Also, gray hair does not appear longer, hair remains full, breast elasticity is maintained, and weight remains stable;
A woman's ovaries working normally prevent the development of atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke. The presence of a high concentration of sex hormones in the blood increases vascular tone, has a positive effect on the condition of the heart, and prevents the formation of cholesterol plaques;
a woman is attracted to sex. The secretion of vaginal lubrication remains the same, which does not allow you to experience discomfort during intimate intercourse;
preservation of reproductive function. Since the ovaries function normally, a woman has a chance to conceive a child even at this age.

Why is this phenomenon dangerous?

With late menopause, the risk of ovarian, uterine or breast cancer increases significantly. Therefore, after 50 years, a woman should not forget to visit a gynecologist and mammologist for preventive examinations. It is important to promptly treat all diseases of the reproductive system and identify any potential danger. In the early stages, getting rid of cancer is not so difficult, and the risk of death is minimal. Women who experience a late onset of menopause should understand that the risk of developing malignant processes is possible, but this does not happen to everyone.

Also, in the absence of menopause, it is necessary not to forget about maintaining reproductive function. But not many women over 50 want to have a child. At this age, the issue of contraception should be treated no less responsibly than in youth.

Symptoms of late menopause

What symptoms do women experience during late menopause? The decline of reproductive function after 50 years or later occurs in the same way as at a younger age. The appearance or absence of certain symptoms is individual. Many women note the following signs of the imminent onset of menopause:

increase in the interval between menstruation. A woman’s menstrual flow becomes scanty or, conversely, bleeding is observed;
there is discomfort in the vagina. There may even be significant itching due to the lack of natural lubrication;
the appearance of tides. The woman feels a sudden feeling of heat, which is localized in the upper part of the body. Hot flashes are accompanied by increased sweating and may appear at night, causing insomnia;

an unstable psycho-emotional state is observed. The woman becomes more tearful and susceptible to depression;
severe headaches and migraines often develop;
deterioration in appearance, which is caused by rapid aging processes. A woman’s skin loses its former elasticity, becomes covered with wrinkles, gray hair appears, and excess weight appears;
there are surges in blood pressure;
diseases affecting the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems develop.

Is it possible for a woman to speed up the onset of menopause?

If late menopause is caused by hereditary factors, there is no need to accelerate its onset. In this case, a woman only needs to be attentive to her health and regularly visit a doctor.

When a long period of maintaining reproductive function poses a certain danger, a decision may be made to artificially suppress the functioning of the ovaries. Menopause is often caused by gynecological problems that cannot be eliminated with high levels of sex hormones. Premature menopause in a woman occurs when using the following drugs:

Buserelin and others.

It is strictly forbidden for a woman to self-medicate with these drugs. They are used strictly according to a specific scheme, as they can cause various dangerous side effects.

How to improve your well-being during late menopause?

Symptoms and treatment of menopause at any age are directly related. If a woman complains of feeling unwell, she is often bothered by hot flashes, migraines, pressure surges and other unpleasant signs of approaching menopause, a decision is made on hormone replacement therapy. It allows you to eliminate the pronounced imbalance that is the cause of all problems. The following groups of drugs are used:

medicines containing estrogens - Premarin, Estriol, Dermestil. These drugs are taken for 21-28 days, after which a break is taken for a week. This pattern of use reflects the natural fluctuations in estrogen in a woman’s blood throughout the normal menstrual cycle;

combination drugs containing estrogen and progesterone. Such medications are taken strictly according to the schedule. It involves the use of tablets containing only estrogen on certain days of the cycle, after which it is necessary to use a drug with a combined composition. Products of this type include Divina, Klimen, Angelique.

Hormonal drugs of various compositions are most often used in the form of tablets or injections. Sometimes topical use is indicated. There are hormonal preparations in the form of suppositories or gels. Such remedies will also help a woman get rid of dryness and itching in the vagina, and make urination easier.

Homeopathy for menopause

Drugs that contain synthetic sex hormones are aggressive and potent. They are used only when a woman experiences many unpleasant symptoms, her chronic diseases become more acute, which poses a potential danger to normal life. Also, hormonal drugs have many side effects. For example, many refuse them due to the high risk of tumor formation.

In many cases, the use of more gentle products containing herbal ingredients is indicated. Homeopathic medicines effectively help cope with hot flashes, eliminate causeless anxiety, and help get rid of headaches. Products based on herbal ingredients include:

Klimadinon and others.

Symptomatic therapy

The symptoms of menopause are varied, so depending on the presence of certain complaints, appropriate medications are prescribed. If a woman suffers from pressure surges or is constantly worried about this problem, the following remedies are used:

They have a positive effect on blood vessels and the heart, eliminate and prevent repeated pressure surges.

In the presence of an unstable psycho-emotional state (which is accompanied by neuroses, tearfulness, insomnia), sedatives are prescribed. It is often recommended to take valerian or motherwort in the form of tablets or tinctures. In more severe cases, when a woman is in a state of persistent depression and simple medications do not help, antidepressants (Velaxor, Citalopram, Sertraline) are prescribed. These drugs should be used with great caution and under medical supervision.

Also, many women at the onset of menopause are familiar with osteoporosis. This is due to calcium deficiency, which causes frequent and long-healing fractures. As a result, menopausal arthrosis may develop. Therefore, if characteristic symptoms are present, special vitamin and mineral supplements are prescribed. They make up for the deficiency of calcium and vitamin D. You also need to carefully monitor your diet. A woman’s diet should include red fish, fermented milk products, and hard cheese.

How to cope with late menopause on your own?

In many cases, the presence or absence of any symptoms of menopause depends on the woman’s lifestyle. Therefore, in order to improve your well-being during hormonal changes in the body, you need to consider several recommendations:

you need to completely give up bad habits - smoking, periodic drinking of alcohol in any form;
nutrition adjustments. A woman’s menu should be composed of different products containing the optimal amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. You should avoid fast food and food containing chemical additives;
It is necessary to expose the body to moderate physical activity. The best option is light running, walking, cycling;
no need to isolate yourself from friends and loved ones. Communication will help prevent depression and improve your mood.

Also, a woman should remember to visit doctors regularly, especially if something is bothering her.

The onset of menopause at 50 is considered normal. Deviations up or down are also possible. Much depends on heredity. If unpleasant signs appeared at this age, then there is practically no doubt about the cause. A woman is mentally prepared for the beginning of a new period in life. Medications that smooth out hormonal changes and calm the nervous system help relieve symptoms. It is necessary to be attentive to any health problems and consult a doctor in a timely manner. This will help you stay active and vigorous for many years to come.

Content:

When and why does menopause occur in women?

The onset of menopause is associated with the aging of the body, the gradual cessation of the production of female sex hormones in the ovaries, and the depletion of the supply of eggs. Due to the lack of these substances, the functioning of all systems is disrupted, so a woman develops various ailments and even serious diseases, and her appearance also changes. Hormonal changes occur over several years, after which menstruation stops and fertility fades.

Menopause is conventionally divided into 3 periods:

Premenopause is the time when the first signs of decline in reproductive function appear.
Menopause is the complete cessation of menstruation. This period is considered to have occurred if they have not been present for 1 year.
Postmenopause is the completion of hormonal changes, after which obvious manifestations of hormonal changes disappear, but the consequences of a lack of female hormones remain.

The normal age for the cessation of menstruation is considered to be 48-55 years. But signs of the onset of menopause in women appear already by 40-45. And the postmenopausal period sometimes occurs only after 60 years.

Menopause that begins before the age of 45 is considered early. Its cause may be ovarian surgery, endocrine diseases, the use of hormonal drugs, or the genetic characteristics of the body.

Heredity is considered the main factor determining the onset of menopause. As a rule, grandmother, mother and daughter experience menopause at approximately the same age. But there are other factors that can accelerate the aging of the body and the onset of menopause. These include the socio-psychological climate and conditions in which the woman lives, the nature of the traumas and illnesses she has experienced.

Symptoms of menopause

If menopause occurs in a 40-45-year-old woman, then she will most likely associate interruptions in her cycle, changes in the nature of her periods, and the appearance of ailments with some disease. In order to dispel doubts about their nature, special tests may be needed to confirm that irreversible hormonal processes are occurring in the body.

At the age of 51-55 years, a woman is usually already expecting the arrival of menopause and is unlikely to miss the appearance of its first signs:

increasingly scanty periods, occurring with increasing intervals;
causeless short-term feeling of heat;
blood pressure surges;
attacks of irritability;
frequent urge to urinate;
decreased sex drive.

Note: Symptoms at this age are not so painful for many women. Realizing that they are natural, women do not always pay due attention to them. Meanwhile, the risk of developing serious diseases at this time increases significantly.

50 is a critical age at which most women begin to experience illnesses that arise due to a lack of sex hormones.

Menstrual disorders

Menstruation comes with a break of 2-6 months, bleeding is replaced by spotting brown discharge until it disappears completely. If a woman is over 50 years old, then she has an increased likelihood of developing malignant tumors, the only symptom of which in the early stages is bleeding. Therefore, she is recommended to undergo annual preventive examinations with a gynecologist, so as not to miss the onset of a deadly disease behind the symptoms of menopause.

Osteoporosis

Due to the slowdown in metabolic processes in the body, the absorption of nutrients from food is significantly reduced. Lack of calcium and magnesium leads to deterioration of bone tissue. Bones become more fragile and the risk of fractures increases. In addition, collagen production decreases, which leads to the destruction of cartilage. As a result, pain appears in the joints (arthritis) and spine. Gait and posture change, height decreases.

Metabolic disease

The reason is the deterioration of the digestive system, liver, and biliary organs due to aging of body tissues. Violation of water-salt, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism leads to weight gain or sudden weight loss, diabetes mellitus, and thyroid diseases.

Malfunctions of the digestive system lead to constipation. This can cause prolapse of internal organs (uterus, intestines and others). This also contributes to weakening of muscles and ligaments due to lack of collagen.

Vaginal dryness

At 51-55, all women suffer from this disease. The functioning of the glands that produce mucus in the cervix practically stops. Lack of lubrication leads to the fact that the surface of the vagina becomes vulnerable, microcracks and areas of atrophy appear on it. Since mucus also plays a protective role, preventing infection from entering the uterus, when it is deficient, women often experience inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system. The woman is worried about pain in the bladder, frequent urination, burning and itching in the genitals, and unusual discharge.

Nervous system disorders

They cause character changes. A sweet and meek woman can become irritable and aggressive. The appearance of depression, causeless anxiety, fear, apathy, and insomnia is a sign of the onset of menopause at any age. But in youth it is easier to cope with them, while in old age there is added fear of being left without work, becoming unnecessary for adult children, and panic about the impending deterioration in health.

Hot flashes, resulting from a disorder of the autonomic nervous system and disruption of the thermoregulation centers of the brain, occur in most women during menopause at the age of 50, as well as at other ages. For some, attacks occur occasionally, lasting 5-15 minutes, for others they are long-lasting and very frequent, depriving women of strength. Hot flashes are accompanied by profuse sweating, redness of the face, lack of air, and increased heart rate.

Cardiovascular pathologies

The lack of estrogen primarily affects the condition of the heart muscle and blood vessel walls. It is at 50-55 that a woman develops symptoms of heart disease (atrial fibrillation, tachycardia, ischemia), and experiences attacks of hypertension and headaches in the morning.

Warning: You should not put off visiting a doctor when the first symptoms of such pathologies appear. The earlier treatment is started, the greater the chances of delaying the development of the disease or getting rid of it. The main thing is not to self-medicate. Sometimes lost time becomes the cause of the most severe complications.

A woman at this age needs to undergo a general examination at least once a year: check blood sugar levels, do an ultrasound of the pelvic organs in order to notice the occurrence of uterine diseases in time, and undergo preventive gynecological and mammological examinations. It is important to seek advice from a therapist, urologist, cardiologist, and endocrinologist in a timely manner.

Additional signs of the onset of menopause are dry skin and a sharp increase in the number of wrinkles, hair loss on the head, hair growth on the face, a decrease in pubic and armpit hair, sagging (involution) of the mammary glands, a sharp deterioration in vision, hearing, memory, dental condition, numbness fingers on hands.

What determines the severity of menopause?

The severity of symptoms is influenced by the following factors:

general health, presence of diseases of the ovaries and uterus, endocrine disorders;
number of pregnancies, births, abortions, operations on the uterus and ovaries;
presence or absence of sexual activity, sexual activity;
state of immunity, physical fitness;
lifestyle, presence or absence of bad habits.

Video: Signs of menopause, why pathologies develop, which of them are especially dangerous

How to ease the symptoms of menopause

If a woman has a hard time with the onset of menopause, painful attacks of hot flashes, headaches, signs of osteoporosis, cardiovascular and other disorders appear too often, the therapist refers her to medical specialists and also recommends a blood test for hormones. In some cases, hormone replacement therapy is used to relieve the symptoms of menopause and prevent the development of diseases. Preparations based on female sex hormones can increase their content in the body and slow down the aging process. They are selected for each patient strictly individually, since exceeding the norm threatens the occurrence of obesity and cancer.

Sedatives and drugs to strengthen the immune system are also prescribed. When women reach menopause at the age of 50, vitamins are especially needed: A, C, PP, E, D, K, group B, as well as mineral components based on calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, iodine, selenium. Therefore, doctors recommend taking them in the form of complex preparations.

Moderate sports (swimming, cycling, race walking), hardening the body, and fighting excess weight make this period easier. We must try to react more calmly to stress that provokes the development of hypertension and heart disease. It is necessary to give up smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages, too spicy food and strong coffee.

Video: How to relieve symptoms yourself. Psychologist's advice

Menopause is a special stage in a woman’s life; you should not be afraid of it, since its onset is due to a normal physiological process, but everyone should know the peculiarities of its course.

In a healthy woman, menopause begins at 45–49 years of age and lasts until 55–58 years of age. Menopause is a long period, it does not have clear boundaries; three stages can be distinguished, which gradually replace each other:

premenopause is the stage when the restructuring of the female body begins, characterized by a decrease in the production of major sex hormones, as a result of which menstrual cycle disorders occur. This period lasts from one to three years - depending on the woman’s lifestyle and the characteristics of her body;
Menopause is the stage when menstruation stops. If there is no discharge within 12 months after the last menstruation, the doctor confirms the onset of menopause;
postmenopause is the final stage. At this stage of menopause, menstruation is completely excluded, and any vaginal discharge may indicate pathologies and various diseases.

The nature of menstruation during menopause depends on the stage in which the woman is. At the first stage, menstruation may occur once a month, but its duration and intensity begin to change. If this period occurs before the age of 40, then you should consult a doctor - at this stage you can use hormonal therapy and extend the reproductive period.

Early onset of menopause occurs due to ovarian dysfunction or other serious diseases, and the consequences can be much more serious than weight gain, sagging skin and premature aging. Therefore, you should be attentive to your health and regularly visit a gynecologist, and after 40 years, a consultation with a gynecologist-endocrinologist is advisable.

Features of the menstrual cycle during premenopause

Menopause begins with a change in the functioning of the ovaries - paired glands, which, in addition to producing eggs, also secrete the bulk of female sex hormones. The menstrual cycle completely depends on the production of one or another hormone.

At the initial stage, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) enters the blood in large quantities. Under its influence, the growth of follicles in the ovaries begins, and the production of estrogen is also stimulated. In the middle of the cycle, the amount of FSH decreases, and the production of luteinizing hormone (LH) increases, which actively affects the corpus luteum, formed after the release of the egg from the follicle. The corpus luteum is a temporary gland responsible for the production of progesterone, a hormone that prepares the endometrium of the uterus for egg implantation.

Such hormonal cycling ensures not only the normal functioning of the genital organs and a woman’s ability to bear children, but also affects the general condition of the body. With the onset of menopause, the ovaries decrease in size and lose sensitivity to hormones. An imbalance occurs:

the amount of FSH and LH increases (two to three times);
estrogen and progesterone decrease.

Therefore, menstruation begins to occur irregularly during menopause. The cycle gets confused, and the timing of each next menstruation is difficult to predict. Most often, periods are delayed, initially by 8–10 days, then up to 20 or more. During this period, it is advisable to record in a calendar how your periods are progressing, to note not only the first day of the cycle, but also its duration; most often it is reduced to 3-4 days. If a woman has prolonged periods before menopause, which last 7–10 days and are accompanied by heavy bleeding, this may indicate possible pathologies:

growing fibroids;
presence of polyps;
benign or malignant tumors;
endometrial hyperplasia.

Long periods during menopause are considered normal if the discharge is scanty and not abundant.

What menstruation is considered normal during menopause?

There is no consensus among doctors about how many days and how menstruation goes before menopause. Before menopause occurs, the pattern of the menstrual cycle may be as follows:

reduction in the number of discharges;
long period between menstruation. At first there may be delays of several days, then it will increase to several months. In this case, a delay of menstruation during menopause and up to 6 months can be considered normal. But if there is no menstruation for 12 months, then this is already evidence of the onset of menopause;
cycle irregularity: menstruation can last for several months in a row, then disappear for two to three months and resume;
There may be pieces of mucus in the discharge. If the color of the blood is not scarlet or dark brown, then the presence of mucus is considered normal, since during premenopause the endometrium begins to change;
Menstruation during menopause is accompanied by painful sensations, general health worsens, dizziness appears, and emotional vulnerability increases.

Gradually, the interval between menstruation increases more and more. Despite the fading of ovarian function, an egg is still maturing in them, which can be fertilized. In general, during this period there is a high risk of unwanted pregnancy, since the woman cannot control ovulation at all. During premenopause, special attention should be paid to contraception.

Over time, menstruation completely disappears during menopause. And if they are absent for more than one year, doctors declare menopause. All discharge that will be present during this period should alert the woman, as it may indicate various pathologies.

What may various discharges indicate during postmenopause?

Irregular, scanty, long periods during menopause are considered the norm, but the appearance of discharge during the postmenopausal period indicates a disorder in the genitourinary system:

if frequent and heavy bleeding is observed, then the cause of this may be tumors, including cancerous ones;
if bloody discharge suddenly appears during the postmenopausal period, this indicates a rupture of the uterine vessels. Only a specialist can find out the reasons for this;
yellowish discharge, accompanied by an unpleasant odor, and an increase in body temperature indicate the presence of an infection in the vagina;
discharge of ichor is an unfavorable symptom that indicates an inflammatory process of the genital organs;
white mucus was considered normal before the onset of menopause - it contained dead epithelial cells, however, during postmenopause it is a manifestation of thrush;
Watery fluid discharged from the vagina is not normal; you should ask your gynecologist about the reason for its appearance.

It is important to remember that if menstruation occurs during menopause, this indicates two things:

menopause has not yet occurred;
tumors or other pathologies develop in the body.

Most often in women after 55 years of age there are:

polyps;
hyperplastic changes in the endometrium;
myoma.

If bleeding is detected in women after 65 years of age, it is almost always a symptom of endometrial cancer. In any case, you should not draw independent conclusions, and if you experience any vaginal discharge in postmenopause, you should consult a doctor.

For every woman, there will come a time when menstruation stops and menopause arrives. Many representatives of the fair sex have heard about it, many have read, and many know from their female ancestors how this happens.

But, let’s figure out what the essence of this terrible “monster” called menopause is. Maybe “the devil is not as scary as he is painted”?

The age at which menstruation stops varies from person to person. World statistics show that the average period ranges from 45 to 55 years, and five percent of women continue to have periods even after 55.

There are cases in history where menstruation continued even at the age of 60, but this is more of a unique case than a regular one. It is clear that at the age of 55 the cycle becomes irregular, scarce, and conceiving a child becomes almost impossible.

For some female representatives, menopause begins at the age of 40; more precisely, every eighth woman on the planet has early menopause.

In nature, there are three periods of menopause:

Premenopause(premenopausal). Comes after 40 years. Menstruation occurs during the premenopausal period, but for the most part without the formation of an egg. It turns out that they no longer seem to have their periods fully, because they pass without ovulation. The general hormonal balance is disrupted and there is a high probability of gaining extra pounds (5-10 kg) during this period. The changes also affect the condition of the skin: the number of wrinkles increases, the elasticity of the epidermis is lost. A woman's sexual activity decreases. The premenopausal period lasts from 1 to 10 years.
The second period is called - menopause. The follicles that remain in the ovaries change. The periods themselves change. The volume of discharge decreases, shortens, or, conversely, the interval between cycles lengthens. Critical days become irregular, which is normal and does not require treatment. That is, the number of follicles in the ovaries is reduced, which leads to a decrease in estrogen production. This means that progesterone also decreases. As a result, the follicles run out completely, and menstruation stops forever. This period is characterized by an exacerbation of chronic diseases, an increase in excess weight, and in some cases, obesity. The risk of cardiovascular diseases and the development of diabetes mellitus increases. The menopause period lasts from 1 year or more.
And the last, third, period is called - postmenopause. Their onset occurs one year after the end of the last menstruation. The woman's general condition returns to normal. Hormonal levels are balanced, health improves, and metabolic processes in the body are restored. Any female representative can judge the cessation of menopause by the increased level of the hormone FSH, which can be detected in the blood or urine.

All these processes are only individual in nature. Some women will not notice any special changes in the body, while others, on the contrary, will feel all the changes. Basically, heredity plays a big role here. So, if a woman wants to know what awaits her during menopause, let her ask the older generation of women.

Of course, if there were no external interventions, for example, ovarian surgery, chemotherapy, etc. And also, the woman does not abuse alcohol and smoking.

Symptoms of menopause

Any woman, by her nature, is unique, therefore the “bouquet” of first signs will be different and unique. Sometimes during reproductive age a woman seems to feel the symptoms of approaching menopause. But it could be amenorrhea – a menstrual cycle disorder in which menstruation does not occur.

In rare cases, menopause occurs at 30–35 years of age, but this is not a pattern, but an exception to the rule.

All symptoms of menopause are divided into:

Early (premenopausal phase);

Average (menopause);

And, late (postmenopausal phase).

We will try to consider the most complete list of possible first signs of menopause:

1. Early:

The most common symptom of the oncoming menopause is a disruption of the menstrual cycle. They can go whenever they want. They can be abundant or scanty. The interval between menstruation increases, and over time, the critical days end forever.

Tides. This is a sudden increase in temperature in the upper parts of the body: face, neck, chest.

Sweating. Occurs as a consequence of hot flashes. May be profuse, in the form of perspiration on the body.

Sudden chills that are not natural phenomena.

Insomnia.

Drowsiness, lethargy, weakness throughout the day - all this occurs due to insomnia. Often such conditions can lead a woman to depression.

The early stage also affects pressure changes, and the heart rate may increase.

Due to poor health and lack of sleep, a woman becomes irritable and aggressive.

Sexual desire decreases or disappears.

The woman becomes dissatisfied with her life, headaches and migraines appear. As a result, all of the above often fails.

2. The middle stage implies the following signs:

The internal mucous membranes reduce the abundance of secretions, which causes dryness and burning of the genitals. This all happens due to low amounts of progesterone and estrogen.

Pain occurs during sex because the amount of lubrication in the vagina decreases.

Wrinkles, dry skin, loss of elasticity, brittle nails, hair loss - this is the aging of the body.

Frequent urge to go to the toilet, urinary incontinence as a result of hormonal imbalance and low immunity.

3. Late period:

Osteoporosis is a bone disease.

Disease of the heart and blood vessels.

Vein disease.

Loss of the ability to remember new knowledge and skills. This applies to older (senile) age.

If a woman experiences several of the above symptoms and is over 40 years old, it is recommended not to make a diagnosis on her own, but to consult a specialist. A gynecologist will help you cope with your body as best as possible.

How to relieve menopause

There are several ways to eliminate or alleviate the condition of women when their periods end irrevocably:

Treatment with hormones. During menopause, a woman's levels of progesterone and estrogen sharply decrease, which leads to health problems (osteoporosis, vascular blockage, stroke, etc.). By taking hormones, progesterone and estrogen are balanced. As a result, hot flashes and sweating decrease, insomnia disappears, and the woman’s general condition improves significantly. But recently it was discovered that when treated with hormones, the risk of cancer increases sharply. Therefore, it is recommended to look for other ways to treat menopause.

Dietary supplements or phytohormones. They also replenish the body with essential estrogen. True, there are contraindications: tumors and people whose metabolism is slow, because the drugs cause excess weight.

Homeopathy. Such remedies are very successfully used for a long time and successfully relieve the signs of menopause.
But that’s not all, you need to reconsider your lifestyle and adjust some nuances that will help you get through this difficult period with ease:

Do morning exercises your friend. A little warm-up, swinging your arms and legs will improve your well-being, lift your spirits and relieve headaches.

Try every day to walk outside, especially before bed. This will help you understand your inner feelings and work up an appetite for the night. You can include your relatives in the walks, and this will further strengthen the family.

Don't forget to pamper yourself with your loved ones active activities. For example, dancing, yoga, fitness, sports. These methods will perfectly help you relax and satisfy your mental and physical well-being.

To the maximum to refuse from bad habits. Drink less alcohol, eat right, quit smoking, drink more clean water. All this is a guarantee of health.

Important “don’t eat” feeling unwell sweets and carbohydrates. Extra pounds don't make anyone look better, and you won't be healthier from what you eat.

Try sleep at least 8 hours a day. Healthy sleep is the key to a good mood.

Avoid stressful situations, be less nervous and believe only in the good, because it has long been known that thoughts are material. And with an integrated approach to menopause, you can avoid many negative factors, improve your condition as much as possible, and you won’t notice how menopause ends.

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