Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Menopause and PeriMenopause

Menopause and PeriMenopause
Menopause is a condition when a woman has not had menstrual periods for 12 months in a row. In medical language, it is known as the permanent termination of the primary functions of the human ovaries. Ovaries produce two types of hormone in a woman’s body namely, oestrogen and progesterone. Ovaries are also responsible for manufacturing and storing eggs. When ovaries stop producing eggs or the two hormones mentioned above, it is considered as the end of the fertile period of a woman’s life. In this phase of life, which on average occurs between the age of 40 to 50 years, a woman cannot get pregnant.
Menopause starts on the day, when a woman gets her final menstrual period, but to determine if that particular flow is final, one has to wait for 12 months. By the time, a woman observes that the 12 month period is over , she has completed a year of post-Menopause.
How can both the term Menopause and Post-Menopause be differentiated?
• In Menopause, a woman has chances of becoming pregnant or getting menstrual periods in the next 12 months.
• In Post-Menopause, there are no chances or probability of getting pregnant or menstrual period as by that time, a woman has already completed 12 months of Menopause.
PeriMenopause is not a medical term per se but often used to understand the different stages associated with the biological changes caused due to Menopause in a woman. The phase is characterised by the irregularity of menstrual periods and increased FSH level. It is a transition time when a woman is inching towards Menopause. This is the time, when a woman actually starts encountering several physical and emotional symptoms such as hot flushes, insomnia, fatigue, migraine, restlessness, and vaginal problems.
Menopause and periMenopause are crucial stages of any woman’s life; hence it is advisable to handle it carefully. The earlier you detect it, the better you deal with it.

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