How To Cope With Experiencing Menopause | Menopause refers to the time during a person’s life when they first stop menstruating. It typically occurs when people with a menstrual cycle are in their late 40s or early 50s. Menopause follows the period known as perimenopause, which is when symptoms first appear.
Perimenopause and menopause are distinct stages that affect a person’s fertility, physical characteristics, and mood. You can cope with menopause by learning about perimenopause and menopause, familiarizing yourself with the symptoms, and learning how to alleviate symptoms.
When does menopause begin?
Menopause technically refers to the one-year period following a person’s last menstrual cycle. Perimenopause refers to the period when a person’s body undergoes hormonal changes that lead to loss of fertility before menopause begins. Perimenopause typically lasts four years.
Most people enter perimenopause in their 40s, although it’s possible for some people to experience early menopause in their 30s. In rare cases, premature menopause occurs during a person’s 30s, and they have their last menstrual cycle before they turn 40.
What are the symptoms?
Perimenopause symptoms include irregular periods, hot flashes, headaches, vaginal dryness, difficulty sleeping, and mood swings. Symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, weight gain, and night sweats. The critical distinction between perimenopause and menopause is that menopause is the 12-month timeframe immediately following your final menstrual cycle.
Strategies for Monitoring Your Symptoms
A perimenopause tracker is a practical resource for monitoring your perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms. This app serves as a period tracker, so you can determine if you have irregular periods. You can keep records of other symptoms you experience. The app provides tips for reducing your symptoms, and your records can come in handy when you discuss your health with your physician.
For example, some people suffer from migraines during perimenopause. Your symptom tracker can help determine if night sweats or hot flashes trigger the migraines. Your physician may be able to reduce the frequency of those symptoms with hormone therapy, which would reduce the frequency of your migraines.
Strategies for Alleviating Physical Symptoms
Taking natural supplements can reduce some symptoms. Ginseng can help you sleep. Vitamin D can help prevent mood swings. Research also indicates hot flashes can be reduced by consuming pine bark extract. Bacterial vaginosis is common issue and bacterial vaginosis treatment has become easier with the help of probiotics.
You can use your diet to balance your body’s estrogen levels. The estrogen in soy products, such as soybeans, soy milk, and tofu, can supplement the decrease in your body’s estrogen levels and reduce night sweats, vaginal dryness, and other symptoms. Your diet and exercise routine can also prevent weight gain. Aerobic exercises and strength training can prevent weight gain.
You may also opt to adjust the temperature in your bedroom at night to prevent night sweats, and turn your heat down when you’re experiencing hot flashes.
Ways to Manage Your Emotional Symptoms
From when perimenopause begins until postmenopause starts is a difficult stage of life. Changes in your hormone levels can cause mood swings and emotional distress. You may feel undesirable or be depressed by your loss of fertility.
One way to manage your emotions is to join a discussion forum for others going through perimenopause and menopause. Forum members may be able to share practical strategies for managing symptoms. Those who are further along in the process may recommend the right literature to read to learn more about menopause symptoms and how to manage them.
You can also boost your mood by taking care of yourself. You can use magnetic lashes and magnetic liner to improve your appearance. Magnetic lashes and liners use magnets to stick to you, which means you don’t have to use glue to secure them. You can also invest in quality makeup products, such as eyeliner, blush, and eyeshadow to enhance your features.
Menopause is a difficult stage of life that begins when a person has their last menstrual cycle. It lasts for 12 months and follows perimenopause, which is when symptoms first appear. Understanding the symptoms, tracking your symptoms, using natural supplements and hormone therapy, and seeking emotional support can help you cope with menopause effectively.
