Menopause Hormones

Menopause basically means that the menstruation cycles have come to an end. The female womb is no longer fertile. Menopause is not a medical disorder but a physiological process. All women go though it. Besides the decrease in the menopause hormones, there are many other physical and emotional changes associated with menopause. The emotional symptoms affected by changes in menopausal hormones include poor sleep, lack of energy, depression, a void feeling and apprehension.

All women should understand that menopause is not the end of life. In fact, it is just the beginning of a new life without menopause hormones. While a female may have physical and emotional changes during this time period, it does not mean that one can’t enjoy sex or be intimate.

There are a lot of myths surrounding menopause. Some cultures just accept this physiologic process. Other want a medical remedy for it and a few cultures want alternative health care treatments. For most women, menopause comes and goes; and life goes on. A few women simply are not able to enjoy life with the decline in menopausal hormones. For these women, there are ample treatments available. Besides natural hormonal therapy, a change in life style can make a big difference.

The typical features of menopause include the following:

- irregular menses
- diminished fertility
- vaginal dryness
- hot flashes
- sleep disturbances
- low mood
- dry skin and thinning of hair
- loss of elasticity in breast tissues and saggy breasts

It is the decline in menopause hormones, estrogen and progesterone, that are primarily responsible for all the physical and mental changes that occur during this time period. As women age, these sex hormones start to decline and by the 40s some of the physical changes start to become apparent. The first sign that menopause hormones are declining are changes in the menstrual patterns. The cycle starts to become irregular, and there is a change in the character of menstruation, first heavier, the lighter and finally no more periods. Once the ovaries shut down, the menopausal hormones disappear from the blood circulation.

Most women go through a tapering off of periods and menstruation does not abruptly shut down. Today, there is no way to know when the last regular period before menopause will arrive. One thing is for sure; once menopause hormones start to decline the chances of getting pregnant are slim to none.