How Long Does Menopause Last

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September is menopause awareness month. We thought it was important to address the main question women have on their mind most as they enter the "change of life" which is how long does menopause last.

What is Menopause

Menopause is a natural process that signifies the end of menstruation. Typically, between the ages of 45 and 50, a woman's menstruation cycle diminishes and eventually ceases all together. It is the timely interim that women want to know about!

Menopause is from a Greek work, where in 19th century Greece "pause" meant, "to stop". Sadly, a woman's period does not just end abruptly but gradually ends over time. In fact, the time period leading up to menopause can last from five to fifteen years!

How Will I Know When I Am Finished with Menopause

The duration is different for every woman, although generally the average age for menopausal women is 50-52 years old. As a woman's body slows down producing the natural hormones progesterone and estrogen, menopausal symptoms usually kick in to overdrive!

There are several stages of the menopausal process. Technically, a woman is considered in menopause one year after her final period. During menopause, there are natural hormonal changes taking places similar to puberty. (Like it wasn't bad enough the first time around!)

Menopause occurs when the monthly cycle of ovulation ends. As women approach menopause, the ovarian supply of eggs sharply declines. Even though egg production is down, the brain continues to send out hormones attempting to stimulate the ovaries.

When Does Menopause end

Menopausal woman experiencing a wide variety of unpleasant symptoms wonder when does menopause end. Unfortunately, there is no specific time frame for menopause ending.

During menopause, the ovaries commonly respond erratically, so that hormones fluctuate dramatically from month to month. The fluctuations are the root cause for many menopausal symptoms.

Finally, the ovaries no longer develop eggs for ovulation. Progesterone is no longer produced and estrogen goes into a permanent decline. Menopause occurs when the uterus lining thins, due to not being stimulated monthly by high estrogen levels, and bleeding stops.

Alternatively, the stages of menopause last normally five years. From the initial early signs to the last hot flash, symptoms range from one year to ten years. Every woman is different and experiences menopause at her own pace. On average, a woman who has begun to experience menopausal symptoms has possibly four years before her period disappears completely.

34 Menopause Symptoms

There are many common distressing emotional and physical changes, which women experience throughout menopause including the following:

* Hot flashes

* Anxiety

* Vaginal dryness

* Irregular periods

* Irritability

* Mood swings

* Stress

* Leg cramps

* Tender breasts

* Decreased libido

* Trouble sleeping

* Achy joints

* Irregular heart beat

* Fatigue

* Incontinence

* Flatulence

* Bloating

* Hair loss

* Dizziness

* Changes in body odor

* Tingling in the extremities

* Gum problems

* Bad taste in mouth

* Osteoporosis

* Changes in fingernails

* Tinnitus

* Feelings of dread

* Difficulty concentrating

* Changes in headaches

* Weight gain

* Allergy increases

* Burning tongue

* Memory lapses

* Depression

This list certainly gives new meaning to the classic Helen Reddy song, I am woman, hear me roar! Thankfully, not all of these symptoms affect every woman. (And not all at the same time!) Occurrences may be from mild cases to severe.

"Women know when they have the menopause but men know it afterwards". ~ Omar Sharif

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