Signs Of Menopause At 40:
Your brain circuits and your body’s systems are used to functioning with a certain pattern of estrogen levels, and then those levels starts to fluctuate wildly. It’s no wonder if you’re experiencing symptoms from this transition. Think of when Han Solo hits the controls to take his spaceship to hyperspace in Star Wars. Anxiety is another mood-related symptom that some people experience during menopause. It may worsen at night or only occur intermittently as hormone levels fluctuate.
If you’ve already been through menopause, it doesn’t always mean you’re done with all the symptoms. An estimated 40 percent of women ages 60 to 65 still get hot flashes. You’ll likely still get a period during this time, but your menstrual cycles will become more erratic. Many AFAB folks enter the perimenopausal phase in their late 40s. Perimenopause means ‘around menopause.’ At this stage, your estrogen and progesterone production slows, and you begin to make the transition into menopause.
Before menopause comes perimenopause, which you can think about as the runway to the big event. Perimenopause can start as early as a decade before menopause, though the average amount of time spent in perimenopause is four years. Menopause refers to a specific point in time when your periods stop. You’re only in the menopause phase for one year, because when you’ve gone 12 consecutive months without a period, you enter post-menopause.
Some people also refer to it as an ‘overactive bladder.’ This symptom is common during menopause, as changes in hormone levels can cause the bladder and pelvic muscles to become weaker. Some people you can try here may notice changes in their sense of taste, with stronger flavors, during menopause. They may also experience a dry mouth, which can lead to a higher risk of developing gum disease or cavities.
Menopause that occurs at 40 or younger is considered premature menopause. When there’s no medical or surgical cause for premature menopause, it’s called primary ovarian insufficiency. In this stage, your body is getting ready to shift from the hormonal cycles that support fertility to new levels in menopause. This transition often lasts 4 to 8 years before your final period, and wild swings in your hormone levels can kick off a range of symptoms. If you’re over 40 and hoping to get pregnant, talk to your doctor about your options before you start trying.
Menopause is a natural process that results from changing levels of estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones as you age. Many women going through menopause try to get relief from their symptoms by including foods containing phytoestrogens, or natural estrogens, in their diet. Nutritional supplements, like black cohosh and flaxseed, are also believed to help relieve menopausal symptoms. They include acupuncture, chiropractic, dietary changes and herbal supplements, massage therapy, biofeedback and homeopathy.
When you’re in perimenopause, it can be hard to predict when, or if, your next period may come. It’s also harder to know how long your period will last or whether your flow will be heavy or light. You’re in menopause when you haven’t had a period for 12 straight months and you aren’t pregnant or sick. All of these emotional changes can happen outside of menopause, too.
As women, we’re often told what menopause is going to mean for us, usually in a negative way. While you may be confused about when menopause will start or think ‘I’m not ready for this’ we want you to know that you can take control and make this time of your life a wonderful one. Early menopause can have a deep emotional impact on your life, and your plans for the future.
Bone mineral density testing, also called bone densitometry, is a quick way to see how much calcium you have in certain parts of your bones. Osteopenia is a disease where bone density is decreased and this can be a precursor his response to later osteoporosis. The traditional changes we think of as ‘menopause’ happen when your ovaries no longer produce high levels of hormones. Your ovaries are the reproductive glands that store and release eggs.
Some women in perimenopause experience insomnia and interrupted sleep due to night sweats or other menopausal symptoms. You may be less likely to get pregnant during perimenopause, but it’s still possible. As long as you have a period, you can still get pregnant.
It’s common to experience symptoms like vaginal dryness and hot flashes. Be open with your healthcare provider about the symptoms you’re experiencing advice and how they impact your quality of life. They can recommend treatments to manage your symptoms and make you more comfortable.
A great daily multivitamin is a perfect companion to a healthy diet. If your symptoms are especially bothersome and having an impact on your quality of life, it’s time to ask for help. The older you get, the more tuned in your healthcare provider will be to menopause’s impact on your health.
About 5 percent of women go into early menopause, experiencing symptoms between the ages of 40 and 45. One percent of women go into premature menopause before age 40. As you get older, your ovaries produce less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Without these hormones, periods become erratic for a time, and then eventually stop. In the United States, menopause happens on average at age 52 years but may occur sooner or later.