The bane of previously active and self-directed women is the onset of menopause symptoms.
Although it is not the only symptom of menopause, the rapid rise of temperature of the body, followed by autonomic response to cool the body, known as a hot flash is the most obvious and troubling symptom.
Menopause is defined as the day following the close of the last menstrual flow.
Since a full year must elapse without a menstrual period in order to be considered ceased, you won't be able to say you have completed menopause until a year after it has happened.
In popular usage, the term menopause is considered to be the entire period, sometimes lasting for several years, leading up to the cessation of menstrual periods.
It is also called the change of life, the change or perimenopause.
During these years, the production of hormones associated with reproduction diminishes.
Hot flashes are not the only symptom associated with perimenopause.
Women may experience increased level of migraine headaches and may notice episodes of rapid heartbeat.
In the skeletal area, joint and muscles may be painful, interfering with normal activities.
Reduction of hormones such as estrogen can lead to significant changes in the urinary and genital area.
The tissue can become dry and irritated.
Thinning of the cervix, vulva and vagina membranes is typical.
There may be some bleeding and a thin, watery discharge.
More frequent urination is common.
The woman may experience a stronger urgency and may find that incontinence is an increasing problem.
Itching of the skin in the inner and outer genitals can be problematic.
Treatment for symptoms of menopause varies according to their severity.
Some women choose to get through the months or years of symptoms using natural measures.
Some ask for hormone replacement therapy in order to buffer the symptoms.
Most treatment efforts are focused at hot flashes, since they are the most common symptom.
A woman may decide to deal with the symptoms by clothing revisions.
For example, she may switch to natural fibers and wear layers that can be removed quickly when necessary.
Herbal remedies such as black cohosh have a reputation for relieving many of the symptoms of menopause.
The herb works on the body's thermostat to strength the control over wildly increasing temperature in the woman.
By controlling the heat sensing device in the human, the cooling mechanisms are less likely to be triggered.
Hormone treatment for menopause symptoms may be helpful when symptoms are serious.
Many women choose a less intrusive plan for coping with symptoms.
The side effects of hormone treatment may be undesirable.