Grayce P. Storey
There is considerable variations at what age menopause begins. Menopause is a time in a womans life when menstruation ceases and she is no longer capable of reproducing. This climax is commonly called the change of life.
The primary cause of menopause is due to the changes sent out by the endocrine system mainly the pituitary gland and hypothalamus gland and ovaries, which cause a physiological cessation of the menstrual period. This is due to a gradual reduction of the hormones in the ovaries that control the menstrual cycle. The ovaries wither and are no longer to produce estrogen in-quantity. Usually the woman is between 45 and 52 years when the gradual cessation of menstruation begins. Menopause often take place over a period of 1 or 2 years. In some cases it is spread out over several years. Prior o menopause the menstrual period generally becomes irregular in the amount of the flow and the duration of the flow. Also the length of time between successive cycles.
Many women are able to go through menopause without any difficulty, however, some women do have disturbing nervous, circulatory, and endocrine symptoms. “Nervous system symptoms include headache, dizziness, insomnia, drowsiness, neuralgia, numbness in the legs, and itching. Circulatory symptoms include hot flashes perspiration, a sensation of choking or suffocating, rapid pulse, and shortness of breath. Hot flashes refer to hot tingling sensations that involve the whole body while hot flush refers to involvement of the head, neck and upper chest. Endocrine system signs are due mainly to diminished production of female hormones and include changes such as arteriosclerosis caused by the decreased hormonal levels.”
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When a woman undergoes artificial menopause through an operation where by her ovaries are removed hormonal replacement is prescribed. In case of hysterectomy, when the uterus is removed, the woman will no longer menstruate. Hormones are again prescribed and over a prolonged period of using hormones may cause side effects in some patients.
Through estrogen replacement therapy, menopause can be delayed. This involve synthetically taking doses of estrogen into the body. The dosage is determined by a physician. The plan is similar to taking birth control pills. The end results is planned bleedings or menstruation. This may confuse some women into thinking they can still become pregnant. However, once the ovaries have withered there is no possibility of pregnancy. The bleeding is due to the administration of hormones.