Menopause is an official end mark of female reproduction.  It is a normal condition that all women as they age. It is the moment where your period stops permanently and women can no longer get pregnant.  So, taking a glimpse of how the monthly period comes to its end needs to be known by all women.

Although the menopausal stage is well-known to all women, there are different stages within it which are in need to be recognized and understood because it will be officially called menopause when you stop menstruating.  Before a woman ends its reproduction, she will undergo a premenopausal stage. Moreover, marking down to the menopausal stage, perimenopause happens.

In the perimenopause stage, there is no symptom of going through perimenopause down to menopause because basically, you will still have periods whether it is regular or irregular.  However, some women, have hormonal changes but no noticeable changes in their bodies.

On the other hand, in perimenopause, you will start to experience symptoms of menopause such as changes in period cycle, hot flashes, sleep disturbances, or mood swings. It means perimenopause occurs before you will officially hit menopause.  As Cleveland Clinic shows, women enter this stage 8 to 10 years ahead of menopause. It shows that monthly suffering takes place.

Since menopause is the official end of your monthly period, the following are the possible experiences you might also be undergoing before reaching menopause.

Changing period patterns

Irregular periods are often the first sign that a female body has when they are on their perimenopause.  Do not be worried about these changing period patterns because is it normal; you have nothing to be concerned about because changes in menstruation affect you in different ways.

For some, they are less regular. There might be skipping a period for 2 – 3 months which can cause pregnancy.  However, others’ menstrual cycle may shorten. Others could have periods more regular, hefty and last longer.  

If you experience the latter, consider using the softest Daisy menstrual cup so that even if you have a substantial period flow, it will not be a hassle for you to change.  You need to empty it if it is full with blood already. Thus, you can rest in your bed if you want to with less irritation and disturbance.  

However, consider consulting a doctor if bleeding is extremely heavy and lasts longer than seven days because it may mean a problem with your reproductive system that requires diagnosis and treatment.  

Hot flashes and sleep problems

A sudden feeling of burning heat is called hot flashes, one of the typical symptoms also of menopause.  It begins in the head and neck regions of a woman which causes sweating.  Sometimes, when this happens at night, it affects the sleeping schedule at night.

The hot flashes may vary its intensity, length, and frequency.  At the same time, consider trying to maintain a regular bedtime schedule including going to bed at the same time every night. It may help your sleeping difficulties because if not addressed, expect to have daytime drowsiness.

Mood changes

A high chance of mood swings, irritability or risk of depression happens also.  During the transition to menopause, levels of hormone estrogen drop which causes wide-ranging changes throughout the body.  Thus, it also includes a direct connection to mood changes or changes in behaviour.

It was found out in research that 70% of women describe irritability as their main emotional problem during the early stages of the menopausal transition.  It means that they have less tolerance and get easily annoyed at things that did not bother them before.

Vaginal and bladder problems

As estrogen levels diminish, your vaginal tissues lose their lubrication and elasticity which makes sexual intercourse to be painful.  It could cause the sexual arousal and desire to be changed.

As estrogen lows, it may leave you vulnerable when urinating or worse, cause vaginal infections.  And aside from these, it may trigger problems discomfort and stress incontinence.

Decreasing fertility

As your ovulation becomes regular, you need to know that your ability to conceive decreases. However, even if it is discussed earlier that there are changes in period patterns, as long as you still have periods, you can still be pregnant.  

If you want to avoid pregnancy, you should use birth control until your period officially ends.  

Takeaway

Before you could end to menopause, there are stages that you can experience.  Some women who will undergo these stages will take 3 -5 years period. If you started experiencing this already, have the long patience for the changes that your body is adopting because these only mean that the moment you finish these stages, you will reach menopausal, and it will end all your agony towards suffering your monthly period.

It is also important to remember that every woman is unique and will have higher chances of experiencing menopause differently.  Some may experience the few experiences discussed, but there are some who have symptoms that vary widely.