Menopause, or what is known as menopause, is not just the end of a woman’s fertility, but rather a natural and inevitable stage in her life’s journey. This new stage is often accompanied by a group of physical and psychological changes that may worry many women, but  with understanding these changes and preparing for them, you can get through this period smoothly and with greater comfort, so follow with us this article presented by Al Mousa Specialist Hospital about the most prominent signs of the approaching menopause. We also provide you with the most important tips to deal with this stage effectively to maintain your health and quality of life.

What are the signs that menstruation is about to stop?

The cessation of the menstrual cycle is known as menopause, and it is a natural stage in a woman’s life, usually beginning in her forties or fifties. This stage does not occur suddenly, but is preceded by a transitional period known as the pre-menopausal stage. 

The period before menopause is characterized by fluctuations in hormonal levels, which leads to the appearance of a group of signs and symptoms. The most prominent signs of the approaching menopause include the following:

• Irregular menstrual cycle. It may become shorter or longer than usual, or it may be delayed for several months and then return regularly.
• A change in the nature of menstrual bleeding. The bleeding may become lighter or heavier than usual, and light bleeding or spotting may occur between menstrual cycles.
• Hot flashes, i.e. a sudden feeling of heat spreading to the upper part of the body, especially the face and neck, may be followed by redness and sweating.
• Night sweats or hot flashes that occur during sleep, which may cause you to wake up feeling uncomfortable.
• Mood swings: The woman feels unjustifiably irritable, anxious, sad, or depressed.
• Difficulty sleeping and suffering from insomnia, which affects mood and concentration.
• Vaginal dryness, as a result of low estrogen, which causes pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse.
• Decreased sexual desire, due to hormonal changes.
• Weight gain, especially in the abdominal area, due to slow metabolism.
• Problems with concentration and memory. You may suffer from brain fog, meaning a feeling of forgetfulness or difficulty concentrating. 
• Joint and muscle pain, due to low estrogen.
• Changes in hair and skin. The skin may become drier, and hair loss may increase.

Cause of menstrual interruption

The appearance of signs of near menopause and the cessation of the menstrual cycle at menopause is due to the natural changes that occur in a woman’s hormonal system with age, and this process can be summarized in the following points:

•  The ovaries gradually stop working with age and are responsible for producing the main female hormones, estrogen and progesterone.
• A lack of estrogen and progesterone in the blood, which are the hormones that control and regulate the menstrual cycle.
• The ovaries stop releasing eggs every month, a process known as ovulation.
• The growth of the uterine lining stops as a result of a decrease in hormones, which leads to the cessation of monthly bleeding and the cessation of the menstrual cycle. 

Learn about: اسباب تاخر الدورة الشهرية وما يجب فعله 

What are the benefits of stopping menstruation?

After knowing the signs that the menstrual cycle is approaching, of course a woman in menopause goes through some challenges, but there are many benefits that a woman can enjoy after passing this stage, including:

• Getting rid of annoying menstrual symptoms, such as cramps, back pain, headaches, and mood swings.
• Improving anemia, due to stopping heavy bleeding during menstrual cycles.
• Eliminate the physical and psychological symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.
• Relief from anxiety about pregnancy.

Tips after menopause

After the menstrual cycle stops completely, a new phase begins in a woman’s life that requires special attention to maintain her physical and psychological health. Here are some important tips to help you enjoy this new phase:

• Pay attention to healthy nutrition, eat calcium and vitamin D, to maintain the health of your bones.
• Reducing sugars and fats, because the metabolic rate slows down at this stage to avoid weight gain and maintain heart health.
• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to improve digestion, provide energy, and enhance general health.
• Exercise regularly, such as walking, jogging, and swimming to improve cardiovascular health and maintain weight, and strength exercises to build muscle mass and strengthen bones.
• Taking care of your mental health, practicing hobbies, and finding activities that you enjoy will help improve your mood.
• Maintain your social relationships with family and friends, as communication and support reduce feelings of loneliness and depression.
• Conducting periodic medical examinations of the breast and cervix, in addition to measuring bone density.

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​Risks of menopause

After menopause, women may face some long-term health risks due to decreased levels of hormones such as estrogen, including:

• Cardiovascular diseases, because estrogen has a protective role in heart health, as it helps keep blood vessels flexible and open, and contributes to maintaining a healthy balance between good and harmful cholesterol. 
• Increased risk of stroke after age 55, and low estrogen may play a role.
• Osteoporosis, because a decrease in bone density is one of the most prominent risks after menopause. Estrogen is necessary to maintain bone density, and as it decreases, the bones begin to lose their mass faster, making them weak and brittle.
• Vaginal dryness, as a result of the effect of low estrogen on the tissues in the vaginal area and urethra.
• Urinary incontinence: A woman may feel a sudden and frequent need to urinate, or she may lose control of her urine when coughing or laughing.
• Weight gain, due to slow metabolism.
• التقلبات المزاجية. 

Learn about: حبوب تأخير الدورة: دليلك الآمن للتحكم في موعد الدورة الشهرية

Causes of bleeding one year after menopause

Bleeding from the vagina after a full year of menopause is abnormal, and is known as postmenopausal bleeding. You must immediately see a doctor to find out the reason. Possible causes of bleeding after menopause include the following:

• Atrophy and thinning of the uterine lining as a result of a decrease in estrogen after menopause, which leads to light bleeding or spotting.
• The vagina atrophy, making it dry and more susceptible to bleeding, especially after sexual intercourse.
• Polyps, which are small benign growths that may form in the lining of the uterus or cervix, can cause intermittent bleeding.
• Receiving hormone replacement therapy, which leads to bleeding as a natural side effect of changing hormone levels.
• Endometrial cancer, where bleeding after menopause is one of the most common symptoms of endometrial cancer. 
• Cervical or vaginal cancer. These types of cancer can cause abnormal bleeding.  

الاسئلة الشائعة :

Are there signs warning that the menstrual cycle is approaching?

Yes, there are several common signs that menopause is approaching, which usually appear in the late forties, but some women notice them in their mid-forties, and the premenopausal stage may last from 4 to 8 years before the menstrual cycle stops permanently, and the most prominent symptoms include:

• Changes in the menstrual cycle, such as irregularity, change in the amount of bleeding, or skipping some periods.
• Hot flashes. 
• التعرق الليلي. 
• Vaginal dryness. 
• Joint and muscle pain.
• تقلبات مزاجية. 
• صعوبة في النوم. 
• Repeated headache attacks. 
• Poor concentration or memory. 

How do I know that the course will be interrupted?

To answer this question and the question “How do I know that my period is about to end?” You can know that the menstrual cycle is about to stop and reach menopause by noticing the signs that the menstrual cycle is about to stop, which we discussed above in detail, and that is between 45-55 years of age, but in the case of early stopping before the age of 40, you should consult gynecologists.  

How do I know that I have entered menopause?

You can know for sure that you have entered menopause or menopause when the following signs are present:

• Absence of menstruation for 12 consecutive months, i.e. a full year or more ago.
• The appearance of obvious menopausal symptoms, such as persistent hot flashes, obvious vaginal dryness, and persistent sleep disturbances
• Analysis of the FSH hormone in the blood showed a higher than 30 mIU/mL in two separate tests.
• Testing for estrogen in the blood shows that it is less than 30 pg/mL.

In conclusion,  menopause is not the end, but rather the beginning of a new stage that requires special care. By understanding the signs of approaching menopause and following the tips we mentioned, you can deal with this stage with confidence and comfort. Always remember that your health is a priority, and do not hesitate to seek medical advice when needed.

Al Mousa Specialist Hospital is keen to provide the latest medical services specialized in women’s health, through a qualified medical team equipped with the latest technologies. We are here to support you in every step of this journey, to ensure that you move to this new stage in complete safety and comfort, so do not hesitate to visit us or contact us on our numbers listed on the website. 

Sources

Perimenopause: Rocky road to menopause – .health.harvard.

Perimenopause – webmd