Menopause

What are the signs and symptoms of menopause? Menstrual cycle irregularities are the consequences of the decline in ovarian function and lowered estrogen level. The deteriorating function of the ovaries and the consequent decrease in estrogen level are the basic characteristics of menopause. The irregularities in menstrual cycle are seen as either a decrease in the amount and length of menstrual flow, as spotting or as periods of amenorrhea and polymenorrhea. These irregularities are observed within a period of few months to several years before the permanent cessation of menstruation occurs.

There are several changes that may occur in a woman’s body during menopause. These changes usually occur after the permanent termination of menstruation. These include changes in the reproductive, urinary, mammary, integumentary, and autonomic nervous systems. These are the changes that usually go undetected by the naked eye.

After the permanent cessation of menstruation, the reproductive system goes into several changes. A woman’s vulval structure usually goes into shrinkage. This is often accompanied with the loss of subcutaneous fat. These physiologic occurrences may even lead to conditions like atrophic vulvitis, vaginal mucosal atrophy, and flattening of the vaginal rugae. These conditions are often blamed for bleeding after intercourse and vaginal itching. It is also believed that menopause may cause excessive vaginal dryness and reduction of the ovarian size.

The urinary system also undergoes several changes during menopause. A condition called atrophic cystitis may occur during this period. This is because of the injurious effects of the low estrogen level in some structures of the body like the bladder mucosa. Conditions like incontinence, urinary frequency, urgency, and dysuria may accompany menopause.

It is also observed that during this phase in a woman’s life, the mammary system also shows apparent changes. There is usually reduction in a woman’s breast during menopause.

The integumentary system has also its share of changes during a woman’s menopausal stage. Women in menopause may observe loss in their skin’s elasticity. This change is due estrogen deficiency. Additionally, change in the skin’s elasticity is also caused by the loss of pubic and axillary hair and in some occasions due to alopecia, conditions that are seen in menopausal women.

The autonomic nervous system is responsible for most of the signs and symptoms of menopause that many women actually experience. It is estimated that about 60 percent of all menopausal women experience episodes of hot flashes and night sweats. Additionally, symptoms like vertigo, tachycardia, syncope, dyspnea, and tinnitus are all traced back to the autonomic nervous system. Episodes of irritability, emotional disturbances, and nervousness are also products of systemic changes brought about by menopause, which affects the autonomic nervous system.

Finally, aside from changes in the body’s different systems, menopause can also induce conditions like atherosclerosis and osteoporosis. These are also conditions that can occur with menopause.