As women age, many of them start to see dark spots appearing on their skin and hair growing in places it never was before and they wonder at what ages does menopause start?
The truth is, no one knows for sure. Some women do not even know they are experiencing it when they are in its throes and others believe they have been undergoing “the change” for 10 or more years.
I am Too Young for This
While it is very rare, it is possible for women as young as 30 to experience menopause. Menopause is the time in a woman’s life immediately after her menstrual period has stopped. Premenopause begins when a woman’s body stops producing eggs and dramatically decreases the amount of estrogen and progesterone it is producing. This leads to the end of a woman’s ability to conceive and bear a child.
This process usually begins in halfway through a woman’s 40s and ends prior to 55, but some women may not experience menopause until they are 60 and others may be in their 30s. There is no way to predict when you will undergo menopause. Doctors can determine whether the process has begun with tests that measure hormone levels.
Look To Your Relatives
When trying to determine at what age does menopause start, you can look for clues by looking to your mother, your older sisters, aunts and grandmothers. Often, your menopause age will be nearly the same as your female relatives. There is no set menopause age, however, and the process can take years to complete.
Once menstruation ceases, symptoms usually become their worst. Some of the symptoms women can experience include:
- Hot flashes
- Insomnia
- Mood swings
- Weight Gain
- Memory Loss
- Body Aches
- Headaches
Every Woman Is Different
What age does menopause start and how severe the symptoms will be are individual to each woman. The age when menopause begins is predetermined before a woman is born. Your body knows at what ages does menopause start even though you do not. Nothing you do in your lifetime will affect that age, unless you undergo a hysterectomy and have your ovaries and/or uterus removed. As with childbirth, your general heath and attitude can affect your experience, but the experience is going to happen.
If you could know when your menopause would begin, you could be prepared for it, but you would also be dreading that day. The best way to approach this change is with a positive attitude, accepting that it an inevitable part of life.
Dealing with Symptoms
Developing a regular exercise routine, healthy eating habits, healthy sleep cycles and hobbies that bring you enjoyment can lessen the affect that menopause has on your life. Most women seek to avoid hormone replacement therapy since it has been shown to increase your risk of breast cancer, heart attack and stroke. Instead, we are opting to choose exercise, vitamin therapy, acupuncture, diet changes and stress reduction to help us cope with symptoms and lessen their severity.
