often deprive her of a complete rest at night and may result to irritability during waking hours.

4. Vaginal dryness is one of the conditions a woman may experience during menopause.

5. Intercourse is usually painful because of less lubrication caused by vaginal dryness.

Many women may experience only a few or none of the above signs and symptoms and may not notice any major changes in their bodies, except at the end of their periods. Others may experience all the signs and symptoms of menopause but may not feel very u

Have you experienced sudden hot flushes at night that cause disruptions to your sleep? Are you experiencing irregular periods? Or are you feeling irritable and experiencing mood swings? Are you in between the ages of 35 and 50? What you are experiencing might be the signs and symptoms of menopause. A lot of women go through their menopausal period gracefully without experiencing a lot of problems. You too, can go through menopause with fewer problems. This is possible if you know how to handle yourself and the situation.

A woman’s body begins to prepare for menopause sometime between her late 30s and late 50s. During this time, the levels of her hormones required for pregnancy start to decline. These two hormones are estrogen and progesterone. Because of the decline in the production of these two hormones, she will start to experience irregular menstrual periods. She will also experience the cessation of the egg production in her ovaries. This condition will finally lead to the termination of her menstruation.

The occurrence of menopause varies among women. However, the average age is about 51. Some conditions like surgery and some illnesses can cause the earlier occurrence of menopause but more often menopause is a slow process that usually takes about 2 to 5 years.

The following are the signs and symptoms a woman may experience as soon as she enters menopause:

1. A sudden feeling of heat mostly occurring in the face, neck and chest areas - This condition is more commonly referred to as hot flashes or flushes. Together with hot flashes, a woman may experience profuse sweating during the day and night. Both hot flashes and profuse sweating occurring at night may disrupt a woman’s sleep and rest period, which can cause irritability and bad moods in the morning.

2. There will be irregular periods with probable alternating heavy and light flow until menstruation finally ceases to occur.

3. A woman entering the menopausal period may experience bouts of irritability and mood swings. Sometimes these mood changes are traced back to the hot flashes, which occur during her resting period. These often deprive her of a complete rest at night and may result to irritability during waking hours.

4. Vaginal dryness is one of the conditions a woman may experience during menopause.

5. Intercourse is usually painful because of less lubrication caused by vaginal dryness.

Many women may experience only a few or none of the above signs and symptoms and may not notice any major changes in their bodies, except at the end of their periods. Others may experience all the signs and symptoms of menopause but may not feel very u

an’s body begins to prepare for menopause sometime between her late 30s and late 50s. During this time, the levels of her hormones required for pregnancy start to decline. These two hormones are estrogen and progesterone. Because of the decline in the production of these two hormones, she will start to experience irregular menstrual periods. She will also experience the cessation of the egg production in her ovaries. This condition will finally lead to the termination of her menstruation.

The occurrence of menopause varies among women. However, the average age is about 51. Some conditions like surgery and some illnesses can cause the earlier occurrence of menopause but more often menopause is a slow process that usually takes about 2 to 5 years.

The following are the signs and symptoms a woman may experience as soon as she enters menopause:

1. A sudden feeling of heat mostly occurring in the face, neck and chest areas - This condition is more commonly referred to as hot flashes or flushes. Together with hot flashes, a woman may experience profuse sweating during the day and night. Both hot flashes and profuse sweating occurring at night may disrupt a woman’s sleep and rest period, which can cause irritability and bad moods in the morning.

2. There will be irregular periods with probable alternating heavy and light flow until menstruation finally ceases to occur.

3. A woman entering the menopausal period may experience bouts of irritability and mood swings. Sometimes these mood changes are traced back to the hot flashes, which occur during her resting period. These often deprive her of a complete rest at night and may result to irritability during waking hours.

4. Vaginal dryness is one of the conditions a woman may experience during menopause.

5. Intercourse is usually painful because of less lubrication caused by vaginal dryness.

Many women may experience only a few or none of the above signs and symptoms and may not notice any major changes in their bodies, except at the end of their periods. Others may experience all the signs and symptoms of menopause but may not feel very u

women. However, the average age is about 51. Some conditions like surgery and some illnesses can cause the earlier occurrence of menopause but more often menopause is a slow process that usually takes about 2 to 5 years.

The following are the signs and symptoms a woman may experience as soon as she enters menopause:

1. A sudden feeling of heat mostly occurring in the face, neck and chest areas - This condition is more commonly referred to as hot flashes or flushes. Together with hot flashes, a woman may experience profuse sweating during the day and night. Both hot flashes and profuse sweating occurring at night may disrupt a woman’s sleep and rest period, which can cause irritability and bad moods in the morning.

2. There will be irregular periods with probable alternating heavy and light flow until menstruation finally ceases to occur.

3. A woman entering the menopausal period may experience bouts of irritability and mood swings. Sometimes these mood changes are traced back to the hot flashes, which occur during her resting period. These often deprive her of a complete rest at night and may result to irritability during waking hours.

4. Vaginal dryness is one of the conditions a woman may experience during menopause.

5. Intercourse is usually painful because of less lubrication caused by vaginal dryness.

Many women may experience only a few or none of the above signs and symptoms and may not notice any major changes in their bodies, except at the end of their periods. Others may experience all the signs and symptoms of menopause but may not feel very u

sweating during the day and night. Both hot flashes and profuse sweating occurring at night may disrupt a woman’s sleep and rest period, which can cause irritability and bad moods in the morning.

2. There will be irregular periods with probable alternating heavy and light flow until menstruation finally ceases to occur.

3. A woman entering the menopausal period may experience bouts of irritability and mood swings. Sometimes these mood changes are traced back to the hot flashes, which occur during her resting period. These often deprive her of a complete rest at night and may result to irritability during waking hours.

4. Vaginal dryness is one of the conditions a woman may experience during menopause.

5. Intercourse is usually painful because of less lubrication caused by vaginal dryness.

Many women may experience only a few or none of the above signs and symptoms and may not notice any major changes in their bodies, except at the end of their periods. Others may experience all the signs and symptoms of menopause but may not feel very u

often deprive her of a complete rest at night and may result to irritability during waking hours.

4. Vaginal dryness is one of the conditions a woman may experience during menopause.

5. Intercourse is usually painful because of less lubrication caused by vaginal dryness.

Many women may experience only a few or none of the above signs and symptoms and may not notice any major changes in their bodies, except at the end of their periods. Others may experience all the signs and symptoms of menopause but may not feel very uncomfortable at all.

It is estimated that about 1 in 4 women will have a strong response to the levels of hormonal shift. These changes in the hormone production may make them feel emotionally and physically distressed.

A woman in menopause should tell her family and loved ones about the changes she is undergoing. This will enable those around her to be more understanding about her situation and provide her with the necessary support she needs during this important phase in her life.