How do I know I'm entering menopause?

You thought it was never going to happen, that it would be something that happened to others and that it was definitely not going to happen to you. You sense that something is changing, that since you turned 40 your body is transforming even though you refuse to recognize it.

If you came this far it is because you want to know the truth, you are looking for someone to clear your doubts: are you entering menopause?

If you want to know the answer, don't turn the page because we are going to tell you what menopause is and what its symptoms are , so you will be more prepared for this stage which, contrary to what you believe, can be an opportunity to evolve towards a better life. version of you.

What is menopause?

Although many women believe it is a divine curse or even see it as a disease, menopause is a completely normal period that determines the end of the reproductive stage. From this moment on, menstruation disappears, which means that ovulation stops and pregnancies are no longer a possibility.

However, this is a change that does not occur suddenly, but rather can take years to complete and its symptoms begin to be noticed much sooner than you imagine. In fact, there is a period known as perimenopause which is characterized because ovarian function is altered, hormonal levels fluctuate and symptoms become present.

According to the World Health Organization , menopause occurs, on average, between the ages of 45 and 55 and its onset is determined after completing 12 months without the presence of menstruation.

How do you know if you are entering menopause?

The symptoms of menopause are caused by hormonal alterations: your levels of estrogen, responsible for ovulation and other reproductive functions, begin to fluctuate and this generates physical and emotional changes.

The following are questions you can ask yourself to help you identify if you are entering menopause.

• Do you have irregular and spaced menstruations?

If you were very regular and you started to notice that your period suddenly went crazy, it's not your fault, it's the estrogen that is starting to decrease.

Having menstrual periods that take longer or shorter than normal and in which the amount of blood is less or more abundant is one of the first signs that menopause is appearing.

• Has your sexual desire decreased and do you feel vaginal dryness?

If you feel that your libido is on the floor and that your vagina no longer lubricates the same, don't worry, this is also a very common manifestation of the hormonal changes that your body is experiencing. When estrogen decreases, the tissues of the vulva and pelvic floor are altered, affecting their normal functioning.

The breasts can also be compromised, because the glandular tissue is replaced to a greater or lesser extent by fat.

• Have you started to feel hotter than normal?

The myth that you feel very hot during menopause is true. One of the main symptoms of this stage is hot flashes or sudden waves of heat that are first felt in the head and can spread throughout the body and can leave as quickly as they arrive.

These hot flashes can last from seconds to hours and cause redness, excessive sweating, and trouble sleeping.

• You do not sleep well?

Having trouble falling asleep or waking up frequently at night is a common sign that something in your body is changing.

You can also read: Discover how to sleep deeply and wake up with energy

• Does your skin and hair feel different?

Some women have reported that during this period it is common to feel that their skin and hair become weaker or more fragile.

• Do you have mood changes?

Do you remember that the days before your period you feel strange, sad and a little irritable? This happens because your hormones are fluctuating and that affects your mood.

The same thing happens in perimenopause, the decrease in estrogen and progesterone , added to all the bodily changes you are experiencing, can make you feel moody and worried.

If you answered yes to most of these questions, menopause is probably greeting you.

But you don't have to worry about this, although these changes may seem annoying at first, if you prepare now to face them , you will be experiencing a period of transformation that will help you be ready to have a few years full of freedom and vitality.

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