THE GOLDEN AGE

Age ushers in many seasons of our lives. For the woman age ushers in a whole different set of events. Sometime around twelve or thirteen we start menstruating. Typically somewhere in between twenty and twenty five we have a child. Then our friend, time introduces us to menopause.

Menopause is the end of menstruation. Menopause comes from the Greek "mens," meaning monthly and "pausis," meaning cessation. This is a natural part of the aging process when a woman's ovaries produce lower levels of the hormones known as estrogen and progesterone and when she is no longer able to become pregnant. These changes are gradual unlike the start of menstruation and take place usually between the ages of 42 and 56. When a woman has not had a period for a full year she can say she has begun her menopause.

Menopause in and of itself is not a medical problem; however, the varying degree of the symptoms of menopause may lead a woman to assume that she has some kind of illness. The most common symptoms of menopause are weight gain, hot flashes, insomnia, night sweats, vaginal dryness, joint pain, fatigue, short-term memory loss, bowel upset, dry eyes, itchy skin, mood swings, and urinary tract infections. It is important to remember that the symptoms of menopause are as varied as the women experiencing them. Generally speaking, a woman who is between the ages of 42 and 56 and has irregular periods while experiencing the common symptoms can reasonably assume she has begun her menopause. The beginning of menopause is often referred to as peri-menopause.

Researchers are not sure about why different women display different signs and have concluded in recent studies that menopausal symptoms may have something to do with genetics, diet, lifestyle, and nationality. An example of this is that Japanese women report fewer hot flashes and other symptoms. What is the secret you ask? Scholars believe that the North American emphasis on youth as well as a diet that is high in saturated fats and sugars contributes to a more difficult transition in American women.

There are a lot of ways that a woman can take charge of their menopausal symptoms. Like any common anomaly of good health, a menopausal woman should take great care in dictating her diet in making sure that it is filled with protein, carbohydrates, fiber and very little fat. Exercise and stress management are also key in managing the symptoms of menopause.

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