by Omoruvwie Ejiroghene

Created on: September 24, 2008

Menopause is the time in a woman's life when her period stops. It is the cessation of the female menstruation, which usually occurs naturally between the age of 45 and 55. It signifies the end of the female reproductive life cycle, which started from the onset of puberty. Within this period in many women the cessation of the monthly periods can occur gradually (i.e. from having irregular menstrual cycles, along with unpredictable episodes of heavy bleeding during a period this happen in the perimenopause stage to the last period which is consider as the onset of menopause after the woman have been period free for a year without being ill, pregnant, breast-feeding or using certain medicines, all of which can also cause menstrual cycle to cease. Bleeding and spotting will not be experience in that year) or suddenly when induce by hysterectomy (the removal of the uterus through surgery).

A French maxim says "40 is the old age of the youth; 50 is the youth of the old age". Since menopause occurs at the youth of old age it should be regarded as a period of "inner-change, a time of inner reflection and re-valuation".
Despite the physical, endocrine, emotional and mental changes that are brought about the irregular functionality female hormones during her reproductive years-menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth- menopause should be a normal and natural phenomenon that should not cause any health problem or place the body under tremendous stress.
Therefore, for every normal woman, menopause should not be seen as:
A dangerous illness that comes with intense discomforts
A loss of female virility that can lead to rejection
A loss of youthfulness and charm
For such women, it should be seen as a "change of life"; an inevitable period that offers one a great opportunity for an inner change.
Menopause is said to be premature if it occurs under the age of 40years.
During menopause, the following signs may be observed:
A gradual decrease in ovarian function
Lack of ovulation
Estrogen and progesterone deficiencies
Hormonal imbalances
Deficiency in calcium etc
In recent times these scenario is not what obtainable it has been observed that during menopause, the hormonal changes produce pressure on the brain and nerve cell and create personality defects such as tension, quick anger, insomnia, headaches, discomfort, foot edema which usually give rise to disturbing symptoms that are now associated with menopause such as
Hot temper, irritability, tension, nervousness, forgetfulness,

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