Menopause is a natural event that occurs in every woman’s life. It is an indicator of the end of a woman’s reproductive age. But in some cases, women experience early menopause. This is a common condition also known as premature menopause.
Premature menopause occurs when a woman stops menstruating before her natural age to do so. When you encounter menopause in your twenties or thirties, this is premature menopause. This can be an indicator that something is wrong with your ovaries and that they are not in a healthy condition. Premature menopause is known to occur in about one percent of women.
Menopause and climacteric
Menopause is the medical term for the last periods you have. Climacteric is a term used to denote gradual changes in your body due to the natural decrease in hormone production and the end of ovarian function. Most women experience gradual menopause through a series of stages that can vary in time and intensity for each woman. Like puberty, it doesn’t happen suddenly.
Premenopause
The initial symptoms of premenopause are night sweats and mood swings. Although you will experience normal periods, this is a time when you will notice certain changes in your behavior. The word premenopause means the stage in your life when you are still menstruating, but there are some indicators that menopause is not far off.
Perimenopause
Perimenopause is something completely different than premenopause. During perimenopause, women begin to notice the signs of menopause as they continue to ovulate and have menstrual periods. Many women begin to notice irregular periods and hot flashes, but it may still be three to five years for the full onset of menopause. Marked mood swings are common during this phase. During this stage, you will continue to have periods.
During perimenopause, you are still fertile and reproductive. However, the indicators are there to tell you that you are approaching menopause. This is a phase when there is less chance of getting pregnant.
Post menopause
Postmenopause is used to indicate the phase of your life after menopause. Once a woman has gone 12 months without a menstrual cycle, she has reached full menopause. The ovaries at this time no longer release eggs and produce much less progesterone and estrogen. Pregnancy is no longer possible at this stage.
Once you recognize the signs of the onset of menopause or are in the throes of menopause, you need to make the necessary changes to achieve as smooth a transition as possible. Although not a cure, the right type of bedding and sleepwear can make a big difference in the quality of your sleep and therefore your overall well-being during all stages of menopause. Look for bedding that uses a passive temperature regulating product (for those with mild to moderate symptoms) such as Outlast, or natural bamboo; or active temperature systems for severe cases such as Chili Pad. Also invest in lightweight, moisture-wicking nightwear to help wick away sweat and heat.