COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW- MENOPAUSAL CHALLENGES

Menopause is the cessation of menstruation in a woman, typically occurring between the ages of 45 and 55 years. This article will briefly review the physiology and types of menopause, signs and symptoms, and symptomatic treatment. Although menopause ends fertility, women can stay healthy, vital, and sexual. Smokers and women with chronic diseases may experience earlier menopause. Since the body has depended on these hormones for years, when hormone levels decrease, the changes are noticeable and may result in emotional reactions and bodily changes. These may include physical symptoms, such as hot flashes, decreased energy levels, and sleep disruption, as well as mood-related symptoms, such as anxiety and depression.³ Eventually, ovaries stop producing estrogen and other hormones. This is a natural biological process, not a disease. Over time, these symptoms gradually disappear.