A woman is believed to have reached menopause after 12 months without a period. Generally, menopause signifies the end of child bearing in women 50 years or older, although some women can reach menopause before that age. Menopause causes hormonal changes that trigger symptoms associated with each stage. As a woman gets older, her body reduces the amount of estrogen produced, which helps prepare the ovaries for reproduction. Menopause signifies a stop in ovulation, which means no more eggs are produced.
Weight Gain
Many women who experience menopause have also noticed a considerable amount of weight gain. According to Epigee.org, women can expect to gain up to 15 pounds after menopause. Most of the weight gained during this stage is around the mid section or abdomen. It can completely alter a woman's figure. Weight gain occurs after menopause because the hormone estrogen, which normally regulates metabolism in women, has decreased. Another female hormone responsible for weight gain before and after menopause is androgen. In menopause, the androgen levels can decrease as much as 50 percent in the body. As a result, some women will experience weight gain, typically in the abdominal area or mid-section.
Depression
Depression is another symptom of menopause. The body begins to go through a change that affects the mind as well as the mood. Estrogen and progesterone levels drop dramatically, causing intense feelings of sadness. Depression may occur during the beginning of menopause as well as post menopause. It may also last for two or more weeks at a time. According to the University of Michigan Depression Center, depression usually starts in the years leading up to menopause and can resurface post menopause. This is the time when hormone levels begin to drop. The hormone progesterone helps stabilize mood in women. It decreases during menopause, which alters feelings of well being.
Vaginal Dryness
Vaginal dryness is one of the more common symptoms associated with post menopause. Lower estrogen levels cause the vaginal lining to become thin and inflamed, which also decreases the vagina's natural lubrication. The vagina naturally secretes a clear fluid that helps penetration during sex. However, when estrogen levels decrease, so does the fluid. Vaginal dryness can make sexual intercourse a painful experience. Vaginal dryness can also make the vagina sore after sex or cause bleeding during sexual intercourse.
