Night sweats, mood changes, and weird periods: What is happening to my body?
If you are experiencing some of the above things, your body might be preparing to enter menopause. Menopause is the time when a woman has her last period. The age at which a woman enters menopause differs and can depend on other things including whether you smoke, when your mother and grandmother entered menopause, your health, and whether your body is ready.
Once you enter menopause you will eventually no longer have a period because you will no longer be ovulating and once you have entered menopause, you will no longer be able to have children. This doesn’t mean that you are any less of a woman or that you can not enjoy sexual activity. It just means that some things will be a little different.
Some of the things that you might notice changing because of a decrease in estrogen in your body are:
- Your pubic hair around the vulva may begin to thin out
- The hair on your legs will also thin, and you may not need to shave as much (think about all the money you will save on razors and shaving cream!)
- You might also notice some hair on your face, especially around the chin and jaw line. This is normal, but if it really bothers you there are bleaches and facial hair removing creams that can be bought over the counter (always follow the directions on the box).
- Your breasts may begin to sag. Make sure you invest in a decent bra because that can help with what menopause and gravity are trying to accomplish.
- Your periods may be coming all the time, sporadically, or not at all. This is all normal. Eventually, your periods will stop completely. If what is going on with your periods is really bothersome, make sure to talk to your doctor or nurse practitionerto see if there is anything that might help.
For more information on menopause and the stages leading up to it, click here.
