How is Endometriosis diagnosed?

The presence of endometriosis may be suspected if certain symptoms are present. An examination of the pelvis may be able to help physicians identify the scar tissue that has been created by the implants. Endometriosis affects 10% of women, and in such individuals, ultrasound may reveal the existence of chocolate cysts, which are cysts that develop inside the ovaries.

Laparoscopy is the only method available at this time that can both verify the presence of endometriosis and assess the severity of the condition if it is present. Endometriosis may be directly observed during this one-day examination that takes place in a hospital under the influence of general anaesthesia. The procedure involves the use of a little telescope that is inserted through a tiny cut made near the umbilicus.

Despite their being a greater awareness of the disease, research has revealed that it still takes an average of eight to nine years from the start of the first symptoms until a diagnosis is verified. This frequently results in years of unnecessary suffering as well as a delay in therapies that are suitable and helpful.

Endometriosis can be effectively treated, and its long-term problems can be avoided by beginning therapy as early as possible. Nevertheless, early detection is still essential.

Menopause

When a woman has not had her period for 12 months in a row and is unable to become pregnant through natural means, she is said to have entered menopause. It often starts between the ages of 45 and 55, however it can start earlier or later than this age range.

The change in hormone levels that occur during menopause can result in uncomfortable symptoms, such as hot flashes and weight gain. Menopause is a natural transition that does not require treatment in most cases.
Most women experience the onset of their initial menopausal symptoms around four years before their final menstruation. It is not uncommon for symptoms to persist for up to four years after a woman has had her final period.

Menopausal symptoms can begin as early as ten years before the actual onset of menopause in some women. Moreover, around one in ten women will continue to suffer menopausal symptoms for a full 12 years after their final menstrual cycle.

The average age of menopause is 51, however it can happen anywhere from one to two years sooner.

There are several factors, including genetics and the health of the ovary, that can help predict when a woman will begin the menopause. The transition into menopause is known as the perimenopause. A woman’s hormones will begin to shift in preparation for menopause throughout the perimenopause stage of her life.

There is a wide range of possible durations, from a few months to several years. Once they reach the middle of their 40s, a lot of women start experiencing the symptoms of perimenopause. Some women may not go through the perimenopause and go straight into menopause.

Approximately one percent of women have early menopause, also known as primary ovarian insufficiency. This condition is characterised by the onset of menopause before to the age of 40. Between the ages of 40 and 45, the menopause affects around 5 percent of all females. This is referred to be menopause in its early stages.

Perimenopause vs. menopause vs. post menopause

During perimenopause, menstrual cycles become irregular. It’s possible that your periods may be late or that you’ll entirely miss one or more of them altogether. It is also possible for the flow of menstruation to become thicker or lighter.
The absence of menstruation for a period of 12 consecutive months is the clinical definition of menopause.
Post menopause is a term that describes the years that follow the menopausal transition

Symptoms of Menopause

Every woman’s menopausal experience is unique. When the menopause comes on quickly or when it lasts for a shorter amount of time, the symptoms typically manifest in a more severe manner. Diseases that have a negative influence on ovarian health, such as cancer or hysterectomy, as well as certain lifestyle choices, such as smoking, tend to worsen the intensity of symptoms and the length of time they last.
The symptoms of perimenopause, menopause, and post menopause are largely the same for the most part, apart from variations in menstruation. The following is a list of the most typical early indicators of perimenopause:
If you have larger or lighter periods than you typically do, you may develop vasomotor symptoms (VMS). These symptoms include night sweats, flushing, and hot flashes.
It is claimed that 75 percent of women go through menopause with experiencing hot flashes.

Other common symptoms of menopause include:

• insomnia
• vaginal dryness
• weight gain
• depression
• anxiety
• difficulty concentrating
• memory problems
• reduced libido, or sex drive
• dry skin, mouth, and eyes
• increased urination
• sore or tender breasts
• headaches
• racing heart
• urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• reduced muscle mass
• painful or stiff joints
• reduced bone mass
• less full breasts
• hair thinning or loss
• increased hair growth on other areas of the body, such as the face, neck, chest, and upper back
  

Why does Menopause occur?

Menopause is a natural process that occurs as the ovaries age and produce less reproductive hormones.

The body begins to undergo several changes in response to lower levels of:

• estrogen
• progesterone
• testosterone
• follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
• luteinizing hormone (LH)
  

The reduction in the number of functional ovarian follicles is one of the most noticeable alterations. Ovarian follicles are the structures that are responsible for the production of eggs and their subsequent release from the ovarian wall. This process is necessary for both menstruation and fertility.

Most women initially become aware that the regularity of their period is changing when they experience thicker and longer flow throughout their periods. This often takes place somewhere in the middle to late 40s of a person’s life.

In certain instances, menopause can be artificially produced, or it might be the result of an injury or surgical removal of the ovaries and other associated pelvic tissues.

When a woman reaches menopause, her menstrual periods stop occurring on their own. Menopause typically begins about age 52, however pelvic or ovarian injury might result in premature menopause. Early menopause can be caused by both genetics and underlying disorders.

In the years leading up to menopause, many women suffer the usual menopausal symptoms of hot flashes, nocturnal sweats, and flushing. Menopause symptoms may last for up to four years.

If your symptoms are severe or negatively impact your daily life, you may want to consider treatment options including hormone therapy. Natural therapies and a change in lifestyle can often alleviate or significantly lessen the severity of menopausal symptoms.
Please consult your physician to determine the most appropriate course of treatment.