How long do the symptoms of menopause last?
The symptoms occur even before the actual menopause. According to a study from the USA, the average duration of menopausal symptoms is 7.4 years. In the worst case, the complaints can last up to 13 years. Women who suffer from hot flushes before their last menstruation tend to have complaints for longer.
What are the signs of menopause?
Irregular menstrual bleeding is often the first sign of the beginning of the menopause. In addition, hot flushes and sweating are often symptoms that already occur at the beginning of the menopause. Sleep disorders, libido changes, exhaustion, mood swings and muscle and joint problems can also occur.
The symptoms and complaints of the menopause vary greatly from person to person. Some women do not suffer from symptoms at all. For them, the onset of menopause is only noticeable through irregularities and a decrease in menstrual bleeding.
Irregularities in the cycle can also have other causes, especially in younger women. Some women can reach the menopause quite early. The signs of the menopause?
How does my libido change?
In general, libido and sexual activity decrease with age, as there is a drop in sex hormones. Consequently, sexual desire and sexual arousal also decrease. In addition, many women do not feel attractive anymore with increasing age, which also has a negative effect on the libido.
However, the menopause is not the only cause of libido changes with age. Sexuality generally decreases with age – needs and desires change and diseases can occur which can restrict sexual life. However, men are also affected by this. In many cases, an open conversation about one’s own needs and those of the partner can help to identify problems and find solutions. But there is also a group of women who enjoy the freedom of the menopause – no more fear of an unwanted pregnancy and the changes in this phase of life, such as the departure of their own children – and once again actively shape their sex life.
