How Hormones Play On Us

How Hormones Play On Us-Chispa MagazineWomen’s worst enemies are definitely hormones. They affect the mood of a woman, her weight, food cravings, and quite often the desire for sex. While some women handle the hormones issue perfectly fine, others are going through a real nightmare during their lives. The path from PMS to menopause is paved with various health issues many women face, and it is paramount that every woman knows what problem she is facing.

Menopause
Once the childbearing years have passed, women enter the menopause horror. Irregular menstruation, hot flashes, mood changes, insomnia, and depression are the signs that the body’s reproductive system is no longer going to be able to conceive a baby. Women usually enter the menopause when they are 51 years old, but for some women it can happen earlier or later. Additionally, some women tend to induce menopause by using hormone replacement therapy, because it will balance out the hormonal changes and prevent mood swings, gaining weight, and the growth of hair and libido. Scientists have found that early artificial menopause increases the risk of age related macular degeneration, i.e. a group of degenerative diseases of the retina that cause progressive, painless loss of central vision, affecting the ability to see fine detail, drive, read and recognize faces.

Postpartum Depression
This condition affects some women after they have given birth. Postpartum depression is serious and can last for months, even though it is normal for women to feel sadness after the labor or a miscarriage. However, the symptoms of postpartum depression do not indicate in any way that a woman does not love her child. It simply means that these women need medical treatment, and the process of bonding with their child will not go as easy as for other women.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Discomfort, depression, anxiety, tension, and pain prior to menstruation are some of the symptoms, which indicate that a woman is facing a premenstrual dystrophic syndrome. This mood disorder co-occurs with other PMS symptoms. Ovulation could possibly be the reason this brain chemistry malfunction is triggered. It begins any time after a woman experiences her first period and it lasts until the beginning of menopause. Other symptoms of PDD include lack of motivation, loss of energy, difficulty focusing and concentrating, and suicidal thoughts.

Depression
Depressed periods in a lifetime are quite natural occurrences, but only if they do not last longer than six weeks. If a woman feels a sense of apathy, lethargy, boredom or sadness during a substantial period of time, that means she is facing a depression. Even though many people believe depression indicates a person is sad, it actually suggests that he or she is having trouble feeling any emotions what so ever. Moreover, certain things a person used to enjoy before stop to be meaningful to him or her.

What other hormone problems do women face?
Breast, ovarian and uterine cancers are also serious health problems many women face every day. Factors that are responsible for these illnesses are genetics, lifestyle, age, hormonal imbalances, and sometimes ethnicity. The most obvious signs of these illnesses are the look of a woman’s hair and skin, change in sleeping habits, mood shifts, and the significant change in weight.

The best thing any woman can do is turn to her physician when she notices any abnormality on her body, or if she starts feeling different than usual. Moreover, the timing is crucial, and the doctor should be consulted as soon as possible. Better safe than sorry.

Photo by Matthew Wiebe

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Emma Lawson

Emma Lawson

Emma Lawson is a teacher, constantly improving her skills both as a teacher and as a parent. After receiving the cert iv in allied health assistance she is one step closer to another goal in her life—leading a quality life.

Emma Lawson

Emma Lawson is a teacher, constantly improving her skills both as a teacher and as a parent. After receiving the cert iv in allied health assistance she is one step closer to another goal in her life—leading a quality life.