The Female Reproductive Cycle
Reproductive Years
Also known as a woman’s “childbearing years,” when estrogen and progesterone cycle on a regular basis and achieve their highest levels to prepare for a potential pregnancy and to maintain a pregnancy.
The Age range is typically from the onset of menstruation — around ages 11 or 12 — to the early 50s.
The Symptoms are:
•Monthly menses
•Uterine cramps
•Tender breasts
•Bloated feeling
•Premenstrual depression
•Irritability
•Cravings
•Fatigue
•Other premenstrual symptoms
•Other related disorders, such as endometriosis and fibroid tumors
Perimenopause
On this phase, it is the time of transition between the childbearing years and the non-childbearing years when estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate and begin to decline.
The age range is from as young as the late 30s to the early or mid-50s.
The Symptoms
•PMS symptoms
•Irregular menses
•Hot flashes
•Night sweats
•Sleep problems
•Poor concentration
•Depression
•Other related disorders
Menopause
The last day of the final menstruation, confirmed after an absence of periods for a year. Hormonal levels of estrogen and progesterone are too low to trigger the ovaries to produce a single egg for its monthly release.
Menopause is start from the late 40s to the late 50s.
The Symptoms
•Menses cease
•Hot flashes
•Night sweats
•Vaginal dryness
•Loss of libido
•Osteoporosis
•Increased risk of heart disease
Postmenopause
The years following the menopause, when hot flashes and night sweats begin to decrease. Estrogen levels have declined significantly, reportedly to about 20% of what it was during the reproductive years.
It happen at any time during the 50s, and all the years afterward.
The Symptoms
•Vaginal dryness
•Painful intercourse
•Urinary/bladder problems
•Loss of libido
•Osteoporosis