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A woman’s body undergoes so many changes in a woman’s lifetime. Oftentimes, these changes and symptoms indicate the age of a woman or the transition stages that she goes through to wit: when a girl hits her teens-she experiences menstruation -indicating that her body is ready for childbearing. When a woman hits her late 30′s onwards-she experiences the first signs of perimenopause which is defined as the process of change a woman feels leading to menopause. Perimenopause lasts no less than two years to over eight years. Then in her 50′s a woman goes through her menopause-which is the end of her menstrual period. So, the various phases a woman’s body goes through cannot belie her real age.

Perimenopause is the period when a woman’s body experiences a decline in the production of ovum (egg supply) both in quantity and quality. This results in a change in hormones and premenstrual syndrome symptoms (PMS) that are more intense or of a different nature than previously felt. Perimenopause marks the beginning of the end-beginning of the decline of a woman’s child bearing stage.

What are the odds of a woman getting pregnant when she is over 35?

The woman’s ovulation and menstruation becomes irregular when a woman’s supply of ova or egg continues to decline. The decline in a woman’s egg supply results in diminished fertility and is most noticeable after the mid 30s.

In their 40′s, the menstrual cycle of a woman becomes increasingly irregular and may do so until menopause and this also compromises fertility. Often, health-conscious women in this age group do not seek prenatal care when they become pregnant; they often assume that the skipped period which is the first sign of pregnancy is instead the first sign of menopause.

What are the risks of a woman getting pregnant when she is over 35?

As an outcome of irregular production of hormones Perimenopausal pregnancy becomes high risk-officially, pregnancies at age 35 are high risks. However, if a woman is fit and healthy, she may enjoy the energy usually associated with a younger woman, if and when she becomes pregnant at age 35 and over. Doctors say that a woman’s physical well-being during pregnancy depends more on who she is than how old she is. Nevertheless, a woman should be aware of chronic conditions that complicate pregnancy where it first becomes evident. These chronic conditions can be diabetes or high blood pressure. Also, even if one is in tip top shape, starting at the age of 35, there is an increasing risk for pregnancy-specific conditions including gestational diabetes.

Pregnancies at 35 and over, have the odds of giving birth to a baby with a chromosomal problem such as Down syndrome where a baby is born with an extra chromosome. Getting pregnant during perimenopause also gives the risk of miscarriage from amniocentesis, which is a diagnostic test given to look for chromosomal defects by examining the amniotic fluid. This test calls for the fluid being removed through a needle inserted in the mother’s abdomen. Although the risk is still minimal, the risk is significantly higher when compared to a woman in her twenties. Other risk a woman may encounter at perimenopause pregnancy is Placenta Previa, where the placenta grows near the cervix and causes bleeding.

Perimenopausal pregnancy when over 35 and over 40, medically speaking, is the most difficult age for pregnancy. At this decade, a woman has used up the highest-quality ova, slowing down conception. The ova that are now left in the body are those that take the longest to respond to the body’s cues for release, and which also don’t function well during fertilization. This condition or state of the ova further raises the risk of chromosomal abnormalities and miscarriage.

It is with interest to note however that while is now at this age that is hardest, to get pregnant, the likelihood to carry multiples – in itself another high-risk pregnancy — even without medical intervention is not far-off. A possible reason could be that the shift in hormone levels during menopause stimulates the release of more than one egg at ovulation — like a natural fertility drug.

Standard tests on pregnancies become risky when given to pregnant women over 35 since it entails the removal of tissue from the placenta risking a miscarriage albeit a low level.

Pregnancy after the age of 35 may worsen chronic conditions as well as early signs of aging, such as stiff, sore joints. Varicose veins may multiply and worsen. A slower metabolism may result in much weight gain, lethargy and sluggishness.

So, would you dare defy the odds and face the risks and get pregnant when you are over 35?
Later pregnancies have physical downsides as doctors are quick to point out but a list of other advantages balance the risks. For starters, greater financial stability, may enable one to focus more on motherhood. Having proven themselves professionally, women in their mid-thirties and over, may be more flexible and patient having faced more challenges in their lifetime.

If you are not eating a healthy diet, the first thing you need to do is make necessary improvements for your nutritional needs. Women can also benefit from taking a good multivitamin with iron. Many women of reproductive age are slightly anemic, meaning they have a lower red blood count than they should because of their menstrual cycle every month. This can cause a loss of iron every month.

Women can have a higher blood count when they replace loss of iron by taking a multivitamin supplement with iron. Another benefit from taking such a supplement it can also cause them to have less tiredness and more energy.

Women who have tender breast can find a vitamin E supplement helpful. Women have found taking up to 1,000 IU (international units) per day have relief with this problem. But taking this much of the vitamin some women have found side effects such as becoming irritable, bloated, or having oily skin. Women who have reduced their intake to 400 IU find they still find relief from breast discomfort without the side effects.

Women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome have found vitamin B6 beneficial.

Women over the age of thirty five need to take extra calcium every day. Women from the age of thirty five until menopause need 1,000 mg of calcium every day. 1,500 mg per day is needed after menopause. Women who take estrogen after menopause only need 1,000 mg per day because of the effects of estrogen on their bodies they will not require the extra calcium.

The Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that taking prenatal vitamins for six weeks or longer before getting pregnant offered some protection against neural tube defects in the baby. The key element seems to be folic acid.

Most obstetricians agree it is good for women who are planning to become or are pregnant to take prenatal vitamins. They find women benefit from the additional calcium, folic acid and extra iron during pregnancy. Over the counter prenatal vitamin supplements work fine.

Excessive amounts of vitamins should not be taken. Excessive doses of vitamins A, D, E, and K should be especially avoided. This can be harmful. Disease may result if the vitamins are absorbed in the body’s fat and accumulated in large amounts.

Women who will benefit from taking vitamin supplements particularly are people with specific diseases that make vitamin intake necessary, the elderly and often premature infants. Also, those who are inclined to avoid healthy eating habits!

After reaching menopause, a woman is vulnerable to many long-term health problems due to estrogen loss. Menopause effects women’s health in many ways. Estrogen has the properties to assist mental functions, as a woman grows old. It helps in reduction of Alzheimer disease risks by stimulation of neurotransmitters production while eliminating oxygen radicals that have important role in Alzheimer. Estrogen also helps in opening the blood vessels that contribute to better blood flow to brain.

Osteoporosis is another problem that is found in women after menopause. Here also estrogen is important in two ways. They control the life of the osteoclasts that lead to resorption. They also help in maintaining the vitamin D level in the body that helps in bone protection.

Women after Menopause become vulnerable to the heart diseases. This is also due to fall in estrogen levels because estrogen controls cholesterol levels. It smoothens and opens heart blood vessels too, which reduces oxygen radicals that can damage your heart arteries. Menopause also has urinary tract effects for many women. Due to fall of estrogen levels, the urinary tract infection risks increase manifolds. Estrogen helps in enhancing number of the microorganisms that help in fighting bacteria adhering vaginal cells.

Other effects of loss of estrogen in menopause of women’s health are sleeping disorders, tooth loss, gum disorders, wrinkles. Estrogen helps in preventing glaucoma, muscular degeneration, and cataract. It also prevents stress among women. Estrogens assist in avoiding slackness that is a result of excessive fats. Menopause is a transition that comes in every woman’s life but it should be dealt carefully. If you do not deal with it properly, it can lead to long-term health effects. Seek professional help if you want to avoid uneasiness at the time of menopause. Following doctor’s advice can prove useful in avoiding all these health problems.

A common subject of interest amongst my girlfriends is health, mainly women’s health. Yes, we are concerned with our families, fitness, diet, exercise, eating and balance. But as of late, hormones are a hot topic. Maybe it should be more clearly defined as a lack of hormones, or too much, or better yet — imbalanced.

If you look back to 18th and 19th century novels, female characters are frequently portrayed as illogical beings. Fortunately for us, medicine today has dispelled this portrayal and much of the blame points to the H word: Hormones. But before we go any further, let’s define hormones and their function, and maybe then can we understand this occasional female madness.

Hormones play an important role in our lives. They are chemicals which pass on information throughout our bodies and regulate important processes. What processes are we talking about? We won’t review 7th grade biology here, but basically hormones regulate the processes of developing into a young adult from a child. Later on, female hormones — estrogen and progesterone — regulate our menstrual cycles which allow women to give birth. When we actually become pregnant, hormones dramatically change, and after pregnancy, they change again back to normal. We also deal with PMS, perimenopause, and eventually menopause. These changes, which can affect our emotional and psychological behavior, are overwhelming for some women. Much still needs to be learned about how exactly female hormones affect our psyches, but for now our own lives are proof enough.

Many of the health disorders in women can be traced back to hormonal imbalances. Hormonal imbalances cover the gamut; from physical problems to emotional plights. We can’t control all the situations we find ourselves in or the body we’ve been given, but we can control our reaction to such things. But how can we change our reaction if it’s influenced by our imbalanced hormones? It’s almost a vicious circle in a way, because difficult and overwhelming situations can affect our hormones and thus affect our extreme unhealthy responses. Let’s list some of the physical manifestations of hormonal imbalance in women, and you be the judge. And all these symptoms aren’t necessary for hormonal imbalance, but see if you have a few.

fatigue and weakness weight gain or loss problems with digestion hot flashes joint pain hair loss dry skin

These symptoms often lead, or go hand in hand, with psychological problems, such as depression or insomnia. So can we end it here, knowing the times when we warn all those around that our alter-ego is menacing us on the sidelines? We even give her another name, watch her in absolute horror when she throws a mayonnaise sandwich at your husband — who’s now deemed an unlovable heathen — and cowers when she blubbers in public over a sweet gesture of a child. No, as fickle as our hormones are with life changes and even diet and exercise, we have a huge say in our own physical and mental health.

The light at the end of the tunnel is that women can get their hormones normalized again, but it’s a multi-prong approach. We need to be open to changing our diets, incorporating exercise in our daily lives, taking supplements and even guidance and counseling for more serious hormonal problems from the medical professionals. So I guess at the beginning of my article, my girlfriends and I do end up talking about diet and exercise, because that has much to do with everything. If you don’t know where to begin, I recommend reading the book Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom, by Dr. Christiane Northrup. She discusses every ailment and solution known to woman.

The decade between the ages of 40 and 50 is a time in your life when you will notice considerable changes in your body as you head towards the half century.

Generally for a number of women this decade marks the onset of the menopause and a general decline in fertility. You will also find that your joints are not as flexible as they use to be.

However, there are number of ways were you can delay the onset of aging.

Start by having regular check-ups with your doctor even if you are feeling fine. Ask your doctor for a cardio risk assessment. This test calculates your risk of getting heart disease later in life. The assessment involves measuring your blood pressure, your cholesterol levels and your weight. The doctor will also look at your family medical history to determine if there are any hereditary links to heart disease. In this way, your doctor can make an assessment of the likely risk of you getting heart disease or stroke and devise a lifestyle plan for you to follow to reduce the risk.

It is very important to look after your vision as you get older. Therefore, have your eyes tested at least once every 2 years. As we get older the eyes are prone to getting eye conditions such as glaucoma and cataracts. Also, testing the eyes can reveal the early signs of diabetes, hypertension or liver problems.

As you get older your diet is very important. As the body ages it is not as effective at burning the calories as it was when you were in your 20′s and 30′s. Therefore, it is important that you eat a healthier diet and cut down on the calories. As your metabolic rate slows down it is wise to reduce about 200 to 250 calories from your diet as enter your 40′s. This does not mean a huge change. You can make small changes such as using semi skimmed milk instead of full fat.

As well as cutting down on the calories begin to introduce healthier and wholesome food into your diet that can help you deal with symptoms of the menopause. For example, foods like, pumpkin and sesame seeds, natural yogurts, tofu are great sources of phyto-oestrogen.

Finally, getting older does not mean that you get less active. Actually it means the opposite. It is important that you take regular exercise. For women it is important to target the pelvic area as the onset of the menopause can weaken the pelvic muscles. Therefore, do regular pelvic floor exercises as well. As always get clearance from your doctor before changing your diet or exercise regime.