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Menopause is defined as having permanent cessation of menstruation. Having no sexual drive can be associated with lowered hormones and the menopause but it also have other contributing factors. Seeing a sexual health care specialist for a comprehensive history and physical examination would be the best thing to do. But the most disturbing fact among menopausal women is the weight gain.

Approximately 90 percent of menopausal women put on a few pounds between the ages 35 and 55. This is one of the principal menopausal symptoms which is normal and is expected. Research shows that menopause weight gain is caused by shifts in a woman’s hormones and not by overeating.

Women going through menopausal stage may have started to spot a change in their body shape, gaining to about 10 to 15 pounds during their menopausal years. This menopause weight gain will come on gradually about a pound a year during premenopausal stage. Some women experiencing early menopause or surgical menopause may experience an extreme weight gain. The menopause weight gain normally is not distributing itself as it used to.

During this stage, the weight gain is around the abdomen instead of the usual hips, thighs, and rear. Most people refer to this as an “apple” shape, because the stomach area appears rounder. The usual “pear” shape during the childbearing years is gone and this time it is harder to redistribute the weight evenly around the body.

Most women find it disturbing when they start to spot those extra pounds favorably provided by menopause. As one enters the early stages of menopause, maintaining weight becomes more difficult and losing weight is next to impossible. The reason for this is the fluctuation of the woman’s hormones.

The woman’s hormones have a direct impact in her appetite, metabolism, and fat storage. This is why it is not easy to maintain or control weight during menopause—fluctuating estrogen, testosterone, and androgen levels will fight all the way.

If weight gain is out of control, it is wise to see your doctor as excessive fat storage around the abdomen may lead to an increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.