Change of life is a Big Change

It’s interesting that the “change of life” phrase, implies that it is "The" change of life and not just one of many.  I mean, we pass through numerous major changes and a multitude of minor changes that would seem to merit the same title.  While I cannot find the origin of the phrase, I can understand that this euphemism might aptly describe the most important of life changes, milestones, or hallmarks—menopause.

The change of life symptoms for women typically start with the infamous (and butt of many a joke) hot flashes.  In combination with night sweats, the symptom convinces the woman going through the change of life that her body must also be in a parallel universe, taking dips into the hot tub then alternating jumping into a cold shower, and as if the twin actions affected her here and now body (the way one twin feels the other twin’s pain).  In addition, chills and cold sweats come on suddenly, along with, in many cases, vertigo (feeling dizzy), feeling faint, and/or feeling weak. 

Another indication of the change of life for women, and the most telling one, is the irregularity of menstrual periods—hence the Latin name, meno (monthly) pause.  As well, some women experience differences in urinary tract habits.  It is not unusual, for example, to feel a little discharge of urine when a woman sneezes, coughs, exercises, or even when she is having intercourse.

The change of life market is not cornered by women alone.  Men, too experience the physiological and subsequent emotional/mental symptoms that indicate some type of change of life for them.  Testosterone levels decrease or diminish; blood rushes to the face and hot flashes ensue; and while they have a diminished libido, they also may experience ED, or erectile dysfunction.

Sharing emotional changes such as mood swings, irritability, heart palpitations, feelings of or experiences of weakness, and loss of bone mass, women and men going through the change of life might liken their conditions to PMS (pre menstrual syndrome)..or they might just confirm that there is a valid reason and numerous examples to support why the menopausal stage is euphemistically called the change of life. 

Not only is reproduction now out of the question, thereby changing the possibility of new life, but the symptoms of male and female menopause, the physical as they manifest in the emotional, suggest quite loudly that things around the house are certainly going to be different for a few months or years possibly.  Life will certainly bear witness to some big change.