Physical development in Early and Middle Adulthood

At their peak of physical fitness.

Manual dexterity also at peak.

After age twenty-eight, will start to slowly decline.

Also, at this point we would expect a female to also get pregnant.

• Height - you get taller
• Muscle mass increases
• Peak physically
• Peak fertility
• Higher energy levels
• Pregnancy

Generally pregnancy.

Decline in fertility

Pregnancy

Perimenopause

Breasts preparing milk.

• Lactation
• Periods stop
• Could get diabetes
• Gain weight
• Swollen feet
• Increase in progesterone - maintains the pregnancy as it allows egg to bury in uterus
• Increase in oestrogen - sickness, fresh hair, fresh skin
• Shape of breasts change - gets circular
• N*pples darken/ sensitive
• Frequent urination

The perimenopause lasts around 4 years.

In our forties, women gradually make less oestrogen.

Her ovaries will stop making eggs.

• Hot flushes
• Night sweats
• Loss of libido - libido = sex drive
• Vagina dryness
• Mood swings
• Trouble sleeping
• Urine leakage

This happens in early adulthood into middle adulthood.

Lasts maybe five years.

Large reduction of fertile eggs in ovaries.

Results in some shrinkage of sexual organs and sometimes a reduction in sexual interest.

Ending in menstruation.

Reduce oestrogen and progesterone.

May have problems like osteoporosis - where bobes become brittle and fragile.

Gonadotropins tries to produce eggs, body at conflict, causes irratibility, hot flushes and night sweats.