Things Woman Should Know About Menopause





Menopause is a natural part of the aging process for most women. It is defined as the time in a woman’s life when her period has stopped for twelve consecutive months. This means that woman has reached the end of her reproductive years. Many women enter menopause early, before age forty. This is referred to as premature menopause.

There are some known causes of premature menopause; however, the cause may not always be determined. Some reasons or risk factors for premature menopause include: Smoking. Having a family history of early menopause Having certain autoimmune diseases such as thyroid disease or rheumatoid arthritis. Having the uterus or both ovaries removed surgically.

In the US, the age at which menopause begins can range from 40 years to 58 years, with an average start at 51 years. Read on to learn about menopause and ways you can help manage your symptoms.

What is menopause?

Woman past a particular age will encounter menopause. Menopause is characterized as having no menstrual period for one year. The age you encounter it can change, however it ordinarily happens in your late 40s or mid 50s.

Menopause can cause numerous adjustments in your body. The indications are the aftereffect of a diminished creation of estrogen and progesterone in your ovaries. Side effects may incorporate weight gain,, hot flashes, or vaginal dryness. Vaginal decay adds to vagina dryness. With this, there can be aggravation and diminishing of the vaginal tissues which adds to awkward intercourse.





Menopause can likewise expand your hazard for specific conditions like osteoporosis. You may find that overcoming menopause requires minimal medicinal consideration. Or then again you may choose you have to talk about manifestations and treatment alternatives with a specialist.



Menopause signs and symptoms As a woman approaches menopause, the ovaries make different amounts of hormones called estrogen and progesterone. You may experience changes in your menstrual cycle and may also start to have a variety of other menopausal symptoms. These may include: Mood changes or irritability. Trouble sleeping, such as having a hard time falling and staying asleep. Hot flashes during the night can cause women to sweat heavily (night sweats). Hot flashes which cause a sudden feeling of heat in the face, neck, chest, back and arms. An episode can generally last between a few seconds to ten minutes. A woman may sweat during a hot flash and have cold chills after the hot flash. Vaginal problems, such as vaginal dryness, which can cause itching, burning and discomfort. It may lead to painful intercourse and cuts and tears in the vagina.

Menopause results in a decreased production of estrogen and progesterone hormones in the ovaries, giving rise to symptoms that include weight gain, hot flashes, or vaginal dryness. It is important to know that menopause is not a disease but rather a phase in a woman’s life cycle. Hot Flash During a hot flash, woman will feel a considerable rise in body temperature. Hot flashes affect the upper body and skin, resulting in redness or blotchiness. This sudden rise in temperature can lead to excessive sweating, heart palpitations, and feelings of dizziness. Right after your hot flash, you may also get chills. Hot flashes vary in intensity and typically last between thirty seconds and ten minutes. The occurrence of hot flashes varies from person to person, for some it may occur daily or several times a day, while for others hot flashes may occur over the course of a year or several years.

The length of menopause varies for each individual While ‘menopause’ is defined as ‘the last menstrual period’, the time between onset of menopausal symptoms and the actual final period is known as perimenopause. Perimenopause can last 5 or 6 years during which time the periods may be regular or irregular. It is during the perimenopause that the symptoms of hot flushing, night sweats and disturbed sleep may be the worst.



Post-menopause is the term used to describe the phase that starts one year after the last menstrual period. While for many women the hot flushes and sweats will resolve within three years, for others they may go on far longer. Certain other symptoms like vaginal dryness tend not to resolve at all, except with treatment. The variability between individuals is such that while some women breeze through menopause with nary a care, others may suffer for five years or more before the periods stop and may continue to suffer troublesome symptoms well into their 70s and beyond.

Can Hot Flashes Be Prevented? Can Hot Flashes Be Prevented? Yes, it can, but the frequency of hot flashes can be reduced by avoiding triggers. Alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, stress, obesity, spicy food and hot weather are some of the triggers that increase the incidence of hot flashes. T alk to doctor if your hot flashes are unbearable. Birth control, hormone therapy, and other prescription medicines may help reduce the occurrences and intensity of hot flashes. Practise deep breathing techniques during a hot flash to minimise its intensity. alk to doctor if your hot flashes are unbearable. Birth control, hormone therapy, and other prescription medicines may help reduce the occurrences and intensity of hot flashes. Practise deep breathing techniques during a hot flash to minimise its intensity.





Libidos can go a little haywire Some women can experience a reduced libido as a result of menopause, with vaginal dryness caused by the loss of oestrogen also playing a role. However, for others, their sex life has never been better - they feel more confident than ever before and the end of periods and worries about pregnancy can be liberating.

You may still need contraception, even when you are perimenopausal

While obviously your fertility declines significantly with age you can still fall pregnant in your perimenopausal years. The possibility of pregnancy at age 45-49 years is estimated to be 2-3% and after age 50, less than 1%. In addition, you still need to protect yourself against sexually transmissible infections by using condoms for all sexual encounters (unless you are in a long-term monogamous relationship and have both had full STI checks). Current advice is that women aged under 50 should continue to use some form of contraception until they have had no periods for two years and women aged over fifty should continue to use contraception until one year after their last period.

Symptoms could last for 7+ years. Symptoms could last for 7+ years.

The median length of the whole shebang, as marked by hot flash symptoms, is 7.4 years total (roughly 3 before your last period and 4.5 after). In those years before menopause, your cycle can get erratic, your periods may grow heavier or lighter, and you might experience classic symptoms like hot flashes, sleep problems, brain fog, and mood swings. After menopause, symptoms linger as your body adjusts. You officially reach the menopause after twelve months without a period, a milestone most women hit around age 51. But it’s not a hard stop, it’s a gradual process.



Non-hormonal treatment options are effective for some women There are many non-HRT treatments that the doctor may recommend you consider. Non-prescription herbal remedies like black cohosh may be beneficial for some women although long-term safety is unknown especially for women with hormone-dependent cancers. Talk to your doctor before taking any treatments including over the counter ones. In addition there are a number of prescription medications such as certain anti-depressants, anticonvulsants and a drug usually used to treat blood pressure that may all have beneficial effects on hot flushes. These may be very useful for women who are assessed as being unsuitable for HRT (due to health risks) or who wish to explore other options.

Hair can appear in unexpected places Your eyebrows and body hair thin, but you get whiskers on your chin that spring up from nowhere and you only find them when you're nowhere near a pair of tweezers. Fluctuations in hormones and a change in the balance between testosterone and estrogen can cause hair to thin on the head, while also popping up in other places, such as the chin or upper lip. If you're concerned about changes in hair growth, speak to your GP, as Hormone Replacement Therapy may be an option. Fluctuations in hormones and a change in the balance between testosterone and estrogen can cause hair to thin on the head, while also popping up in other places, such as the chin or upper lip. If you're concerned about changes in hair growth, speak to your GP, as Hormone Replacement Therapy may be an option.

Menopause doesn't just affect your reproductive system. Estrogen is the master of metabolic homeostasis [a.k.a balance] and function. So when production ceases, it impacts everything from fat production and distribution, appetite hormones and thyroid function to energy levels, sleep, mood, inflammation, and so much more. That’s partly why up to 90 percent of women gain weight after menopause and why you may feel hungrier or more fatigued, Dr. Gersh says. Estrogen also helps manage cholesterol levels and keeps artery walls and blood vessels flexible and healthy, which is one reason the risk of heart disease jumps as the hormone declines. But you’re only in real trouble if you do nothing. Now is the time to start taking really good care of yourself. That means eating lots of fruits and veggies, exercising, practicing good sleep hygiene and reducing stress. All help prevent a dangerous pile-on of risk factors, keeping you healthy.

You can still get pregnant. Some women get more casual about birth control in their 40s, thinking there’s no way they could get pregnant — but you’re still fertile, just less so.. There’s another reason to keep taking hormonal birth control: It could help smooth your path through menopause. The steady dose of hormones in pills and IUDs means your body may not fully register the decline of natural estrogen and progesterone. In other words, symptoms might not be as erratic. A lot of women have ridiculously heavy or erratic periods in perimenopause, and progesterone-releasing IUDs, especially, help avoid that.



Menopause Affect Bone Health The decline in estrogen production breaks down the calcium in the bones. This decreases bone density, leading to a condition known as osteoporosis. Women experience accelerated bone loss in the first few years after their last menstrual period. This makes them more susceptible to hip, spine, and other bone fractures. You must eat calcium-rich foods and take vitamin D supplements. Alcohol consumption and smoking further deteriorate bone health and should be avoided. Regular inclusion of weight training and other exercises can also help improve bone health





To keep your bones sound:

Eat nourishments with heaps of calcium, for example, dairy items or dim verdant greens.

Take nutrient D supplements.

Diminish liquor utilization.

Stop smoking.

Exercise consistently and incorporate weight preparing in your activity schedule.

You might need to talk about with your specialist to avert bone misfortune too.





Will I put on weight when I encounter menopause?

Changes in your hormone levels may make you put on weight. Notwithstanding, maturing can likewise add to weight gain.

Concentrate on keeping up a decent eating routine, workout normally, and rehearsing other solid propensities to help control your weight. Being overweight can build your hazard for diabetes, coronary illness, and different conditions.





In the event that you aren't having any side effects, a blood test can decide whether your ovaries are as yet working. This test can be utilized to enable specialists to discover your estrogen level, which might be valuable in case you're in danger of osteoporosis. That is on the grounds that knowing your estrogen status might be imperative in deciding if you require a bone thickness evaluation.



