Despite the fact that menopause is the time of a woman’s last period, menopausal symptoms can begin many years earlier.
In other cases, some women may experience symptoms for months or years later.
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The menopause refers to the time in every woman ‘s life when her periods stop and her ovaries lose their reproductive function.
It is defined as the time when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months.
Menopause is influenced by hormones – or more correctly, by a change in hormone levels.
During a woman’s childbearing years, her ability to produce an egg each month is associated with the release of three hormones: estradiol, estrone, and oestriol; which are collectively referred to as estrogen.
As women age, the number of eggs in the ovary and their ability to conceive decreases.
At this time, less estrogen is produced, causing the body to behave differently.
As recommended by Dr. Holly L Thacker, specialist in menopause at the Cleveland Clinic, for many women, short-term hormone therapy is the best solution for some symptoms such as hot flashes.
Changes in menstrual period
Perimenopause
The first sign of menopause is usually a change in the normal pattern of your menstrual periods.
This stage of change is known as the menopausal transition, but it is also called perimenopause .
Your periods may not be regular, may be shorter, or last longer.
You may have one every two to three weeks, or you may not have one for months at a time.
Despite irregular periods, pregnancy is possible.
Eventually, you will stop having menstrual periods completely.
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If you have not had a menstrual period, but you are not sure if you have started the transition to menopause, it is a good idea to have a pregnancy test to rule out this condition.
Common symptoms of menopause
- Hot flashes or hot flashes – these are short, sudden sensations of heat, usually on the face, neck, and chest, that can make your skin look red and sweaty
- Night sweats – these are hot flashes that occur at night
- Difficulty sleeping – this can make you feel tired and irritable during the day
- A reduced sex drive (libido)
- Memory and concentration problems
- Vaginal dryness and pain, itching, or discomfort during sex
- Headaches
- Mood swings, such as low mood or anxiety
- Palpitations – heartbeats that suddenly become more noticeable
- Joint stiffness
- Articulations pain
- Reduction of muscle mass
- Recurrent urinary infections, such as cystitis
Complications of menopause
After menopause, the risk of certain medical conditions increases.
Heart and blood vessel disease
When your estrogen levels drop, your risk for cardiovascular disease increases.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both women and men.
Therefore, it is important to exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and maintain a normal weight.
Osteoporosis
This condition causes the bones to become brittle and weak, leading to an increased risk of fractures.
During the first few years after menopause, you can lose bone density at a rapid rate, increasing your risk of osteoporosis.
Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis are especially susceptible to fractures of their hips, wrists, and spine.
Urinary incontinence
As the tissues of the vagina and urethra lose elasticity, you may experience sudden strong urges to urinate, followed by an involuntary leakage of urine (urge incontinence) or leakage of urine with coughing, laughing, or weight lifting (stress incontinence ).
You may have urinary tract infections more often.
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Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles with Kegel exercises and the use of a topical vaginal estrogen can help relieve incontinence symptoms.
Sexual function
Vaginal dryness caused by decreased moisture production and loss of elasticity can cause discomfort and slight bleeding during intercourse.
Also, decreased sensitivity can reduce your desire for sexual activity (libido).
Water-based vaginal lubricants and moisturizers can help.
Choose products that do not contain glycerin because women who are sensitive to this chemical may experience burning and irritation.
If a vaginal lubricant is not enough, many women benefit from the use of local vaginal estrogen treatment, available as a cream, tablet, or vaginal ring.
Weight gain
Many women gain weight during the menopausal transition and after menopause because their metabolism slows down.
To maintain your current weight, you may need to eat less and exercise more.
Treatment of menopause
Most women do not seek medical advice during menopause, and many women do not require treatment.
However, if the symptoms are significantly affecting the woman’s daily life, she should consult a doctor.
Available treatments for menopause and perimenopause include:
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
The hormone replacement therapy involves taking estrogen to replace declining levels of your own body at the time of menopause.
This can alleviate many of the associated symptoms.
HRT has generated a lot of controversy since the early 2000s due to a link to breast cancer.
Low-dose antidepressants
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, a type of antidepressant, have been shown to decrease menopausal hot flashes.
Omega 3 oil
Researchers from the Laval University School of Medicine found that Omega-3 can alleviate the psychological distress and depressive symptoms often suffered by menopausal and perimenopausal women.
Gabapentin
Gabapentin (Neurontin) is effective in treating hot flashes. It is sometimes used to treat seizures (epilepsy).
Clonidine
Clonidine (Catapres) can be taken orally as a pill or placed on the skin as a patch. It is effective in treating hot flashes.
The drug is commonly used to treat high blood pressure. However, unpleasant side effects are common.
Vaginal estrogen
Vaginal estrogen can be applied locally using a tablet, ring, or cream.
This medicine effectively treats vaginal dryness, discomfort during intercourse, as well as some urinary problems.
Exercise
Exercise during menopause can have a range of benefits, including preventing weight gain, reducing cancer risk, strengthening bones, and increasing overall mood.
