Quick version
Menopause marks the end of the menstrual cycle, typically occurring between ages 45 and 55. It is a natural part of aging, confirmed when a woman hasn't had her period for a full year. Common symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, and emotional changes.
Key Points About Menopause:
- The ovaries' decreased response to hormones leads to lower production of estrogen and progesterone.
- Common symptoms include irregular periods, hot flashes, and sleep issues.
- Managing menopause may involve lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet and exercise, as well as medical treatments like hormone replacement therapy.
Sharing experiences about menopause can reduce stigma and increase understanding. If symptoms are severe, do not hesitate to seek help from healthcare professionals.
Menopause – The time after the last menstruation
The climacteric period begins with perimenopause's irregular bleeding and symptoms such as hot flashes and sweating, which often persist for a couple of years. When a woman has not had her period for about six months, she has likely reached menopause. One can be entirely sure of having had the last menstruation after twelve consecutive months without any bleeding, by which time the body's ability to produce eggs has ceased.
Menopause encompasses many symptoms, both physical discomforts and emotional, which affect women's well-being and quality of life.
What happens in the body during menopause?
Menopause is mainly due to natural biological processes. With age, the ovaries' ability to respond to the hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle decreases, leading to reduced production of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone.
For some women, menopause can also occur as a result of surgical procedures, such as hysterectomy or damage to the ovaries, which can lead to sudden menopause.
Symptoms of menopause
The symptoms of menopause vary greatly among women, but here are some of the most common:
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Vaginal dryness and discomfort during intercourse
- Mood swings
- Sleep difficulties
- Decreased libido
- Increasing waist circumference and changes in metabolism
Managing menopause
Healthy diet, yoga, and hormone replacement therapy are some methods to consider for managing symptoms and discomforts that occur during menopause. Here are four tips:
- Lifestyle changes: A healthy diet rich in calcium and regular exercise can help reduce some menopause-related symptoms.
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): Can effectively alleviate many of the most common symptoms of menopause by replacing the hormones that decrease during menopause.
- Non-hormonal treatments: Certain medications, such as antidepressants or drugs against high blood pressure, can help alleviate specific symptoms like hot flashes.
- Alternative and complementary therapies: Acupuncture, yoga, and mindfulness are examples of methods that can help manage stress and improve sleep.
Menopause can be tough – do not hesitate to seek help
If you find that your symptoms during menopause are severe and troublesome in a way that they negatively affect both your well-being and your health or your daily life, you should seek medical care. There are various treatment options that can help you during the transition period.
Talk to othersDiscussing openly about menopause and its impact on our bodies, our health, and our well-being is important to reduce stigma and increase understanding of menopause as a fully natural part of women's lives.
