SHARES
Menopause
As women age when approaching mid life, gradual changes may disrupt your body and well being. You may find you are still hot but it comes in flashes! Why Menopause happens and what to expect? Women enter menopause when menses stop for 12 consecutive months and which marks the end of fertility.
Menopause can cause many changes in your body due to decreased production of oestrogen and progesterone hormones. Symptoms may vary from individuals. The most common symptoms include hot flashes, weight gain, vaginal dryness, mood changes, sleep problems, dry skin etc.
This is a normal and natural part of ageing in where you may experience a range of symptoms during this phase.
- When will I go through menopause?
In Asia, the age range is 45-55 years, and averaging at 50 years. The beginning stage of reducing ovary functions can start years before that in some women.
Factors such as smoking, chemotherapy can accelerate ovary decline, resulting in earlier menopause.
- Perimenopause vs menopause
For most women, menstruation gradually subsides, rather than stopping at once. The symptoms of menopause may appear slowly due to slow decline of ovary function.
The early stage of menopause is called perimenopause. During perimenopause, your body begins the transition into menopause. For example, hot flashes, skin changes, hair thinning and greying. Your menstrual cycle may become irregular, but it won’t cease during perimenopause stage.
Once you completely stop having a menstrual cycle for 12 consecutive months, you have entered menopause.
- Will I gain weight after menopause?
Several factors are the main causes for gaining weight during menopause. The fluctuation of oestrogen level can lead to increased fat storage and decreased metabolic rate. The loss of muscle mass with age, plus decreased physical activity can reduce your calorie uptake. These make it more challenging for your body to maintain a healthy weight.
Inadequate sleep during this phase may also link to weight gain. As women age, they often become insulin resistant, which make losing weight more difficult and increased risk for metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes and heart diseases.
- How does menopause affect my health?
Along with menopause, the low level of oestrogen and progesterone may raise the risk of certain health problems. The common health problems are:
- Heart disease – Oestrogen is known to keep blood vessels relaxed which help the body to maintain a healthy balance of good and bad cholesterol. Cholesterol will start to build up on artery wall leading to heart disease. By age 70, women have about the same risk for heart disease as men of the same age.
- Stroke – The risk for stroke doubles up after menopause. This is due to the cholesterol build up on the artery wall leading to blood clots.
- Osteoporosis – Loss of bone density increases the risk for osteoporosis, where the bones fracture easily.
- Urinary incontinence – Weakened muscles in the urethra causes the postmenopausal women to have trouble in holding their urine.
5. How does Menopause affect my sex life?
The decline of hormones lead to changes in the women body and sex drive. This results in the vagina to be too dry for comfortable sex. Over the counter lubrication are available to overcome this situation.Some women may experience decreased sex drive taking longer to get aroused. Being less interested in sex while you get older is not a medical condition that requires treatment. If the changes in your sexual health do bother you, feel free to consult a physician.
6. *Tips on Managing Menopause Symptoms
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- Eat food rich in phytoestrogen (oestrogen-like plant compound) found in soybeans, sesame seeds, wheat berries, oats, barley etc.
- Take a diet rich in calcium: dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt, non-dairy sources include seafood, dark leafy greens, legumes, beans, dried fruit, tofu and various foods that are fortified with calcium.
- Daily exercise, meditation and yoga is helpful to manage mood swings.
- Consult a doctor who may prescribe Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for a period of time. However there are certain risks involved (linked to gynaecological cancer, liver diseases etc) which your doctor can advise you on.
Whilst living a healthy lifestyle help to manage the symptoms, do seek professional help, if throughout the phase you face difficulties.
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References:
- Menopause overview and facts.[Internet][cited 2018 Nov 27] Available from:
https://www.webmd.com/menopause/guide/menopause-overview-facts
- Menopause weight gain.[Internet][cited 2018 Nov 27] Available from:
- Menopause and sexuality.[Internet][cited 2018 Nov 27] Available from:
- How to lose weight around menopause.[Internet][cited 2018 Nov 27] Available from:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/lose-weight-in-menopause#section1
by Leelah
'' The first step towards a change is awareness !'' The saying which inspired the medical graduate to reach the public through GetDoc. View all articles by Leelah.
