Wellness during Menopause: Addressing Symptoms, Causes, and Lifestyle Approaches

বাংলা

When you stop having periods for at least 12 months or a year due to low hormone levels, that is called menopause. It usually happens when a woman is between 45-55 years of age.

Menopause is a scary word for most women. It is associated with aging and infertility. It is not a disease or defect in women. Just like the menstrual cycle, menopause is a natural step in our biological system.

Common menopause symptoms include mood swings, hot flashes, irregular periods and more. They can become obstacles in daily life unless properly managed.

At What Age do Women Start Menopause?

Our menstrual cycle is a hormone-driven process that prepares our body every month for pregnancy. When women reach their mid-40s to mid-50s, reproductive hormone levels start dropping which causes their period to stop entirely.

However, some women can start menopause early. The most common age is between 50-52.

What is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause is a transition phase between regular menstrual cycle to menopause. In this phase, you will face menopausal symptoms but continue to have periods albeit irregularly. Perimenopause will slowly lead to menopause.

The average duration for perimenopause is 4 years.

Your body gradually adjusts to decreasing hormone levels. The menstrual cycle fluctuates and can become longer (38-40 days) or shorter (less than 25 days). Your bleeding rate will be irregular as well.

Slowly periods will become more infrequent. After you have stopped menstruating for 12 months or a full year, you will enter the menopause stage permanently.

During perimenopause, it’s possible to have periods without ovulating. However, it’s still possible to become pregnant at this stage.

Other Causes of Menopause:

Some women can experience early menopause due to certain surgeries, medication, or genetic reasons.

Medical reasons:

• Hysterectomy- a surgical procedure to remove the uterus.
• Oophorectomy- a surgical procedure to remove ovaries.
• Chemotherapy.
• Radiation therapy.

Family history of early or late menopause.

Trauma:

Certain traumatic experiences can cause sudden menopause. People with childhood traumatic history like abuse have a harder transition to menopause.

Some women can experience a rare form of menopause before the age of 40 years.

Causes could be:

• Constitutional.
• Genetic disorder.
• Thyroid disorder.
• Specific type of low blood level ( pernicious anemia).
• Other hormonal disorders.

Some women might have late menopause as well beyond 55 years.

Causes could be:

• Genetic Factors.
• Diabetes.
• Hormonal problem.
• Normal or abnormal tumor or growth.( tumor of uterus and ovary).

What are Menopause Symptoms?

Menopause symptoms differ in every woman just like period symptoms. However, the common indicator is period becoming infrequent.

Since menopause takes a while to set in, you may face some symptoms first and then others as time goes on. For some women, mood swings, bone pain, dryness, and low libido last for a while. Hot flashes tend to go away faster.

Period becomes Irregular

Your periods will become infrequent. Sometimes you will miss them for 2-3 months, but the next two periods can happen within 25 days of each other. Your bleeding frequency will change as well. Some women can miss their periods for up to 6 months during the perimenopause stage.

Mood Swings

One of the common signs of menopause is sudden mood swings. You will feel angry and stressed for no reason. The smallest things can tick you off. If you’re 45 years and up and suddenly start having mood swings, it can be an indicator of incoming menopause.

Hot Flashes

This is a distinct symptom of menopause approaching. Sudden heat can pass through your body and leave you with chills. The unexpected warmth can make your skin, especially your face, neck, and torso red. This can cause a rise in heart rate and excess sweating.

Bad Mental Health

Many women are prone to depression and anxiety during this period. Sometimes it is caused by fluctuating hormone levels. But the stigma and talk around menopause add to the growing concerns. You may also experience trouble concentrating or remembering things.

Dry Vagina

The declining estrogen level makes the vagina dryer than before. Tissues of vagina become less thick and more sensitive. The vagina canal becomes more rigid. During intercourse, vagina may feel more pain or achy than usual.

Low Sexual Desire

A growing concern for women nearing menopause is the decreasing libido. Because your estrogen level drops, your sexual desire does as well. One-third of women face this symptom. They have a hard time becoming aroused and having orgasms during sex.

It can create frustration and cause problems in relationships. However, it’s vital for you and your partner to understand that your body is going through a massive shift. This means your sexual activities will have to shift to suit your current state as well.

Bone Pain

Another issue caused by low estrogen is joint and muscle pain. Many women find themselves having bone pain, something they never encountered before. Low hormone levels, inflammation, aging, and more cause pain in your muscles and bone joints.

Difficulty in Sleeping

Combined with hot flashes, you may experience excessive sweating during nighttime. This makes it harder to fall asleep. Because of bad sleeping, irritability increases during the daytime.

Urine Infection

Some may experience pain while urinating. There is incontinence and needs to be forced on. It feels like not able to fully void and there is frequent urgent need to urinate. Many women experience recurrent urinary tract infection.

Prolapse

Very few women feel something is coming down from there. As the hormones are low, the genital muscles become lax. Previous multiple normal delivery history is a cause too. But this has proper treatment.

When To See a Doctor

• If you start showing menopause symptoms, consult a doctor for future steps. While this is a natural phase in every woman’s life, menopause symptoms can make day-to-day uncomfortable. Small health measures can ensure a smoother transition.

Since menopausal women are more at risk for some illnesses, it’s important to maintain regular checkups for preventive care. Mammography, ultrasounds, thyroid tests, hormone blood testing, pelvic examinations, colonoscopy, and more can be helpful.

• If you have started menopause but suddenly start bleeding from your vagina, it is not your period returning. It can be a sign of inflammation, endometrial polyps, thinning of the uterine lining, and more. In rare cases, it can indicate uterine cancer. So, it is highly suggested that you visit a doctor if you start bleeding after menopause.
• If you are experiencing menopause before 40 years old(early) or beyond 55 years old(late).
• If you are in menopause and feel chest pain with palpitation.
• If you experience recurrent urinary tract infection.
• If you feel something like any muscle protrusion is coming down there from vagina.

Menopause Management

Navigating the transition of menopause can present various challenges, but seeking support from trusted friends and family can prove invaluable during this time. If you know someone undergoing this transition, offering care and understanding can make a significant difference.

Prioritizing a wholesome diet is essential. Incorporating foods rich in vitamins and calcium, such as milk, low-fat yogurt, and almonds, can contribute to maintaining overall health.

Establishing a consistent sleep schedule is crucial. Engaging in regular physical activity, even through activities as simple as daily walks, can yield substantial health benefits.

Medical professionals can provide assistance for managing bone pain and may prescribe hormonal therapies to alleviate associated symptoms.

To mitigate hot flushes and night sweats, adopting practices such as wearing lightweight clothing, maintaining a cool sleep environment, taking refreshing showers, utilizing fans, and consuming cold beverages can be beneficial. Managing stress by avoiding triggers like spicy foods, caffeine, hot drinks, smoking, and alcohol, as well as shedding excess weight if overweight, can contribute to improved symptom management. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can also offer effective strategies for handling hot flushes.

Addressing concerns like vaginal dryness and reduced sexual desire warrants consultation with a doctor who can recommend suitable creams or medications.

It is vital to recognize that menopause does not signify the conclusion of a woman’s life, nor is her value contingent upon fertility. Coping with the physical changes of menopause can be demanding enough without adding unwarranted superstitions into the mix.

Author
Dr. Labannya Das Puja
MBBS (Bangladesh), PLAB (UK)
Post-Graduation Training (Medicine)
Medicine Dept., Sir Salimullah Medical College, Mitford-Dhaka

Download Chondo App

Track your period and get notified.

Download
Beta