Introduction
Maa Nursing Home and NetraJyoti Eyecare Centre has a dedicated Menopause Clinic which understands the need of a woman undergoing menopause and helps her walk this crucial phase of her life with ease and comfort.
Let’s know more about menopause.
Menopause marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles. It describes any physical or emotional(mental) changes that a woman undergoes just before or after the end of menstruation.
Menopause is a natural process of decline in the reproductive hormones like oestrogen and progesterone in a woman’s body. Usually, a woman experiences menopausal symptoms after 40 years of age. This age will vary from woman to woman. Medically, if a woman has not got her periods for 12 months, it is termed menopause. Such women will no longer get their periods and cannot conceive either. It happens because her ovaries stop releasing eggs. Menopause does not happen overnight; it is a natural decline lasting over a couple of years.
What are the signs and symptoms of menopause?
A woman may experience some of these symptoms:
- Irregular periods
- Hot Flashes
- A sudden feeling of warmth and sweating over the upper body, particularly during nights
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Dryness in the vagina
- Fatigue and lack of interest
- Disturbed sleep
- Mood swings
- Dryness or loss of scalp hair, dry skin, eyes, and mouth
Along with these, she may face:
- Sore breasts
- Urinary Incontinence (need to pee often and loss of control)
- Heart Palpitations
- Headaches, joint and muscle pains
- Weight gain
- Low Sex Drive or loss of interest in sex
- Osteoporosis
- Depression, Crankiness
Can Menopause cause any complications?
With the loss of oestrogen, women face hormonal imbalance that leads to many other health problems such as:
- Bone Loss
- Heart Disease
- Urinary Problems, loss of bladder control
- Higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease
- Loss of muscle mass
- Wrinkles
- Poor Vision (cataract, macular degeneration)
What is the process of menopause?
A woman undergoes three stages during her menopause:
- Perimenopause: begins with the ovaries slowing down the production of oestrogen hormones. It lasts till the ovaries stop releasing eggs completely.
- Menopause: A year since a woman stops getting her periods. Ovaries stop releasing eggs and the production of hormones.
- Post-menopause. The years, immediately, following menopause. Earlier symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings reduce and gradually goes away. But other health risks increase.
What Conditions Cause Premature Menopause?
At times, a woman can face sudden or untimely menopause. The causes of such premature menopause are:
- Premature ovarian failure: Before the age of 40, if a woman’s ovaries stop producing oestrogen and releasing her eggs
- Induced(forced) menopause: If the ovaries are removed surgically during hysterectomy, uterine cancer, etc. Chemotherapy can damage the ovaries too.
How Long Do Symptoms of Menopause Last?
Menopause is a unique experience for every woman. In general, the symptoms of perimenopause last about four years. Post-menopause symptoms disappear gradually.
How does a doctor diagnose menopause?
At our dedicated Clinic, experts note the symptoms, chart periods, and recommend various blood tests to the patient to understand her hormone level and functioning of ovaries. Sometimes the doctor may ask for a thyroid test to investigate any hormonal problems.
How can a woman manage her menopause?
Usually, the body adjusts and adapts. In case of severe symptoms, the doctor can provide treatment to make the woman feel better. Your doctor can prescribe certain medicines such as Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), topical Hormone therapy, non-hormone medicines and medicines for osteoporosis, etc.
But the best menopause treatment is lifestyle management. It is a known fact that women who follow a regular diet and exercise face minimum menopausal trouble. So, begin early in life with the below-mentioned tips. And it is never too late to start:
- Regular exercise like walking, cycling, stretching, and weightlifting help to keep the body fit, sleep better, and prevent loss of bone density and muscles mass. It helps in the control of diabetes and a healthy heart.
- Yoga and meditation
- When you get hot flashes, sweaty body, drink cold water and sit/ rest under the fan.
- If you get dryness in the vagina, you can apply vaginal moisturizer or lubricants.
- Strengthen your pelvic floor muscles with Kegel exercises to prevent urinary problems.
- Stay socially and mentally active to prevent memory problems.
- Reduce alcohol consumption and avoid smoking
- Maintain healthy body weight
- Control diabetes
- Regular Health Check-up