What is Menopause?
Menopause is not an illness, but the natural end of a woman's reproductive years. It is a point in time when a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. It happens, on average, to women in their 50s although it can occur as early as in the 30s and as late as in the 60s. It is a natural process that occurs when your ovaries stop producing reproductive hormones and eggs.
The three stages of menopause are:
- Perimenopause: Begins eight to 10 years before menopause when your ovaries gradually produce less and less oestrogen. You can be in perimenopause for several months or several years, many people feel symptoms such as irregular periods, hot flashes and mood swings.
- Menopause: It is the point when you no longer have menstrual periods because your ovaries are not releasing eggs, and your body does not produce much oestrogen. Unlike the other stages, menopause is a defined moment.
- Postmenopause: This is the point after menopause and you'll stay in postmenopause for the rest of your life. Most symptoms of menopause ease up in postmenopause, but you may continue to have mild menopausal symptoms for several years in postmenopause. Women in this stage are at an increased risk for osteoporosis and heart disease.
What are the symptoms of Menopause?
You may be transitioning into menopause if you experience the following symptoms:
- Irregular periods, or periods that are heavier or lighter than usual
- Hot flashes, a sudden feeling of warmth that spreads over the body
- Night sweats or cold flashes
- Vaginal dryness
- Frequent need to urinate
- Insomnia
- Mood swings
- Dry skin, eyes or mouth
- Breast tenderness
- Joint and muscle aches
- Difficulty concentrating
- Weight gain
- Hair loss
The intensity of symptoms varies between women, not everyone will have the same symptoms as they transition into menopause.
What complications does Menopause have?
After menopause, your risk of certain conditions may increase. Such as:
- Heart and blood vessel disease: When your oestrogen levels fall, your risk of cardiovascular disease increases.
- Osteoporosis: During the first few years after menopause, you may lose bone density quickly. This increases your risk of osteoporosis.
- Urinary incontinence: Changes to your vaginal and urethral tissues may increase your urge to urinate. You may also have urinary tract infections more often.
- Weight gain: Many women gain weight during and after menopause due to their metabolism slowing.
How do you manage Menopause?
While the symptoms of menopause tend to go away on their own in time, there are still steps you can take to help manage them better:
- Cool hot flashes: Wear sleeveless tops and wear fabrics that breath. Lower room temperatures or use hand fans to keep yourself cool. It may also help to avoid food that may trigger hot flashes, such as caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods.
- Get enough sleep: Avoid caffeine and alcohol which may make it harder to sleep. If hot flashes make it difficult to sleep, find ways to manage them to improve your quality of sleep.
- Strengthen your pelvic floor: Do pelvic floor exercises, called Kegel exercises, to improve urinary incontinence.
- Eat a balanced diet: Include a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains in your diet while limiting saturated fats, sodium and sugar.
- Quit smoking: Smoking increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, cancer and other health problems. It may also increase hot flashes and bring on menopause earlier.
- Exercise regularly: Regular physical activity or exercise helps to protect against heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and other conditions associated with ageing.
How is Menopause diagnosed?
Blood Test
Your healthcare provider may recommend a blood test to check your levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone and oestrogen.
