What is Menopause?
Menopause is when a woman’s menstrual periods permanently stop, either naturally or through medical intervention. Natural menopause is confirmed when a woman hasn’t had a period for 12 consecutive months. Induced menopause happens if both ovaries are surgically removed or if periods stop after chemotherapy. Induced menopause often causes a sudden drop in hormone levels, leading to more intense symptoms compared to natural menopause. It’s crucial to discuss this with a doctor, especially if ovary removal isn’t medically necessary. In Western societies, the average age for natural menopause is around 51 years. When menopause occurs before age 40, it’s called premature menopause, affecting about 1% of women.
What Causes It?
Menopause is mainly caused by a decrease in estrogen and other hormonal changes. Women are born with all the follicles (potential eggs) they’ll ever have, typically between 1 to 2 million. They start losing these follicles even before birth, and by menopause, only a few hundred to a few thousand are left. This loss prompts the body to produce more hormones like Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) to try to keep the ovaries working. This hormone surge can cause many of the symptoms associated with perimenopause. The process is complex and involves other factors, but that’s the basic idea.
What is Perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the transition period leading up to menopause, characterized by fluctuating hormone levels and ending with the last menstrual period. During this time, women might experience heavy or irregular periods, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and insomnia. These symptoms can understandably lead to irritability and even depression.
Symptoms of Menopause & Perimenopause
Menopause symptoms can vary widely in type and severity. The most common symptom is hot flashes, which can range from mild warmth to intense heat that requires immediate cooling down. Hot flashes often come with a flushed appearance, heart palpitations, and heavy sweating. They may be more frequent and severe at night, disrupting sleep. The duration and intensity of hot flashes differ for each woman, lasting from seconds to several minutes and continuing for an average of 4-5 years, sometimes even decades. The exact cause of hot flashes isn’t fully understood, but it’s known that lower estrogen levels confuse the hypothalamus, the body’s temperature regulator, into thinking the body is overheating.
Other symptoms include vaginal dryness, which can make sex painful, insomnia, and urinary incontinence. Some of these are part of the natural aging process.
What Can I Do to Alleviate the Symptoms?
There are various lifestyle changes and treatments that can help manage menopause symptoms. First, consult a healthcare provider to confirm that menopause is the cause of your symptoms. Once confirmed, consider these lifestyle adjustments:
– Reduce caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods.
– Exercise regularly to maintain a healthy weight.
– Manage stress.
– Wear layers that can be easily removed during a hot flash.
Over-the-counter dietary supplements might also help, but always discuss these with your healthcare provider. Some commonly used supplements include:
– Evening Primrose Oil: May help with hot flashes due to its fatty acid content.
– Black Cohosh Extract: Often used for hot flashes but should be avoided if you have liver issues.
– Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil: Used to treat mild symptoms.
– Phytoestrogen Extracts (like soy foods and red clover): May offer minimal relief but should be avoided by women with estrogen-positive breast or uterine cancer without medical advice.
Vitamin D and Calcium are also important for preventing osteoporosis.
Every woman will go through menopause if she lives long enough, but the experience varies. The key is to work with your healthcare provider to develop a plan to manage your symptoms effectively. Don’t suffer in silence; early discussion and treatment can prevent more serious issues down the line.
