Menopause is a transition into a new phase of life. It begins when the menstrual cycle finishes. Menopause is not a health problem, and some experience it as a time of liberation. However, hormonal changes and other factors involved can cause discomfort.
Menopause usually starts between the ages of 40 & 58years in developed countries, where the average age is 51 years. For some, it will occur earlier due to a medical condition or treatment, such as the removal of the ovaries.
These symptoms may start before menstruation ends, and they can last for several years. The impact on a person’s quality of life can range from mild to severe. However, there are ways of managing these symptoms.
Each person will experience menopause differently. Many have full, active lives throughout the transition and afterward, and some feel relieved by no longer having to deal with menstruation or birth control.
Maintaining a healthful diet and getting regular exercise can help a person feel better and boost their overall health in the long term. For those who experience menopause symptoms, treatments and support are available.
What is menopause?
Menopause is the stage of life that follows the end of the menstrual cycles. Each person may experience menopause differently.
It can last for several years, and there are three stages:
1.Peri-menopause is the transitional time that starts before menopause and includes the 12 months that follow a person’s last period.
2.Menopause starts either 12 months after the last period or when menstruation has stopped for a clinical reason, such as the removal of the ovaries.
3.Post-menopause refers to the years after menopause, although it can be difficult to know when menopause finished and post-menopause starts.
Causes
Menopause is a stage in life, not an illness. Most women experience natural menopause during midlife. However, surgery and other factors can cause menopause to start earlier.
Natural menopause
A female’s reproductive years last from puberty to menopause — from one natural transition to another.
Toward menopause, the levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone in the body fall because they are no longer necessary to support reproduction. These changes trigger menopause.
Surgery and treatment
If a person undergoes surgery to remove their ovaries, they will experience menopause. If this happens before middle age, doctors may refer to it as “early menopause.”
A doctor may recommend hormone therapy to reduce some symptoms, but as always, it is important to discuss the risks as well as the potential benefits of this treatment.
Some treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, can cause the ovaries to stop working either temporarily or permanently. The likelihood of this happening depends on the person’s age and the type and location of the treatment.
A person who experiences menopause because of a clinical treatment will experience the same symptoms as a person who experiences natural menopause. However, the symptoms may appear more abruptly, because the physical change is more sudden.
A person may also experience sadness or depression about an early loss of fertility. Some people decide to freeze eggs or pursue other options for having children later in life before undergoing this type of treatment. Counseling is often available.
It is also important to discuss related health effects with a doctor, as people who experience menopause early may have a higher risk of developing heart disease and osteoporosis.
Premature menopause
Some people experience menopause earlier than others for reasons other than medical interventions.
Doctors consider menopause to be “premature” if it develops before the age of 40 and “early” if it starts between the ages of 40 and 45. Early menopause naturally occurs in around 5% of females.
Sometimes, menopause develops early if a person has:
• a genetic condition that affects the chromosomes, such as Turner’s syndrome
• an autoimmune disease
• in rare cases, an infection, such as tuberculosis, malaria or mumps
Anyone who experiences changes in menstrual patterns before the age of 45 should see a doctor.
Signs and symptoms
Around menopause, various physical and mental changes can occur, causing symptoms. Some of these start before menopause, and some continue after it.
The changes involved in peri-menopause and menopause include:
Lower fertility
Irregular menstruation
Vaginal dryness and discomfort
Hot flushes
Sleep disturbances
Emotional changes
Depression, anxiety, and low mood are common during menopause. It is not unusual to experience times of irritability and crying spells.
Trouble focusing and learning
Physical changes
Various physical changes can develop around the time of menopause.
People may experience:
• a buildup of fat around the abdomen
• weight gain
• changes in hair color, texture, and volume
• breast reduction and tenderness
• urinary incontinence
However, the link between these changes and menopause is not always clear. Some may occur independently at the same time as the transition, and age and life-style can also play a role.
Increased risk of some health conditions
After menopause, the risk of certain health issues appears to increase. Menopause does not cause these conditions, but the hormonal changes involved may play some role.
Osteoporosis
Increased risk of Cardiovascular disease
Breast cancer
Skin changes
Diagnosis
Menopause is not an illness, but many people benefit from seeing their doctors when menstruation ends.
A doctor can often confirm whether the reason for this change is perimenopause or menopause by asking some questions. They may also test hormone levels and perform other analyses of the blood and urine to rule out health issues. No tests, however, can conclusively indicate that menopause has begun.
Lifestyle tips
Tips for managing the challenges of menopause include:
• getting regular exercise
• practicing relaxation and deep breathing exercises
• having a healthful diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• Quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke
• limiting the intake of alcohol
• seeking counseling for anxiety, mood changes, and relationship concerns
• establishing good sleeping habits and getting plenty of rest
• doing Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor
• talking to friends and family about the experience of menopause
• exploring new ways of enjoying intimacy with a partner
• joining a club, volunteering, or taking up a new hobby
Homeopathic remedies for Menopause:
As homoeopathy believes in individuality, medicine is being selected after the case perceiving. But here some of the medicines are given which can help to reduce the symptoms of menopause.
Sepia
Lachesis
Graphites
Ignatia
Cimicifua racemosa, etc.
For inquiries or consultation: 8866877070
– Tathya Homeopathic Clinic