The Menopause : Demystified The two great transitions in a woman’s life – puberty and menopause – are fraught times when our bodies do strange and unpredictable things and our moods can take us completely by surprise. But unlike puberty, menopause is often regarded as somehow unsavoury – an issue best kept under wraps. The taboo surrounding menopause means many of us are woefully ill-informed about an unavoidable phase in our lives. Not only do women not talk about the more difficult aspects of the menopause amongst themselves, but it’s so overlooked, that medical practitioners in the US and UK receive no mandatory training in it, and employers often offer no support to women going through it. Granted, some women will sail through the menopause with no adverse effects, but at least 25% suffer debilitating symptoms – both physical and mental – that seriously impact their quality of life and sometimes their ability to continue working. However, because it’s not talked about, many women don’t know that they can safely get relief from the symptoms and decrease their risk of other diseases at the same time. That wall of silence is starting to crack though. Celebrities and TV personalities are opening up about their experiences of the menopause, how it is affecting their lives, and their challenges in getting treatment. And that is sparking a wider conversation and reassuring women all over the world that there is no shame in talking about this common experience.
What is the Menopause?
Quite simply, the menopause refers to the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle. A woman is considered menopausal when she has not had a period for more than 12 months. The average age for this is 51, although it can vary by several years either side of that. Menopause usually lasts between five and seven years, but again, it can be longer or shorter. Once menopause symptoms stop, a woman is considered post-menopausal. For some women, periods will stop suddenly, but many others will experience irregular periods that may be heavier or lighter than normal, some years before they stop completely. This phase, when hormone levels are fluctuating, is the perimenopause and is often accompanied by menopausal symptoms. Perimenopause usually begins in your 40s, although occasionally it can start in your 30s, and lasts several years. The distinction is not particularly important though, says Dr. Richter, OB/GYN and certified menopause practitioner at NovoClinic, as any treatment seeks to manage the symptoms, rather than the stage a woman is in.
Symptoms of Menopause
Menopause is driven by hormones. As we approach the end of our fertile years, our ovaries slow down and eventually stop functioning: not only do they stop producing eggs, but they
also stop producing the hormone oestrogen. Because there are oestrogen receptors in every tissue and organ in the body, oestrogen affects not only our menstrual cycles and reproductive organs, but also our urinary tracts, heart and blood vessels, bones, breasts, skin, hair, mucous membranes, pelvic muscles, and brains. So when levels of this vital hormone decrease we feel it in a perplexing variety of ways – so much so that many women fail to connect the symptoms they are experiencing with the menopause. The most recognised physical symptom – and for many the most debilitating – are the hot flushes. These tend to affect the upper part of the body and usually occur later in the day, but can also occur during sleep (night sweats) which then cause fatigue and can in turn lead to a low mood and irritability. However, the symptoms women experience vary widely and present in different combinations. Other physical symptoms include aching joints, weight gain, tingling skin, headaches and heart palpitations. Because the tissue of the bladder thins during menopause, symptoms can also include frequent UTIs, overactive bladder, and incontinence. More difficult for many to talk about is the loss of libido and the vaginal dryness, which is also caused by thinning tissue and, if not treated, can make sex painful and day to day life uncomfortable. In addition to these unquestionably unpleasant physical symptoms, are the severe mental and psychological symptoms that can accompany this time. An estimated 40% of women do not even know about these, so that when gripped by extreme mood swings, anxiety, anger, poor memory and mental fog, they think they are losing their minds. These symptoms don’t only impact relationships, but also leave some women feeling unable to continue in their jobs, or to pursue more senior career roles. TOP TIP: Set up a support group with friends so that you
can share symptoms and grumbles about the menopause. There is also a Facebook group called 'Cayman Hot Flush Menopause Support' which is a kind and friendly support group for women wanting to know or share information about menopause. Being able share your frustrations with others who are going through the same experience is great for your mental health.
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