Menopause

What is meant by menopause?

Menopause is the last menstrual period in a woman’s life. It also refers to the phase in life, when a woman naturally stops having her menstrual cycles or menses. With this natural phase of aging, the ovaries stop releasing eggs and the level of estrogen and progesterone in the body decreases.

Does menopause happen all of a sudden?

Menopause is usually gradual. There may be a pre-menopausal period for about two years during which the frequency of menstrual cycles may become irregular and the intensity of bleeding may vary. The decrease in estrogen levels causes many side effects like night sweats, hot flushes and irritability. But in some women, the last menses may occur without any premenstrual symptoms.

Do all women have difficulty with menopausal symptoms?

Twenty-five percent of women experience no difficulty with their menopause.  About fifty percent of all women notice some changes. The remaining 25 percent have uncomfortable and even distressing symptoms. Many women in the pre-menopausal period do not experience any side effects.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

An unpleasant hot feeling occurs suddenly and spreads over the face, neck and chest, where it may cause a flushed or reddish appearance. This is accompanied by sweating. A tingling, uncomfortable feeling may follow, sometimes alarming the person by the intensity of the symptoms. Such hot flushes and night sweats may leave a woman tired and fatigued. The symptoms may last from a few seconds to thirty minutes. The person could experience these episodes for several years. Lack of estrogen causes vaginal drying, which may make intercourse painful. Decrease in estrogen can also cause a thinning of the lining of the urinary tract and vagina. This may cause chronic urinary tract infections, frequent and painful urination and even incontinence. Tiredness, depression and lack of libido are not unusual. Tenderness in the joints and bones may develop gradually. Estrogen is responsible for building and renewal of bone. Since estrogen levels are low, 2-3% of bone density is lost in women going through menopause. The resulting osteoporosis can make the bones very brittle, resulting in fractures. Estrogen increases the level of "good" cholesterol in the blood (HDL), and reduces the amount of  "bad" cholesterol (LDL). After menopause this preventive influence of estrogen on the blood vessels is reduced, resulting in increased cholesterol deposition in the arteries. This causes the blood vessels to become rigid and narrow, leading to heart problems and stroke.

How can a person get over the symptoms of menopause?

Diet, exercise and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help a person overcome the symptoms of menopause.

Diet: This should be well balanced, containing sufficient quantity of protein and carbohydrates, and less of animal fat and saturated fats. Whole grain cereals, vegetables, fruits and greens should be included in the diet. Low fat milk, cottage cheese and other foods containing calcium should be taken. Saturated fats should be avoided because of the increased tendency for fat deposition in the arteries after menopause . Exercise: Moderate exercise and even aerobic exercise helps strengthen the muscles and improves the agility. This can help prevent fractures in bones, which may have become brittle due to osteoporosis. Though it is never late to start an exercise program, active exercise should be undertaken after consulting a doctor. Please see Osteoporosis & Exercise . Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): This can lessen the severity of side effects and eliminate the symptoms of menopause. It can also prevent osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases. The treatment has some risks. Please see Hormone Replacement Therapy for more detailed info. Hormone treatment should be only a supplement to a healthy lifestyle and a proper diet.