This post will give you basic know-how about menopause. You will learn about menopause, its symptoms, and treatment options. (For educational purposes only)
What is menopause?
Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when her normal menstrual periods have stopped for at least 12 months and she can no longer become pregnant. This is because her ovaries stop releasing eggs (ova) and stop making the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
What is the average time of menopause?
Usually, menopause is a gradual transition, beginning with a stage called perimenopause between the ages of 45 and 55. The average age is 51.
Menopause may also be triggered earlier in a woman’s life due to health conditions or medical procedures that affect the body’s production of or response to important hormones.
What are the indicators of menopause?
In most women, at the time of menopause, their periods start to change. If she is going through menopause, she might:
– Have periods more or less often than usual (for example, every 5 to 6 weeks instead of every 4)
– Have bleeding that lasts for fewer days than before
– Skip 1 or more periods
– Have symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes or depression
If her uterus has been removed for any reason but still has ovaries, it might be tough to tell when she is going through menopause. Such women can have menopause symptoms.
But if the ovaries were removed before the usual age of menopause, doctors call it “surgical menopause.” That just means that she went through menopause early, because her ovaries were removed.
What are the symptoms of menopause?
Although some women go through menopause without symptoms, most have 1 or more of these symptoms:
Hot flashes – Hot flashes feel like a wave of heat that starts in your chest and face and then moves through your body. Hot flashes usually start happening before you stop having periods.
Night sweats – When hot flashes happen during sleep, they can cause “night sweats.” They can make it hard to get a good night’s sleep.
Sleep problems – During the transition to menopause, some women have trouble falling or staying asleep. This can happen even if night sweats are not a problem.
Vaginal dryness – Menopause can cause the vagina and tissues near the vagina to become dry and thin. This usually starts a few years after menopause. It can be uncomfortable or make sexual intercourse painful.
Depression – During the transition to menopause, many women have symptoms of depression or anxiety. This is especially found in those who have had depression before. Symptoms of depression include:
– Sadness
– Losing interest in doing things
– Sleeping too much or too little
– Trouble concentrating or remembering things – This might be caused by lack of sleep which often happens at menopause, or by the lack of estrogen. Some experts suspect that estrogen is important for good brain function.
Should I see a doctor?
If your periods start changing and you are 45 or older, you do not need to see your doctor.
But if you have bothersome symptoms, you should see your doctor. For instance, if you cannot sleep because of night sweats, if it is hard to work because of your hot flashes, or if you feel sad or blue and don’t seem to enjoy things anymore.
You should also see your doctor if you:
– Have your period more often than every 3 weeks
– Have very heavy bleeding during your period
– Have spotting between your periods
– Have been through menopause (have gone 12 months without a period) and start bleeding again, even if it’s just a spot of blood
Is there a test for menopause?
There is a test that can point to menopause. It is not done in a routine if it is clear that it is menopause. However, doctors can use that test only in women who are too young to be in menopause or who have special circumstances.
Can I still get pregnant?
As long as you are still having periods, even if they do not happen often, you could get pregnant. If you have sexual intercourse and do not want to get pregnant, use some form of birth control (contraception).
But if you have not had a period for a full year, it is probably safe to say you have been through menopause and can no longer get pregnant.
How are the symptoms of menopause treated?
There are treatments that can help relieve symptoms.
Treatment options for hot flashes include:
– Hormones (estrogen) – The hormone estrogen is the most effective treatment for menopause symptoms. Most women need to take estrogen with another hormone, called progesterone. Women who have had a hysterectomy (surgery to remove the uterus) can take estrogen by itself. Experts think these hormones are effective and safe for many women in their 40s and 50s with symptoms of menopause. If you want to take hormones, ask your doctor or nurse if it is an option for you. You should not take hormones if you have had breast cancer, a heart attack, a stroke, or a blood clot.
– Antidepressants – Some types of antidepressants can ease hot flashes and depression. Even women who are not depressed can take them to help with hot flashes.
– Anti-seizure medicine – One of the medicines used to prevent seizures seems to help some women with hot flashes, even if they do not have seizures.
Treatment options for vaginal dryness include:
Vaginal estrogen – This is an option for women who have vaginal dryness without other symptoms of menopause. Vaginal estrogen is any form of estrogen that goes directly into the vagina. It comes in creams, tablets, or a flexible ring. Vaginal estrogen comes in small doses that don’t increase the levels of estrogen in other parts of the body very much.
Other medicines – In most cases, doctors recommend vaginal estrogen. That’s because there is more evidence that it helps with vaginal dryness compared with other medicines. But for women who do not want to use vaginal estrogen, doctors might suggest 1 of these medicines:
i – Ospemifene (brand name: Osphena) is similar to estrogen but is not estrogen. It comes as a pill you take once a day. It helps relieve vaginal dryness caused by menopause, but it can also cause hot flashes. It is an option for women who have trouble using vaginal medicine or prefer a pill. You should not take it if you have a high risk of developing blood clots (thrombosis).
ii – Prasterone (brand name: Intrarosa) is also known as DHEA. It comes in tablets you insert into your vagina once a day.
Some doctors are not used to prescribing hormone treatment for women who are going through menopause. If you feel that you are not getting the help you need, you might choose to talk to a different doctor who is an expert in menopause treatment. You can ask your doctor to refer you to the relevant doctor.
There is a risk of bones getting weak (osteoporosis) after the menopause. What can I do to protect my bones?
To prevent your bones getting weak after menopause, you can:
i – Take calcium and vitamin D supplements
ii – Take a regular exercise. It helps in keeping bones strong.
iii – Ask your doctor when you should start having bone density tests
If needed, your doctor can prescribe medicines to help keep your bones strong.
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