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Menopause is a natural stage in every woman’s life, occurring when their menstrual cycles stop permanently. It typically occurs in the late 40s or early 50s for most women. A woman is said to have reached menopause when she has gone 12 months without a period in the age when menopause is physiologically expected.
Although menopause is natural change, the experience varies in the ways that can be confusing and be uncomfortable. The menopause symptoms can vary from woman to woman. For some, it is mild, and for other it might be disruptive enough to affect daily life. Here, top gynaecologists in Manipal Hospital Doddaballapur discuss the different aspects of menopause, like the early signs to watch for, changes that continue after periods have stopped, and tips to manage menopause symptoms.
Synopsis
Understanding Menopause & Its Timing
Menopause is a stage at which a woman permanently stops having menstrual periods. Doctors confirm menopause when there has been no period for 12 months continuously. This change happens because the ovaries stop releasing eggs, and the production of hormones like estrogen and progesterone decreases.
The average menopause age is between 45 and 55 years. In some women, it can also occur earlier or later for some women. Recognizing the menopause age and symptoms can help you prepare and seek timely medical guidance. Here are the stages:
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Perimenopause: It is the transition phase that can start several years before menopause. During this time, one of the earliest symptoms is irregular periods. Hot flashes, disturbed sleep, and mood swings are other common symptoms.
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Menopause: The point when you’ve gone 12 months without a menstrual cycle.
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Postmenopause: The years after menopause, when periods have stopped completely. Some symptoms that started earlier can go down. But health risks such as bone loss and heart disease become more important to monitor.
Common Menopause Symptoms
The way menopause affects women can differ. But most menopause symptoms and changes are due to falling levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Since they influence the menstrual cycle, bone strength, brain chemistry, and even heart health, changes can be expected. Recognizing the common signs and symptoms of menopause helps explain why these changes happen:
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Irregular periods: The ovaries produce less estrogen and progesterone, hence cycles become unpredictable. Periods can become shorter for some, while others get longer and heavier, before stopping completely.
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Hot flashes and night sweats: Lower estrogen affects the brain’s temperature control. It can cause sudden waves of heat, flushing, and sweating. Night sweats disrupt sleep.
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Vaginal dryness: With less estrogen, vaginal tissues lose elasticity and moisture. This can cause itching, discomfort, and pain during intercourse.
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Mood swings and irritability: Estrogen plays a role in regulating serotonin and other brain chemicals. The decrease can cause anxiety, low mood, or irritability.
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Sleep difficulties: Night sweats already make it difficult to sleep. Added to that, hormonal changes that influence sleep-wake cycles can lead to insomnia or restless sleep.
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Urinary changes: Falling estrogen thins the lining of the urinary tract. It has multiple effects, like increasing frequency, urgency, and the risk of urinary tract infections.
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Reduced bone density: Estrogen is vital for maintaining bone strength. After menopause, bone loss speeds up, which raises the risk of osteoporosis.
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Heart health concerns: Lower estrogen can negatively affect cholesterol levels and blood vessel flexibility. Therefore, it increases the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease.
Early Menopause Symptoms
When menopause occurs before the age of 40, it is called early menopause. This can happen naturally or by other factors such as surgery to remove the ovaries, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. There are also health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or thyroid disease that affect hormone production and lead to early menopause. The early menopause symptoms are the same as those seen in natural menopause, but they appear much sooner than expected.
Post Menopause Symptoms
The years that follow menopause are called post-menopause. Many women expect symptoms to stop completely at this stage, but symptoms can still persist
After menopause, symptoms may include:
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Hot flashes or night sweats, though usually less intense than before
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Ongoing vaginal dryness and discomfort during intercourse
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Increased urinary urgency or infections due to thinner tissues
The long-term post menopause symptoms are linked to lower estrogen levels:
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Bone health: Rapid bone loss after menopause raises the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
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Heart health: Falling estrogen can increase cholesterol and blood pressure, raising cardiovascular risk.
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Skin and hair changes: Thinning hair, dry skin, and loss of elasticity are also common.
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Brain health: Some women notice memory lapses or difficulty concentrating. It is not too severe, but these changes are being studied for their connection to estrogen decline.
Relief & Management Tips
There are two effective approaches to get relief:
Medical options:
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Hormone therapy (HRT/MHT): Replaces estrogen, and sometimes progesterone, to ease hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. It also protects bone health, but is not suitable for everyone.
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Non-hormonal medicines: Certain antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs), gabapentin, or clonidine can reduce hot flashes and sleep issues for women who cannot take hormones.
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Local estrogen therapy: Vaginal creams, tablets, or rings help with dryness and urinary problems by targeting estrogen directly to the tissues.
Conclusion
As mentioned before, menopause is a natural part of your aging process. By knowing the symptoms, you are empowered to take the right action. When mild, symptoms can be managed with lifestyle changes, but, when the symptoms are severe enough to interfere with activities of daily life, it is recommended to consult an expert. Our expert gynaecologists at Manipal Hospital Doddaballapur, provide comprehensive care for women going through menopause.
FAQ's
Irregular menstrual periods, hot flashes, and alterations in sleeping patterns are the first symptoms and signs of menopause. Other women experience dryness or mood changes in the vagina. These are the conditions that occur because estrogen levels begin to decrease in perimenopause, when periods are at the stage before stopping altogether.
The normal menopausal age ranges from 45 to 55 years. In India, it comes a bit early, 46-48 years old. When menopause occurs before age 40, it is considered to be at an early stage and should be medically examined.
Some symptoms after menopause may last a few years, including hot flashes, night sweats, or vaginal dryness. Long-term post menopause complications include loss of bone and increased susceptibility to heart diseases, so it is important to check these on a regular basis.
Lifestyle changes can go a long way. A bone-stimulating diet includes a good source of calcium and vitamin D to keep the bones healthy, and exercise would assist with mood and sleep.
Some of the ways of reducing hot flushes include avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods. Other simple practices to use to control symptoms of menopause include yoga or meditation, which relieve stress on a daily basis.
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