Cramps, mood swings, bloating, loss of appetite and botheration of changing sanitary napkins is a routine every month before a woman starts experiencing menopause signs.
What is menopause?
To put it simply, it is a pause to the menses. In other words, menopause is when a woman doesn’t get periods due to the depletion of ovarian oocytes after which a woman cannot conceive. In case a woman hasn’t menstruated for 12 months in a row, chances are she has reached menopause.
Menopausal age in India is somewhere between 45-55 years. This is not a general rule because women have reached menopause in the late 30s or early 40s or even 60s.
Menopause Symptoms:
- Hot flushes and night sweats which is the result of low estrogen levels
- Mood swings and depression
- Insomnia
- Difficulty in concentration
- Painful intercourse
- Dry vagina
- Changes in skin elasticity
- Urinary incontinence
- Bone loss
- Stiff joints
- Hair thinning
- Sore or tender breasts
Why does menopause occur?
With the increase in age, there is a loss of active ovarian follicles, and the body undergoes changes because of the changes in the levels of following hormones:
- Estrogen
- Progesterone
- Testosterone
- Follicle Stimulating Hormone
- Luteinizing Hormone
Treatment of Menopause
Menopause symptoms are an indicator that you are about to reach the menopause. Menopause treatment is a mechanism that helps to comfort you during the transition phase and also assists you in preventing any problem which might occur due to age.
- Hormone Therapy: that levels of estrogen are given which helps in reducing hot flushes and the risks associated with menopause.
- Vaginal estrogen: To overcome the discomfort of vaginal dryness and painful intercourse, estrogen is administered in the vagina through a cream, ring or tablet.
- Fewer doses of anti-depressants: To cater to the changing mood swings and hot flushes, a low dosage of anti-depressants is given to women.
- Gabapentin: It is useful for seizures and for treatment of hot flushes in women who can’t take estrogen therapy.
- Clonidine: This medicine helps in reducing blood pressure and can give relief from hot flushes as well.
- Treatment of osteoporosis: Vitamin D supplements are given to women during menopause so that the risk of fracture is reduced.
Use the following home remedies for managing menopause:
- Stay cool and wear comfortable clothes.
- Exercise daily and maintain a healthy weight.
- Open up about what you feel. Don’t hide your emotions.
- Take supplements like vitamin D, iron, calcium, and magnesium.
- Practice yoga and meditate.
- Keep your skin hydrated.
- Introduce flax seeds, melatonin, vitamin E, and soy in your diet.
- Quit smoking and limit the use of alcohol.
Menopause is a phase that every woman goes through. Menopause symptoms should not be ignored, and if need be, talk to the doctor who can understand you and make this transition smooth.