All information about menopause that women must know

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Definition

What is menopause?

Menopause is the time when you stop having your period. This is indicated by you who have had no periods for 12 months after your last period.

This phase in women marks the end of reproductive age, in which you can no longer get pregnant. However, you are still healthy, vital, and sexually active. Stopping menstruation is a natural process that is part of aging. All women experience it, so this condition is nothing to worry about.

Towards the end of menstruation, women may experience some changes. This is known as the menopausal transition or perimenopause. This transition generally occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55. During the transitional phase, the production of sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone) made by the ovaries decreases.

How common is menopause?

Every woman will experience menopause in life because this is a natural process that is closely related to a woman's reproductive stage. Initially starting with puberty and ending with the cessation of menstruation.

The age at which this phase occurs varies from woman to woman. However, normally in the age range of 45 to 55 years. If it occurs earlier, i.e. before the age of 45, it is known as premature or premature menopause. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of menopause?

Apart from occurring at different ages, the symptoms of stopping menstruation are not always the same. Maybe woman A feels different symptoms than woman B. It depends on the level of estrogen and how much estrogen is needed by the body. If the production is small, the symptoms that will arise will be more.

However, common menopause signs and symptoms include:

The menstrual cycle changes

Changes in the menstrual cycle to be abnormal, a symptom of cessation of menstruation. Menstrual cycle changes are usually characterized by various things, such as:

• Menstrual periods become shorter or longer
• You feel more or less bleeding
• Pause periods that are sometimes slower or faster

These are normal changes in a woman whose menstrual cycle is about to stop. However, to make sure there are no problems, you can consult a doctor. See a doctor if you feel any of the following:

• Menstruation in the first month with the second happening very close together
• You have heavy bleeding; lasted more than a week
• Menstruation returns after having been absent for more than a year

Hot flashes

Hot flashes are a feeling of sudden burning in the upper or entire body that occurs as a result of changes in estrogen levels in the body. Usually this condition is characterized by changes in skin color on the neck and face. Then, reddish patches appear around your chest, back, and arms, accompanied by sweating and shivering.

These symptoms can be mild, or so severe that you wake up in the middle of the night because you sweat so much. Fortunately, the symptoms of hot flashes usually last only about 30 seconds to 10 minutes. However, there are some women who experience it for up to an hour, several times a day, or only once or twice a week.

Insomnia

Older people are prone to sleep disorders, which causes them to have insomnia. Apart from general factors, the menstrual cycle that ends also causes the same problem, namely insomnia.

This condition causes women to find it difficult to sleep, often wake up in the middle of the night, or wake up too early and have difficulty sleeping again. Most likely this was due to hot flashes which makes the body shiver and sweat a lot.

Body shape changes

Changes in hormone levels before menopause cause a variety of physical symptoms and changes in body shape, including:

• Reduced muscle mass so that the body becomes fatter
• Skin becomes thinner and drier
• Joints and muscles achy easily and sometimes feel stiff
• Headache and heart palpitations

Mood changes

During the cessation of menstruation, it is easier for your mood to change. This makes you irritable and irritable. This is exacerbated by stress, fatigue due to decreased bodily functions, and loneliness and depression due to changes in the environment.

Decreased sex drive

Decreased levels of sex hormones not only cause dry skin, but also vaginal discharge. This makes you uncomfortable having sexual intercourse and ultimately lowers sexual desire.

In addition, hormonal changes before the menstrual cycle stop also makes it difficult for most women to control their bladder so that it is difficult to hold back urination.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

You should call your doctor if you:

• Feel the need to schedule regular visits to the doctor from the beginning to the end of menopause.
• You need preventive health care to be ready for menopause.

Seek immediate medical attention if you have severe complications, such as vaginal bleeding after menopause.

Cause

What causes menopause?

There are many things that can cause the menstrual cycle to stop, including:

Natural sex hormone changes

One of the causes of menopause is a natural decrease in reproductive hormones. As you get older, especially in your late 30s, your ovaries start to produce less of the estrogen and progesterone that regulates menstruation.

As a result, your fertility decreases. If you are around 40 years old, your menstrual periods may be longer or shorter, heavier or lighter, and more frequent or less frequent until you reach the age of 51, you will not have your period anymore.

Total hysterectomy

Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) can also be the cause. It's just that if this procedure is done in total. If only the uterus is removed (total hysterectomy), the ovaries still produce eggs and sex hormones. Women with this condition do not experience menopause, they just cannot have children and experience menstruation.

Meanwhile, if the procedure is carried out completely, both ovaries are gone. This means that eggs and sex hormones are no longer produced. Women with this condition are unable to get pregnant, stop menstruating, and go through menopause without a transitional phase.

Cancer treatment

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can also cause menstrual cycles to stop. You can experience menopause and its symptoms, such as hot flashes during or after a series of treatments.

Primary ovarian insufficiency

Another cause is primary ovarian insufficiency. This happens because your ovaries are unable to produce normal levels of reproductive hormones due to genetic factors or autoimmune diseases.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for menopause?

Menopause is unavoidable, but the following factors can decrease the physiological age of menopause:

• Smoke. Women who smoke are at risk of experiencing menopause 1 or 2 years earlier than women who do not smoke.
• Family history. Women with a family history of early menopause can experience early menopause. This could be related to the genetic condition of the X carrier fragile.
• Cancer treatment. Treatment for cancer with chemotherapy or radiation therapy can have side effects, such as early menopause.
• Hysterectomy. While removing the uterus does not cause menopause, it can increase the chances of experiencing menopause earlier than usual.
• Oophorectomy. If one ovary is removed (oophorectomy), the remaining ovaries may stop working sooner than they should.

Medicines & Medicines

What are my treatment options for menopause?

You do not need medical treatment to treat menopausal conditions. Perhaps you can use medications that focus on relieving signs and symptoms and preventing or treating the chronic conditions that occur with aging.

Hormone therapy is a mitigating treatment. Hormone therapy is the most effective treatment option for alleviating hot flashes due to menopause.

Depending on your personal and family medical history, your doctor may recommend a low dose of estrogen for symptom relief. Vaginal estrogen can reduce vaginal dryness. This medication can be a vaginal cream, tablet, or ring.

Low doses of antidepressants can help reduce hot flashes. If your condition is not very good for using estrogen, a low-dose antidepressant may be an alternative.

Doctors can also give drugs to prevent or treat osteoporosis. Depending on your needs, your doctor can determine if you can use this method.

What are the usual tests for menopause?

Usually, your doctor can give you an initial diagnosis of your menopause based on your signs and symptoms. If you have special concerns about menstrual irregularities or hot flashes, consult your doctor. In some cases, further evaluation is required.

Blood tests may be needed to check levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estrogen and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). FSH levels increase and estradiol levels decrease when menopause occurs. In addition, an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) linked to TSH levels can produce menopause-like symptoms.

Complications

What are the complications of menopause?

After menopause, your risk for certain medical conditions increases. Some of these diseases include:

• Cardiovascular disease. Decreased estrogen levels actually affect the function of the heart and surrounding blood vessels, causing heart disease.
• Osteoporosis and bone problems. The decrease in sex hormones also causes the bones to lose density rapidly. This causes osteoporosis and fractures of the spine, hips and wrists.
• Obesity. During the menopause transition, metabolism slows down. This leads to weight gain and an increased risk of obesity.
• Urinary incontinesia. Losing hormones causes the muscles around the urethra and vagina to decrease in elasticity. This makes it difficult for women to hold back urination, even when urine can come out accidentally, when sneezing or laughing.
• Decreased sexual function. Dryness and reduced elasticity of the vagina can cause discomfort and even bleeding during sex. This can reduce passion and satisfaction in intercourse.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be used to treat menopause?

Although menopause is a normal thing, sometimes the symptoms that appear are quite disturbing. Here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with symptoms caused by stopping your menstrual cycle, including:

Relieves hot flashes

When these symptoms occur, it's best to avoid thick or multi-layered clothing. Instead, you should be in a room where the air is quite cool. Then, avoid spicy and hot foods that can trigger excessive sweating. In addition, avoid stress and reduce the habit of drinking alcohol.

Reduces vaginal dryness

To reduce vaginal dryness, you can use a vaginal lubricant or moisturizer before sex. If these treatments don't work, ask your doctor about this condition. Usually the doctor will give you an estrogen enhancer in the form of a cream or tablet.

Implement a healthy lifestyle

After you menopause, several health problems increase the risk. In order to stay healthy during or after menopause, follow these tips:

• Quit smoking and limit drinking. Cigarettes and alcohol can cause aging and menopausal symptoms to get worse. In addition, the risk of heart disease is increasing.
• Reduce foods containing excessive salt and sugar. Foods containing excessive salt can increase the risk of hypertension which is closely related to heart disease. While foods containing lots of sugar can cause weight to continue to gain.
• Eat nutritious foods. Instead of unhealthy snacks, you replace them with healthier foods. Ranging from various types of vegetables, fruit, seeds, and nuts. Cut down on foods that contain saturated fat and meet your intake of vitamin D and calcium.
• Sports. In order to maintain your overall body health, you must exercise regularly. This activity can reduce stress, control body weight and blood pressure, and relieve pain in the body. Consult your doctor to choose the type of exercise that is safe for your body. Then, make an exercise plan as directed by your doctor.
• Avoid stress. Stress can worsen menopausal symptoms and cause insomnia. This can interfere with the biological clock, causing heart problems. To reduce stress, fill your days with activities you like, do regular exercise, and get enough rest.
• Routine health checks. Not just monitoring the condition of the body during menopause, routine health checks are very necessary. The goal is to keep blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels under control.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.