Written by Gayatri Aich
Menopause can be defined as the end of a menstruator’s menstrual cycles. Menopause causes certain changes in your body that you may go through before and/or after your period stops entirely. Menopause is natural and biological and is caused when the ovaries do not ovulate (release an egg) each month anymore, thus putting an end to your menstrual cycles. Menopause can occur as a result of surgeries as in the cases of hysterectomy, or chemotherapy, or any serious damage to the ovaries. Menopause usually occurs at/around the age of forty, but can also happen earlier than that, in which case it is known as premature menopause.
What Are The First Signs Of Menopause?
Some of the most common symptoms found in menstruators close to their menopause include hot flashes, sweating and/or blushing along with sudden warmth spread across the upper body. The flashes may range from mild to severe, and differ from one person to another. Other signs of nearing menopause include missed or uneven periods, sore breasts, dryness in the vagina, urge to pee more often than usual, issues in sleeping, emotional changes, and dry skin, mouth, and/or eyes.
What Are The Later Symptoms Of Menopause?
The symptoms that come with menopause, later on, include fatigue, crankiness, a racing heart, frequent headaches, pain in muscles and joints, weight gain, changes in libido/sex drive, and hair loss.
Stages Of Menopause
The natural occurrence of menopause which has not been affected by any existing medical conditions or surgeries comes in three stages:
- Perimenopause: It is a phase that generally starts several years prior to menopause, at which point the ovaries begin to slowly make lesser estrogen. This phase lasts until menopause, the point at which the ovaries do not release eggs any longer. During the last 1-2 years of perimenopause, the estrogen levels tend to fall faster. This is also the time when menstruators sometimes begin experiencing the first signs of menopause.
- Menopause: It is the phase when a menstruator has not had a period in a year. At this phase, the ovaries no longer release eggs.
- Postmenopause: It is the phase that includes the years following menopause. During this phase, menopausal symptoms like hot flashes tend to come to an end.
How Long Do The Symptoms Last?
The symptoms of menopause affect different menstruators differently. In most cases, the symptoms of perimenopause last about 4 years.
What Causes Premature Menopause?
There are various factors that may cause premature menopause, including immune system disorders, genes, or certain medical procedures. The following are some of the causes:
- Premature ovarian failure: It is a medical condition where the ovaries stop releasing eggs prematurely due to reasons unknown. The estrogen and progesterone levels in such cases change. This is a condition that occurs in menstruators less than 40 years of age. However, premature ovarian failure is not always permanent.
- Induced menopause: It is a condition caused when the doctor surgically removes the ovaries for medical reasons like endometriosis or uterine cancer. It can also be caused due to the damage caused by chemotherapy or radiation.
Diagnosis Of Menopause
When you suspect due to your symptoms that you are nearing your menopause, visit your doctor for further consultation and diagnosis. Keeping track of the dates of your periods when you notice them becoming uneven would help your doctor understand better. There is a blood test that your doctor might suggest to test the levels of:
- Follicle-stimulating hormone or FSH: It tends to go up when you are closer to your menopause
- Estradiol: It explains how much estrogen is being produced by your ovaries
- Thyroid hormones: It indicates issues with the thyroid gland which often affects the menstrual cycle, thus making it seem like menopause
- Anti Mullerian Hormone or AMH: It is a hormone produced in the body’s reproductive tissues, and indicates the details of the reserve of eggs in the ovaries
How To Deal With Menopausal Changes?
Here is a list of tips for you to deal with the changes caused before, during or after menopause:
- Drink cold water, sleep/sit near a fan and/or dress in multiple layers if you are having hot flashes
- Use a vaginal lubricant or moisturiser to deal with vaginal dryness
- Exercise on a regular basis to get better sleep
- Practise deep breathing, yoga, and go for massages to feel relaxed
- Consume healthy foods
Menopause comes with sexual changes that can be different to manage. Menopause may make it difficult for you to reach orgasm or enjoy sex as much as you did before. However, engaging in regular sexual activity after your menopause would promote blood flow and keep your vagina healthy. While menopause clearly means that you cannot get pregnant anymore, it does not mean that you cannot get a sexually transmitted disease. Therefore, continue having protected sex to remain healthy and happy!