WOMEN’S HEALTH - MENOPAUSE

It is not uncommon for a woman in her late 40s to feel annoyed and anxious when she wakes up sweating profusely. It’s easy to relate this condition to menopause also known as climacteric.

But what if this is not a symptom of menopause? Even though night sweats, hot flashes and general anxiety are all signs of the much-dreaded menopause these signs can also point toward other health issues.

Having knowledge of the exact symptoms of menopause can help you develop an understanding of what you will be faced with and will also help you develop effective management techniques.

WHAT IS MENOPAUSE?

Menopause is a natural process and is the time that marks the end of women’s menstrual cycles. Climacteric usually happens in the mid to late 40s. In the United States, the average age for women to experience menopause is 51.

Symptoms

Menopause symptoms appear gradually in women’s life. They may experience the following in the months or years leading up to midlife crisis:

• Irregularity in periods
• Hot flashes
• Chills
• Night sweats
• Problems falling/staying asleep
• Mood fluctuations
• Skin dryness
• Thinning of hair

Some signs and symptoms of climacteric including changes in the menstruation cycle vary among women. Some irregularity in periods is expected before they end entirely.

Effects of Menopause on mental health

According to research, over 61% of women suffer anxiety during perimenopause (the transitionary period leading to climacteric). Estrogen produced by ovaries directly influences the production of the hormone serotonin. Serotonin (happy hormone) is the main hormone responsible for mood regulation. As the body’s estrogen levels diminish over time during the perimenopause phase affecting the production of serotonin, women feel a definitive shift in their mood, having a direct impact on their mental health. It is advised to remain aware of the psychological symptoms as well as physical ones in order to better manage menopause.

Some of the common psychological symptoms are:

• Low mood
• Anxiety
• Brain fog
• An inability to concentrate
• Low self-esteem
• Jumbled thoughts

Managing health during a midlife crisis

Now that you have the basic knowledge of menopause, it is pertinent to discuss a few health management options in order to ease your own experience of this natural process. The most effective management options will help you in the treatment of the symptoms of climacteric that cause a disruption in your life. The main type of treatment options are categorized as:

• Hormone Therapy: Hormone therapy involves supplementing with estrogen and progesterone hormones as your body’s natural hormonal production lowers. Hormone therapy has various risks attached to it and it is advised to seek medical opinion from a specialist in women’s health before embarking on that journey.
• Non-hormonal Treatment: Non-hormonal treatments include changing your lifestyle and diet in order to manage menopause symptoms. These treatment modalities not only help you manage the symptoms but also improve your overall health. Some of the examples are:
  • Changing your diet
  • Avoiding triggers to hot flashes
  • Working out

It is imperative that you have a detailed discussion with your provider in order to design a treatment plan that works best for your individual case.