Menopause is a normal biological phenomenon that ends a woman's reproductive years. It is a stage where women stop having their monthly menstrual cycle.
Menopause usually occurs, on average, among women aged 50 to 52 years old. However, there are some ladies whose menopause occurs later in their life, around 55 to 60 years old or even earlier, between the age of 40 to 45 years old.
There is such thing as premature menopause, though. This happens among women younger than 45 years old. This is a very special cohort of patients where their ovaries die faster.
These young women may have issues with fertility as well as short and irregular menstrual cycles.
Why does menopause happen?
Menopause happens when your ovaries stop working, where the follicles in the ovaries start reducing and die naturally.
What are the symptoms?
Hot flushes
Hot flushes happen to about 70% of women who are going through menopause. Women who experience hot flushes tend to feel hot even in a fully air-conditioned room. They would also experience excessive sweating and extreme discomfort.
The easiest solution to reducing hot flushes is by having a handheld fan with you at all times so you can stay cool despite feeling hot and sweaty. Wearing light clothing and stay hydrated may also help with hot flushes.
Disrupted sleeping pattern
Menopause can also affect someone's sleeping pattern. Their sleeping hours can change and shorten unusually.
Exercising regularly may help you reorganize your disrupted sleeping pattern and have better rest hours.
Sexual dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction happens when a woman goes through loss of libido or sex drive as well as vaginal dryness.
Vaginal dryness can be treated by using lubricants during sexual intercourse.
Urogenital issues
Problems with urinary systems are quite common during menopause. For example, pain during urination, pain around the vagina, vaginal dryness and as well as uterine prolapse where the tissues and muscles in their pelvis weaken.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Some women are able to endure symptoms of menopause and have no problems going through their daily routines. However, some other women may have trouble to get through a task due to the discomfort and uneasiness they face.
Hormone replacement therapy is a type of treatment to help women who are going through menopause. Gynaecologists will advise their patients to go through this treatment if none of the symptoms mentioned above can be solved.
Before taking the medication for hormone replacement therapy, patients will go through a series of questions asked by their gynaecologists to identify whether they are suitable for the treatment.
Ladies, if you are experiencing any of these menopause symptoms, please seek advice from your gynaecology specialists so they can suggest you the best treatment you can get. Keep your health in check and do not hesitate to talk to your doctor about your problems.
תגובות