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MENOPAUSE<\/p>\nMENOPAUSE<\/p>\n
INTRODUCTION
\nMenopause is the time that marks the end of a woman\u2019s menstrual cycles. It is a natural biological process. The years leading up to that point, when women may have changes in their monthly cycles, hot flashes, or other symptoms, are called the menopausal transition or perimenopause. The menopausal transition most often begins between ages 45 and 55. Menopause occurs when a woman has not seen her monthly period for 12 months.
\nPremature or early menopause is menopause that occurs before the age of 40 years.Early menopause can be induced by some medical treatments such as surgery or chemotherapy.Women that experience early or premature menopause may need hormone therapy to reduce the risk of diseases such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n
SYMPTOMS OF MENOPAUSE
\n\u2022 Hot flushes\/flashes
\n\u2022 Sweats
\n\u2022 Sleep disturbance
\n\u2022 Urinary problems, such as increased frequency of urination or incontinence
\n\u2022 Vaginal dryness
\n\u2022 Increase in mood changes
\n\u2022 Increase or decrease in weight
\n\u2022 Aches and pains.<\/p>\n
COMMON HEALTH COMPLICATIONS OF MENOPAUSE<\/p>\n
\u2022 Vulvovaginal atrophy
\n\u2022 Dyspareunia, or painful intercourse
\n\u2022 Slower metabolic function
\n\u2022 Osteoporosis, or weaker bones with reduced mass and strength
\n\u2022 Mood or sudden emotional changes
\n\u2022 Periodontal disease
\n\u2022 Urinary incontinence
\n\u2022 Heart or blood vessel disease
\n\u2022 Weight gain<\/p>\n
PREMENOPAUSAL PERIOD
\nIn the months or years before menopause, a woman’s periods typically become irregular, which means that periods may be longer or shorter in duration or be lighter or heavier in the amount of flow. During this time, women often experience hot flashes. Hot flashes typically last for 30 seconds to 30 minutes and are characterised by shivering, sweating, and reddening of the skin. Occurrence of hot flashes (or hot flushes) can last from four to five years. They occur due to hormonal changes in the period before\/around menopause. Premenopausal period terminates with the last menses.
\nWeight gain and slowed metabolism, thinning hair, dry skin and loss of fullness of breast may occur.There is decreased sexual drive. Estrogen is the major hormone responsible for controlling a woman\u2019s sexual drive. Decreased estrogen levels can affect a woman\u2019s sexual drive.<\/p>\n
PERIMENOPAUSAL PERIOD
\nThis is a period lasting from 4 to 8 years starting from when menses become irregular to 12 months after the last menses. During this period a woman may have hot flashes, sleeping difficulty, night sweats, and mood changes. Depression is common during this period.<\/p>\n
POSTMENOPAUSE
\nThis is the period from 12 months after the last menses. Any vaginal bleeding during this period requires investigations to rule out endometrial cancer. A woman is infertile during this period.<\/p>\n
PREMATURE MENOPAUSE (EARLY MENOPAUSE)
\nThis refers to menopause before the age of 40 years. The symptoms of early menopause are the same as for menopause.
\nPremature menopause means a woman’s ovaries have spontaneously stopped working before she has reached the age of 40 years. Women can be affected in their teens or early 20s. About one in 1000 women reach menopause before the age of 30. Menopause can be specifically induced for medical reasons, such as cancer surgery. For example, a woman with ovarian cancer will require surgery to remove her ovaries.
\nPremature menopause can be emotionally devastating. Some of the common issues women may face include:
\n\u2022 grief at the prospect of not having children
\n\u2022 fear of ‘growing old before their time’
\n\u2022 concern that their partner won\u2019t find them sexually attractive anymore
\n\u2022 self-esteem problems.
\nPsychological counselling and support groups may help women come to terms with their experience of early or premature menopause.<\/p>\n
LATE MENOPAUSE<\/p>\n
A woman still experiencing menstrual cycle in her late 50s to 60s is said to be experiencing late onset of menopause. Some of the causes may include:
\nGenetics: Genetics determines the onset of menopause about half of the time. This factor is most relevant if your mother entered menopause naturally rather than from surgery or an illness.
\nObesity: Overweight and obese women have a 50% higher risk of late menopause than other women. Fat tissue produces and stores estrogen, which delays its depletion.
\nMenstrual cycle patterns: Women who started menstruating late, had lifelong irregularities, or have naturally high estrogen levels may experience later menopause.
\nPregnancies: The timing and number of pregnancies you have had may determine
\nonset of menopause.<\/p>\n
INDUCED MENOPAUSE<\/p>\n
This is menopause arising as a result of some therapeutic procedure, medication, or surgery. It can be induced by:
\n\u2022 Chemotherapy
\n\u2022 Radiotherapy
\n\u2022 Oophorectomy (removal of ovary)
\n\u2022 Hysterectomy (removal of uterus)<\/p>\n
POSSIBLE HEALTH PROBLEMS AT TIME OF MENOPAUSE<\/p>\n
Some health conditions unrelated to menopause are common at the age when women experience menopause. These include:
\n\u2022 Stroke
\n\u2022 Endometrial cancer
\n\u2022 Breast cancer
\n\u2022 Genitourinary problems
\n\u2022 Osteoporosis
\n\u2022 Hypertension
\n\u2022 Uterovaginal prolapse
\n\u2022 Depression
\n\u2022 Diabetes
\nRACIAL DIFFERENCES IN THE AGE OF MENOPAUSE<\/p>\n
Many factors come into play to determine when women enter menopause, making each woman\u2019s experience unique. However, various studies show that women of African, Asian and Hispanic races tend to enter perimenopause and menopause at earlier ages than their white peers; they also have longer transition (perimenopause) periods and experience more intense hot flashes and vaginal symptoms.<\/p>\n
REMEDIES AND LIFE CHANGES NEEDED FOR MENOPAUSE<\/p>\n
\u2022 Managing hot flashes, keeping body cool, and staying comfortable
\n\u2022 Exercise to check weight gain
\n\u2022 Communicating your needs to medical personnel, psychologists and other therapists. Attention to issues such as depression, anxiety, superstitions, and fears, will require proper management by various experts.
\n\u2022 Supplementing diet: Calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium supplements help reduce risk of osteoporosis and improve energy levels and sleep.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-
\nhttps:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/menopause
\nhttps:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Menopause
\nhttps:\/\/www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au\/health\/
\nhttps:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/late-menopausehttps:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/menopause<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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