Woman, know yourself: The truth about menopause

INTRODUCTION

This is often called a change of life in women that signals the end of a woman’s ability to have children due to stoppage of her periods as a result of lower hormone levels. This usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55. It can sometimes happen earlier naturally, or due to some medical surgical reasons e.g removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy) or the uterus (hysterectomy), Cancer treatments like Chemotherapy or a genetic reason etc.

DEFINITION: This is defined as the time of life when a woman’s Ovaries stop producing hormones and her menstrual periods stop.

What defines Menopause in a Woman: – A woman is said to be in her menopause when she does not menstruate for 12 consecutive months without any obvious physiological or pathological Caused and with no Clinical intervention.

SYMPTOMS

Hot flushes, dryness of vagina, sleep disturbances, which combination symptoms can lead to anxiety or depression, pain during sexual inter-course (dyspareunia), generalized body pains, fatigue, night sweats, osteoporosis, insomnia, early awakening from sleep, absence of menses or irregular menses, dryness or loss of scalp hair, dry skin, irritability, low libido, vagina itching or mood swings, and weight gain.

SIGNS: The first sign of Menopause usually a change in the normal pattern of your Menses e.g. light or heave menses, regular irregular menses etc.

STAGES OF MENOPAUSE:

One- Pre-menopause: At this stage of life, the woman is in her prime child bearings age, with regular menstrual cycle & no noticeable Symptoms.

Two- Peri–menopause: This means around menopause, at this stage the women body makes the natural transition to menopause; it marks the end of the reproductive stage and the beginning of menopause.

Three- Post menopause: This is after Menopause i.e the woman has not menstruated for over a year and some women might continue to experience symptoms of menopause even up till 44yrs after caesation of mengest while others don’t. Women in this level (post menopause women) have increased risk of Osteoporosis heart & disease. This stage marks the beginning of Menopause to the end of one’s life. At this stage, there is still a chance of pregnancy through invitro fertilization (IVF).

TREATMENT OF MENOPAUSE

One- Hormonal Replacement therapy, Oestrogen and progesterone – increase sex drive.

Two- Anti- depressant therapy

Three- Testosterone gel

Four- Oestrogen – for Vagina Dryness

Five- Exercises.

Six- Good sleeps

Seven- Good unsaturated fats e.g (monopoly unsaturated fats), vegetable oil, e.g soya, olive oils etc. Vitamin D, B & E.

Eight- Healthy diets e.g fruits, vegetables, whole grains, high quality proteins and dairy products, Omega 3 – fatty acids etc also help reduce Menopause symptoms.

NB.
Menopause cannot be prevented or reversed but symptoms can be relieved.

Women in Menopause cannot be pregnant because they do not produce eggs and so cannot get pregnant in a natural way. The duration of Menopause, depends on life style factors such as smoking, age at onset of Menopause, race and ethnicity.

COMPLICATIONS OF MENOPAUSE.

HHDX (Hypertensive Heart diseases), blood vessel diseases etc. All this happens when your Oestrogen levels decline, thereby giving rise to cardiovascular diseases.

Osteoporosis: This is a medical condition in which the bones become buttle and fragile from loss tissue, caused by hormonal changes or deficiency of Vitamin D or Calcium in Women/ Post-Menopausal Women as the Case study. E.g Primary Osteoporosis > in women than men.

Symptoms include: 

Fragility related fractures in the wrist, back, hip or other bones.

Height loss more than 2 inches in height can be lost over time

Receding gums

A Curve or Stooped shape to the spine

Lower back Pain etc.

Urinary incontinence ; is a major Symptom in Menopause known as the Genito Urinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM ) , It is often associated with sexual dysfunctions and occurs in over 50 % of menopausal women , it occurs as a result of low levels oestrogen and it has both external genital, e.g pelvic muscles Weakness, which reduces bladder support and also your ability to hold urine urological and sexual implications, its treatment includes exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles medical Surgical treatments (oestrogen replacement) as the case may be, also a simple practice of urination before sexual intercourse can help bladder training and toileting habits, life style modifications, dietary changes and avoiding bladder irritants such as caffeine, smoking, alcohol etc.

Low Sexual functions: – Sexual functions in menopause worsen with advancing menopause status e.g There is low sexual desire (about 40-55 % of women), Poor lubrication (25-30 % of women) and Dyspareunia (12-45 %), emotional changes can also make you feel too Stressed for sex.

Weight Gain: – At menopause, many women experience weight gain, particularly around the abdomen, contributors include Decrease in Oestrogen levels, age related loss of muscle tissue and lifestyle factor such as diet and lack of exercise. Women gain up to 5 -8% of their baseline body weight e.g baseline body weight value for females equal 60 inche female patient = 45.5kg. 45.5kg /60 inches = 0.758kg/inches.
Menopause lasts about 7years but can be as long as 14 years defending one patient’s Pre – Morbid Status

DRUGS TO HELP:

Peri-Menopause relief Capsules; CVS Health multi – symptom Menopause Relief Capsules; Amberen Menopause Relief Capsules; Estrogen peri- menopause relief and weight management supplement capsules, and Estrogen Menopause Relief Mood Memory Support Caplets etc.

BETTER UNDERSTANDING FOR YOUNGER ONES: –

One- Menopause is said to have started 12 months after a woman’s last period.

Two- The years leading up to that point when women have changes in their months Cycles, hot flushes, or other Symptoms are called the menopausal transition or peri-menopause.

Three- The menopausal transition most often begins between ages 45-55. treatment in Menopause depends on.

Four- Signs/Symptoms/Complications of Menopause.

Preparation for Menopause by younger ones:

One: Maintain a healthy Weight

Two: Change your diets

Three: Exercise more

Four: Lower osteoporosis risks

Five: ractice good sleep hygiene

Six: Take care of your mental health

Seven: Watch out from your age 40s

Eight: Drink water adequately.

Dr Ibe is a medical expert and the Group CEO, Equity Health Group