Menopause: A Guide to Understanding The Transition

There have likely been times when you’ve wished your period would stop, especially when dealing with cramps or unexpected timing before an important event. Menstrual health and hygiene are essential matters that every woman should take seriously

Menopause is a physiological transition when you don't get your periods anymore. It is a transitional phase for every woman. As per research, women go through severe mood swings, hot flashes, and hormonal changes during this transition. It can be overwhelming as well.

In this article, we are going to talk about everything you need to know about menopause.

What Is Menopause?

Menopause is a developmental phase in a woman’s life where she does not get her periods (bleeding and spotting) for 12 months straight. It can hit you in your 40s and 50s. The average age of diagnosis is 52. This natural process occurs when your ovaries stop secreting reproductive hormones.

Here Are The Three Phases of Menopause:

• Perimenopause:

  This is the time when your ovaries start secreting less estrogen. It can happen 8 to 10 years before you hit your menopause. It usually begins in your 40s and can last up to several months and even years. Usually, the symptoms in this phase are mood swings and hot flushes.

• Menopause:

  It is surprising that many women still have limited knowledge about this phase, which also shows how little they are accustomed to menstrual health and menstrual hygiene initiatives. This is the defining period. When you don’t have menstruation for 12 months, you are diagnosed with menopause. This is the time when your estrogen production is less and your ovaries do not release eggs.

• Postmenopause: 

  This is the phase you stay in for the rest of your life. Though most of the symptoms subside, you may still face specific symptoms. Due to less estrogen production, many women are at risk of heart disease and osteoporosis.

  Menstrual health and menstrual hygiene initiatives like Ujaas also cover the fact that some women hit menopause before their silver jubilee. They have an early menopause, which happens before 45. And, if you hit menopause before 40, then it is known as premature menopause.

  Also read - Menstrual Health Hygiene for adolescent girls.

What Are The Causes for It?

• Hormonal insufficiency:

  It becomes more challenging to get pregnant post-30. This is because your body starts producing less progesterone and estrogen. When you enter your 40s, your periods can be heavier or lighter, longer or shorter, and may happen less or more. Then, your ovaries finally decide to stop releasing eggs. That is when you hit menopause.

• Oophorectomy:

  It is the surgery where your ovaries are removed. You instantly hit menopause even though you face menopausal symptoms like severe mood swings and hot flushes.

• Radiation or Chemotherapy:

  During chemotherapy, you may face menopausal symptoms and may hit menopause. But, as soon as you are done with treatment, you can again get your periods and even get pregnant. Radiation therapy on your belly, pelvis, and lower spine may cause menopause. Stem cell transplantation and its radiation therapy are also likely to cause it.

• Primary Ovarian Insufficiency: 

  This occurs because your ovaries don’t release enough estrogen and progesterone. It can happen from autoimmune disease or gene changes. This can happen before your 40s, and you may hit early menopause.

  Also Read - Importance of Mental Health Education in India.

• Young girls and women must be educated about premature menopause, menstrual health, and hygiene so that they can contact their doctors and gynecologists when they face issues. Many women do not know about the early onset of menopause, and that is why the government must take a crucial initiative on menstrual health and menstrual hygiene.

Symptoms of Menopause

You may face some or all of the symptoms if you are experiencing menopause:

    1.  Irregular periods, often or less, lighter or heavier

     2.  Vasomotor symptoms like hot flushes

     3.  Cold flushes

     4.  Severe mood swings

     5.  Urinary incontinence or frequent urination

     6.  Breast tenderness

     8.  Worsening of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

     9.  Palpitation or anxiety

   10.  Muscle pains and aches

   11.  Low libido or sexual urges

Worsening of These Symptoms? Here’s What You Can Do:

If you are facing severe anxiety or insomnia, then you would like to opt for a calming environment and try yoga, relaxation techniques, and meditation. If you're having frequent hot flushes, then you must have a calm environment and avoid having spicy food.

Read More - Menstrual Health And Hygiene for women with disability.

Is There A Treatment for Menopause?

There is no treatment for menopause as such, as it is a natural process and not a symptom or disease. You can, though, seek therapy for menopausal symptoms. Seeking treatment is just one part of it. You have to keep your menstrual health and hygiene in check, and that is very important.

• You can opt for Hormone Therapy like Estrogen Therapy (ET), where you solely take estrogen, or you can opt for Estrogen Progesterone Therapy (EPT), where you take doses of estrogen and progestin.
• If you are facing menopausal symptoms before you have hit your 40s, you can opt for Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Non Hormonal Treatments:

• Change what you eat. Eat a diet high in protein and vitamins, and reduce your caffeine intake and spicy foods.
• You can avoid triggering hot flushes by quitting smoking and opting for a relaxed environment.
• Exercising can do wonders. You can do yoga and meditation to deal with your severe mood swings and get better sleep.
• Taking prescription medications like anti-depressant pills, birth control, and Oxybutynin. You must take these medications in consultation with your doctor.

When Should You Meet Your Gynaecologist?

     1.  Heavy periods

     2.  Menstruation lasting for more than 7 days

     3.  Passing larger than a quarter blood clots

     4.  Your cycle is less than 21 days

     5.  You have missed periods before 45

     6.  You bleed after intercourse

     7.  You have spotting between periods

Read Also - The connection between menstruation and sexual health.

Final Thoughts!

Menopause is a unique process, and it is different for every woman. While someone might be experiencing hot flushes, someone else might be experiencing severe mood swings that spoil my day. The menstrual health and menstrual hygiene initiative is not just about knowing about menopausal symptoms; instead, it is about not getting anxious about the outcome. It is about embracing the newness in your life. You must enjoy the process and say a heartfelt goodbye to your periods.