Menopause
Menopause is a natural phenomenon in a woman's life, often accompanied by unpleasant side effects in the form of vasomotor, psychological, and metabolic disorders. Menopause is a normal change in every woman's life. It is a slow and long-term process of our reproductive system that for most of us begins silently around the age of 45, when menstrual cycles begin to be disrupted. Although it is not easy to predict when a woman's period will stop permanently, on average it is estimated to be around 50. However, millions of women around the world enter this phase much earlier.
Early menopause can be caused by genetic, immunological, or medical factors. A woman is born with a certain number of follicles, which after the end of puberty is 300,000–400,000 in both ovaries. The ovaries also produce the hormones estradiol and progesterone, which regulate menstruation and ovulation. Menopause occurs when the ovaries no longer produce an egg each month and menstruation stops. The woman then begins to transition from the reproductive to the non-reproductive period of her life.
For some, however, this process begins earlier than expected. Premature menopause occurs in 1/250 women under the age of 30 and in 1/100 women under the age of 40. The majority of women who have experienced early ovarian failure had a normal adolescence with regular cycles. The symptoms caused by menopause are mainly due to a lack of estrogen and occur in 80% of women. Fifteen percent of these women have such severe symptoms that intervention by a gynecologist is necessary.
Most women experience hot flashes in the upper body, often accompanied by redness and intense sweating, lasting 1-2 minutes and sometimes occurring during sleep. The following may also occur:
- Vaginal dryness
- Urination problems
- Decreased sex drive
- Osteoporosis
- Thinner, drier, less elastic skin
- Less commonly, the following may occur:
- Headaches
- Tachycardia
- Joint and muscle pain
- Cramps
- Insomnia
- Depression – irritability – mood swings
- Bad mood
- Palpitations
Menopause coincides with significant changes in a woman's life. Retirement and children leaving home are events that are expected in the 50s and 60s. Working with a doctor can help women avoid being affected by the effects of menopause and arm themselves with enthusiasm to face new challenges and activities.