The Mystery of Menopause
Is menopause a mystery to you? For many women it is. Perhaps your mother did not talk about what happened to her during menopause, just as her mother did not talk to her about menopause. Menopause does not have to be a mystery, much less something to fear or dread. Menopause is not the end of life, it is simply the next phase of life. In fact, considering the average American woman lives to be 81 years old, a woman can expect to live more than one third of her life after menopause! Put another way, one out of three American women have already been through menopause.
What is menopause?
During a woman’s monthly cycle, her body produces hormones, estrogen and progestin, which play a role in conceiving a child. During her 30s and 40s, production of these hormones slowly declines and her periods may become irregular. About the time she turns 50, her body’s production of estrogen and progestin declines dramatically. Sometimes called the “change of life,” menopause means a woman is no longer able to bear children. Menopause is considered to be complete when she has gone for an entire year without having a period. Although the average American woman is about 50 years old when this happens, each individual is different. Just as menstruation starts at different ages, it stops at different ages as well. Cigarette smokers tend to reach menopause earlier than non-smokers.
What should I expect during menopause?
Menopause is different for every woman. Some women notice very little difference in how they feel while going through “the change.” Others find the whole experience uncomfortable. The most common and well-known symptom of menopause is hot flashes. A hot flash is simply that: a sudden flash of intense heat in your head, neck, or upper body.
Hot Flashes
Hot flashes often start without warning. The head and neck suddenly become red and flushed. Red patches may appear on your chest, back, and arms. Cold sweats and shivering may follow as your body tries to come back down to its normal temperature.
Hot flashes may be annoying but are no reason to be afraid. They will become less frequent and less severe as time goes by. For some women, hot flashes start two or three years before menopause itself actually starts, and may last as long as five years. For most women, however, hot flashes last two years or less. For some women, spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol, or hot drinks such as coffee or tea may trigger a hot flash. For other women, stressful events may trigger a hot flash. However, avoiding these foods, drinks, or situations will not prevent hot flashes completely.
Some women claim vitamin E helps them reduce the number and severity of hot flashes, although this has not yet been proven.
Dealing With Hot Flashes
- Dress in several layers so you can remove a jacket or sweater at the first sign of a hot flash.
- Drink a glass of something cold at the first sign of a hot flash.
- Keep a thermos of cold water or even an ice pack beside your bed.
- Wear cotton clothes and sleep in cotton sheets to help your skin “breathe.”
Vaginal/Urinary Tract Changes
As a woman ages, the walls of her vagina become thinner and dryer. They may also become more vulnerable to infection. Because of these changes, sexual intercourse may become uncomfortable or even painful for older women. Although women over 50 may find they need to use some form of lubricant, these changes hardly mean an end to sex. Avoid petroleum jelly, which can contribute to infections and damage condoms. (Many women are allergic to it as well.) Instead, use water-based lubricants.
Along with the vagina, a woman’s urinary tract changes as she ages. Women become more susceptible to involuntary loss of urine, or incontinence, especially during urinary tract infections or certain long-term illnesses.
To reduce your risk of urinary tract infections:
- Urinate before and after intercourse.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Be sure your bladder is not full for long periods.
- Keep your genital area clean.
Again, these do not have to be inevitable parts of aging. These are treatable conditions. Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing these problems.
Osteoporosis
The amount of bone mass in your body does not stay the same. As we grow older, our bones begin to shrink. In women this process increases significantly during perimenopause, the phase just before the start of menopause. The decrease in the production of the hormones estrogen and progestin in a woman’s body accelerate bone loss. By now, many women have heard about the importance of calcium in slowing bone loss and preventing osteoporosis. But the hormone estrogen is even more effective than calcium in preventing osteoporosis.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
So why doesn’t every woman take estrogen as she gets older? Because for some women, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has side effects which are unpleasant or even dangerous. These include vaginal bleeding, discharge, headaches, nausea, fluid retention, swollen breasts, and weight gain. In other words, replacing lost estrogen brings back many symptoms a woman thought she had left behind when she entered menopause!
Other more serious concerns connected with HRT are an increased risk of cancer of the uterus or breast. Most doctors and scientists think the benefit of HRT outweighs the side effects or dangers for most women.
Only your physician can help you decide which option may be appropriate for you!
For more information about these and other women’s health issues, call UT Medical Group at 901-448-6610.
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