Menopause: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and More!

What is menopause?

Menopause is natural. On average, it occurs in women between 45 and 55. 

Menopause is the point in a woman’s life when she does not get a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. However, she need not worry, as it is a natural process when her ovaries stop producing reproductive hormones. Once her menopause starts, she can no longer become pregnant. 

A woman experiencing menopause undergoes several uncomfortable physical and emotional changes. However, these symptoms are manageable through hormone therapy, medication, or lifestyle adjustments. 

Health alert: When menopause does not occur naturally and involves surgical or medical treatment, it is called induced menopause. 

Causes of Menopause: Detailed Overview

Menopause is natural, which means it is bound to happen. You must know the main causes of menopause to get mentally prepared for it.

The main causes of menopause are: 

1. Ovaries stop releasing an egg: Ovaries stop releasing an egg. Each woman carries her eggs, which are stored in her ovaries. These ovaries are responsible for making the hormones estrogen and progesterone. These ovaries play a crucial role in menstruation and ovulation. 

Menopause occurs when ovaries no longer release an egg (ovulation) every month, and menstruation stops. 

2. Surgery: Menopause is an age factor and happens after a woman crosses 40. However, if menopause occurs early, it may be due to surgery. Surgical treatments can cause a drop in estrogen. This means removal of ovaries (hysterectomy). 

3. Chemotherapy is another factor that may lead to menopause.

Note: On average, menopause occurs at the age of 45 to 55. However, depending on several individual factors, menopause might occur earlier. If it occurs early, that means before the age of 40, it is called premature menopause. 

Conditions responsible for premature menopause

Certain conditions that can cause premature menopause include genes, immune system disorders, or medical procedures. Others contributing to premature menopause are: 

• Induced menopause: It is a stage when a doctor removes ovaries. Medical reasons associated with the same include uterine cancer or endometriosis. This stage of menopause also occurs when radiation or chemotherapy damages the ovaries. 
• Premature ovarian failure: Also known as primary ovarian insufficiency, this stage indicates premature stopping of ovaries releasing eggs. This brings changes in estrogen and progesterone levels. 
• Smoking & drinking: Around 5% of women undergo menopause naturally. However, women who live an unhealthy lifestyle, like smoking and drinking, can experience menopause earlier than usual. 
• Certain medications can cause menopause to come earlier than usual, leading to several health problems. 

Conditions not responsible for premature menopause

Conditions that do not cause premature menopause include: 

• Hormonal birth control: According to a population-based study, it is revealed that oral contraceptives have no connection to early natural menopause. Experts do not believe that hormonal birth control can cause premature menopause. Using hormonal birth control can stop ovulation but doesn’t stop the loss of follicles. 
• Ethnicity: Similarly, race and ethnicity are not connected with early menopause. The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) revealed that women from different backgrounds experienced menopause around the same age. 

What is the first sign of menopause? 

A woman is utterly clueless about the first sign of menopause. When she is in her mid-40s, she is likely to experience menopause. 

Vasomotor symptoms (VMS): It is commonly called hot flashes or flushes (HFs). During this time, you experience a hot flash, a sudden warmth all over her body.

Hot flashes can be mild or severe and are accompanied by blushing, a racing heart, and sweating.

Health Alert: Contact your healthcare provider when no period occurs for 12 consecutive months and suddenly you get vaginal bleeding. This is a stage that indicates you have reached menopause and could be a sign of a serious health issue. 

7 Common symptoms include

Common symptoms associated with the menopause include: 

1. Uneven or missed periods
2. Vaginal dryness
3. Sore breast
4. Difficulty sleeping
5. Mood swings 
6. Frequent urination
7. Dry skin, mouth, or eyes. 

Other Symptoms of Menopause: You May Like to Know

• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• Changes in libido
• Joint and muscle pain
• Headaches
• Crankiness
• Depression
• Hair loss 
• Forgetfulness in some women

Health alert: Not everyone has the same symptoms of menopause. Changes in hormone levels lead to menopause symptoms, which require testing. Blood and urine tests are usually recommended to check for changes in hormone levels. 

What makes menopause symptoms worse?

Menopause brings different experiences for different women. In general, its symptoms last for about seven years. It is believed that symptoms tend to disappear or ease up once the postmenopause stage occurs. 

The worsening of menopause symptoms depends on your symptoms. Generally, you should avoid activities that can aggravate menopause symptoms. For instance, do not go in open, warm environments if you have hot flashes or are sweating. Besides, in case of anxiety or insomnia, you can do yoga exercises or read a book before bed to get a peaceful sleep. 

Challenges related to menopause 

The public health challenges related to menopause include: 

1. There is no open discussion about menopause within families, communities, workplaces, or healthcare settings. 
2. Women are unaware of the signs of menopause.
3. Women experiencing menopause may feel embarrassed to ask for support. 
4. Menopause is still not receiving attention at a greater level. 
5. Sometimes, healthcare professionals lack knowledge regarding recognizing perimenopausal and postmenopausal symptoms. They fail to counsel patients about treatment options and staying healthy. 

Menopause Diagnosis 

To diagnose menopause, a healthcare provider might suggest blood tests to check the levels of: 

• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). When a woman is near menopause, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) usually increases. 
• Estradiol. This test helps a doctor determine how much estrogen your ovaries are producing. However, estradiol levels decrease during menopause. 
• Thyroid hormones: Thyroid hormones affect your period and show signs of menopause. 

Book blood and urine tests from Redcliffe Labs at affordable rates! 

Your healthcare provider may suggest blood and urine tests to check for hormone changes depending on your current health status. You can book a test from Redcliffe Labs at the best available rates with the convenience of home sample collection. Get accurate reports within a given time. 

After seeing your blood and urine test report, it will be clear whether you are close to menopause or have already gone through this stage. Additionally, he may ask to repeat the hormone tests to confirm your menopause status. 

What happens during menopause?

Natural menopause is slow and has three stages: 

• Perimenopause. It is the first stage of menopause that starts several years before menopause. During this stage, ovaries produce less estrogen. This stage continues until menopause when ovaries stop releasing eggs. 
• Menopause. This stage occurs after it's been a year since you had a period. Your ovaries no longer release eggs and make most of their estrogen. 
• Postmenopause. This stage comes after menopause. Vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats get milder or disappear. Besides, the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease increases for people in postmenopause. 

Management and Treatment

As stated above, menopause is a natural process and may not need any treatment for it. Getting treated for menopause means treating symptoms that disturb your life. 

Below are common treatments available for managing menopause symptoms: 

• Topical hormone therapy. A doctor may suggest hormone therapy to boost hormone levels and treat symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness. In this treatment, experts use an estrogen cream to insert or gel to reduce vaginal dryness. 
• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Also known as menopausal hormone therapy, it involves medicines that help replace the hormones that your body is not producing anymore. This therapy involves certain risks, such as heart disease or breast cancer. 
• Non-hormonal treatments. Several nonhormonal therapies are available to ease menopause symptoms. For instance, Brisdelle Paxil, which is a depression drug paroxetine, the nerve drug gabapentin, and Clonidine, which is a blood pressure drug, help your body treat hot flashes and vaginal dryness. 

Besides, medicines for urinary incontinence, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or low-dose birth control pills are some non-hormonal treatments for menopause management. 

• Vitamin D supplements also help keep your bones strong and help prevent osteoporosis.

Additionally, lifestyle changes and a menopause diet can help many women deal with menopause symptoms successfully. 

Lifestyle Changes

Lifestyle changes are a must to manage your menopause symptoms. These changes might also make you feel better: 

1. If you have vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes, drink plenty of water, sit near or carry a portable fan, and dress in layers to ease them. 
2. Use vaginal moisturizers to reduce dryness. 
3. Exercise to improve sleep and prevent conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. 
4. Kegel exercises are helpful. They help make your pelvic floor muscles stronger. 
5. Keep having sex. 
6. Avoid smoking and limit your alcohol.
7. Avoid highly processed foods such as candy and fried chips. Also, no sugary drinks, baked goods, or caffeinated products to help with sleep problems, weight gain, and hot flashes. 
8. Eat a variety of foods. 
9. Yoga exercises, deep breathing, or massage can help you relax. 

Menopause diet

Certain foods that may help relieve menopause symptoms include: 

• Dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese.
• Healthy fats, such as omega-3 fatty acids, are easily found in fatty fish and seeds. 
• Whole grains include brown rice, whole wheat bread, quinoa, oats, and Khorasan wheat. 
• Fruits and vegetables are packed with essential nutrients and antioxidants. Include dark berries in your diet to help with menopause symptoms. 
• Soybeans, chickpeas, peanuts, grapes, flaxseeds, barley, and green and black tea are examples of phytoestrogen-containing foods. 
• Eat protein-rich foods like eggs, meat, fish, legumes, and dairy products. 

Estrogen alternatives

Estrogen alternatives, or “synthetic estrogens,” are recommended to improve the symptoms of vaginal atrophy. It doesn’t affect endometrial cancer risk. 

Alternative therapies 

Homeopathy and herbal treatments may provide relief from menopause symptoms. Consult with your healthcare provider about their effectiveness, safety, and purity. 

Conclusion

Menopause tends to affect personal and professional life. You need not worry, as menopause symptoms can be managed effectively. 

Engage in regular physical activity and eat a balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Do yoga exercises, meditate, quit smoking, and limit alcohol to live a much better life. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the health risks associated with menopause?

The health risks associated with menopause include osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases. These conditions occur mainly due to low estrogen levels. 

2. When should you see your doctor during menopause?

You should see your doctor during menopause, including getting heavier periods than usual, periods longer than seven days, skipping periods before the age of 45, bleeding after sex, or bleeding or spots between periods. 

3. Can you conceive during menopause?

Yes. There is a chance of getting pregnant until you are sure that you have completed menopause. 

4. Can menopause affect sleep?

Yes. Difficulty sleeping is a very common side effect of menopause. Women with hot flashes usually experience sleepless nights during menopause. 

5. Is it normal to gain weight during menopause?

Yes. You may gain weight during menopause due to hormonal changes. However, some women tend to lose muscle as they get older. 

6. Can menopause affect a woman’s sexual life?

Yes. The decline in hormone levels may affect a woman’s sexual life. Menopause symptoms such as vaginal dryness can make sex painful.