Menopause symptoms, which lead to significant changes in a woman’s life similar to those experienced during infancy or adolescence, manifest in different ways. This process, which spans three different stages known as “Premenopause,” “Menopause,” and “Postmenopause,” leads to a halt in estrogen production due to a decrease in the number of follicles in the ovaries.
In the final stage, estrogen production stops completely, the ovaries shrink, and the menstrual cycle ends, resulting in the loss of reproductive ability.
What is Menopause?
Menopause is a biological and natural process that signifies the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles. It is generally diagnosed after a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. The transition period from the reproductive and menstruation phase to menopause is called perimenopause.
The term “perimenopause” means “around menopause” and helps to describe the condition of women who begin to experience this process in their 30s, in contrast to those who enter menopause in their 40s or 50s.
Is There a Specific Age for Menopause?
The age at which menopause occurs varies depending on genetic and environmental factors. When asked, “What is the average age for menopause?” statistics indicate that it generally occurs between 45-55 years worldwide, and between 46-48 years in our country. While menopause naturally manifests at these ages, it can also occur earlier or later due to various reasons.
Menopause is classified into three different groups based on its onset: “natural,” “early,” and “surgical.” Natural menopause, as described by WHO statistics, typically occurs between the ages of 40-50.
Early menopause refers to the onset of menopause before the age of 45. Causes can include unknown factors, autoimmune diseases, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, infections, environmental factors, abortions and miscarriages, obesity, and hypothyroidism.
Factors triggering early menopause can be divided into genetic and environmental categories. Genetic triggers include family history of menopause at similar ages, severe metabolic diseases, and irregular menstrual cycles. Environmental triggers include heavy smoking, geographic location, psychological traumas, and climatic conditions.
Some women may experience menopause earlier than usual due to surgical procedures. For instance, if a menstruating woman’s ovaries are surgically removed, her menstruation will cease, and menopause will occur. Additionally, radiation treatments can also lead to menopause.
What are the Symptoms of Menopause?
Menopause symptoms and signs can vary widely among women, including changes in the menstrual cycle. During the perimenopause phase, which encompasses the transition from regular reproductive and menstrual periods to menopause, women may experience a range of symptoms over the months or years leading up to menopause. These symptoms can include, but are not limited to:
- Skin dryness
- Night sweats
- Weight gain
- Slowed metabolism
- Loss of breast fullness
- Sudden mood swings
- Thinning hair
- Vaginal dryness
During the perimenopause stage, missed periods are common and expected. Often, menstrual periods may skip a month and then return, or they might skip several months and then resume. Additionally, menstrual cycles may tend to become shorter.
Despite irregular menstrual cycles, it is still possible to become pregnant. Therefore, healthcare professionals recommend that women who miss a period but are unsure about starting menopause should take a pregnancy test. However, if there is vaginal bleeding after the menopause process has ended, it is crucial to seek medical advice. Early intervention and diagnosis can benefit the treatment process.
What Causes Menopause?
Various factors can trigger menopause, but the most common cause is the natural decline in reproductive hormones due to aging. As women approach their late 30s, their ovaries start to produce less estrogen and progesterone, the hormones that regulate menstruation. This decline leads to reduced fertility.
A hysterectomy, in which the uterus is removed but the ovaries are left intact, usually does not cause immediate menopause. Although the woman no longer has periods, her ovaries still produce estrogen and progesterone.
However, a total hysterectomy, which involves the removal of both the uterus and ovaries, can directly cause menopause. This results in the immediate cessation of menstrual periods. Because the hormonal changes that would normally occur over several years happen abruptly, severe hot flashes, pain, and other menopause symptoms are likely to occur.
Early menopause, or primary ovarian insufficiency, affects about 1% of women before the age of 40. This condition can be caused by genetic factors or autoimmune diseases that prevent the ovaries from producing normal levels of reproductive hormones.
In many cases, the cause of early menopause is unknown. When this condition occurs, doctors often recommend hormone therapy until the natural age of menopause to protect the health of the brain, heart, and bones.
How is Menopause Diagnosed?
Under normal circumstances, tests are not necessary to diagnose menopause. The appearance of menopause symptoms and signs is usually sufficient to determine the onset of perimenopause. However, women experiencing irregular menstrual periods or symptoms like hot flashes are advised to seek medical help. In some cases, more advanced diagnostic methods may be needed.
In such situations, the doctor may recommend blood tests to check various hormone levels. These tests typically include measurements of FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and estrogen levels. As menopause progresses, an increase in FSH levels and a decrease in estradiol levels are observed.
What Are Menopause Pains and Associated Health Risks?
During menopause, women may face an increased risk of certain medical conditions. Cardiovascular diseases are one of the primary concerns. Given that heart disease is a leading cause of death for both genders, establishing a routine of regular exercise and a healthy diet is crucial.
In the first few years after menopause, women are at a high risk of osteoporosis due to a loss in bone density. Osteoporosis is a condition that makes bones weak and brittle, posing a significant threat to women during this time.
As metabolism slows during perimenopause and continues into menopause, weight gain can become an issue. Therefore, it is essential to pay extra attention to diet and nutrition to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle.
Additionally, menopause causes a loss of elasticity in the tissues of the vagina and urethra. Postmenopausal complaints often include urinary tract infections, frequent urination, and involuntary urine leakage. Women may also experience urine leakage during activities that increase abdominal pressure, such as coughing, laughing, sneezing, or lifting heavy objects.
What Helps with Menopause?
During menopause, managing common symptoms like hot flashes is crucial. Wearing light clothing can help keep body temperature balanced. Additionally, experts recommend avoiding substances with harmful effects on the body, such as spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol, and cigarettes.
Regular sexual activity is important during menopause to protect against atrophy. For painful intercourse due to decreased estrogen levels, lubricating oils can provide relief. To protect against osteoporosis, it is essential to ensure adequate daily calcium intake and engage in regular exercise.
What Treatments Are Applied During Menopause?
Contrary to popular belief, the menopause period does not necessarily require medical treatment. Instead, menopause treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms that may cause discomfort and preventing chronic conditions associated with aging.
Hormone therapy is one of the most common treatment methods used to manage menopause symptoms. Estrogen hormone therapy is known to be the most effective way to relieve hot flashes caused by menopause.
What Treatments Are Applied During Menopause?
Contrary to popular belief, the menopause period does not necessarily require medical treatment. Instead, menopause treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms that may cause discomfort and preventing chronic conditions associated with aging.
Hormone therapy is one of the most common treatment methods used to manage menopause symptoms. Estrogen hormone therapy is known to be the most effective way to relieve hot flashes caused by menopause. Additionally, the role of estrogen in preventing bone loss is another well-accepted fact. Given this, a doctor may recommend starting estrogen therapy at the lowest dose to alleviate symptoms, taking into account the individual’s and family’s medical history.
Women who have not had a hysterectomy will need progestin in addition to estrogen to balance hormone levels. However, long-term hormone therapy increases the risk of some cardiovascular diseases and breast cancer.
Despite these risks, hormone use during menopause can positively contribute to the treatment of certain conditions. Therefore, it is recommended to consult a doctor before starting such treatment to ensure the risk is minimized.
Frequently Asked Questions About Menopause Symptoms
Even though menopause is a phase that can be managed without medical intervention, it can still cause confusion. Issues related to pregnancy, sexual activity, and other concerns can lead to psychological distress if not well understood. It is important for women to remain calm during this period and seek help from their doctor or reliable online sources when faced with problems.
Does Menopause End Sexual Life?
Menopause does not mark the end of sexual life. It is merely a process that signifies the end of the menstrual cycle. Therefore, sexual life does not cease with menopause. Women may experience a reduction in the size of their sexual organs due to decreased estrogen levels, which can cause pain during intercourse. However, lubricants can help alleviate this discomfort.
How Does a Woman Feel When Entering Menopause?
Menopause, also known as the final menstrual period, is a time of estrogen deficiency. While this deficiency does not manifest through psychological illnesses, it does lead to autonomic nervous system side effects such as hot flashes, numbness, sweating, and balance disorders.
Women experiencing these effects may also suffer from emotional downturns, inner unrest, pessimism, and general dissatisfaction. This condition is closely related to personality and self-confidence. Therefore, women with high self-confidence and a calm approach to this phase are less likely to experience these problems.
Can a Woman Get Pregnant During Menopause?
During menopause, menstrual cycles become irregular, making it difficult to predict ovulation. However, women can still ovulate and become pregnant during this period, though it is rare. Contraceptive methods can be tailored to the individual or couple. The most recommended methods during menopause include intrauterine devices (IUDs), tubal ligation, or proper condom use.
Why Does Discharge Occur After Menopause?
Post-menopausal women may experience atrophic changes in the vaginal epithelium. The vagina shortens and narrows over time, and in the final stage, the vaginal skin thins and the rugae smooth out. The rupture of surface blood vessels can cause irregular pinpoint bleeding and brownish discharge. Additionally, minimal trauma from vaginal douches or sexual intercourse can lead to slight bleeding.
How to Relieve Menopause Sweating?
There are several methods to alleviate the discomfort caused by hot flashes and sweating. Smoking is a trigger for hot flashes, as are caffeine and spicy foods, which can increase sweating as much as nicotine. Reducing or completely quitting these can be beneficial.
Placing an ice pack under your pillow to cool it down and flipping the pillow to feel the cool side can help when you feel hot. Additionally, keeping your sleeping environment cool can provide relief from sweating.
Contrary to old beliefs, hormone therapy is not necessarily beneficial for heart and bone health. Therefore, hormone therapy is not given to every woman experiencing menopause. However, it is still used for women with severe hot flashes and sweating. Non-hormonal products like certain antidepressants and gabapentin are also used as menopause medications to treat sweating. Contrary to outdated beliefs, hormone therapy is not universally beneficial for heart and bone health during menopause. As a result, it is not prescribed to all women experiencing this transition. Nevertheless, it remains a viable option for those with severe hot flashes and excessive sweating. In addition to hormone therapy, non-hormonal alternatives such as specific antidepressants and gabapentin are utilized to effectively manage menopausal symptoms like sweating.