What Is Menopause and How Can You Deal With It

Your menstrual cycles stop during the perimenopausal phase or menopause. It's diagnosed once you have gone 12 months without a period. Although menopause can occur in your 40s or 50s, the average age is 51.

Menopause is a normal biological process. Yet, menopause's physical and mental symptoms, such as hot flashes, can cause sleep disturbances, low energy levels, and emotional health issues. Numerous efficient therapies are available, ranging from hormone therapy to lifestyle changes.

Causes of Menopause

A woman's eggs, kept in her ovaries, are present when she is born. Their ovaries also generate progesterone and estrogen, which control menstruation and egg release (ovulation). When menstruation stops, the ovaries stop releasing an egg every month, known as menopause.

Menopause is normal after the age of 40. Nonetheless, some women may experience it early. It might lead to this condition when their ovaries are removed through a hysterectomy or when chemotherapy damages them. Premature menopause is the term used when it occurs for any reason before the age of 40.

Symptoms of Menopause

You may have the following symptoms and indicators in the months or years before menopause (perimenopause):

Irregular cycles
Vaginal dryness
A hot flash
Chills
Sweats at night
Sleep Issues
Mood shifts
Weight gain and slowed metabolism
Hair loss and dry skin
Loss of breast fullness

Women can have various signs and symptoms, including changes in menstruation. Before your periods finish, you may notice some irregularity.

It is normal and common for women in perimenopause to have missed periods. Menstrual cycles frequently skip a month and come back, or skip several months and then resume for a few months. Periods also typically occur on shorter cycles, making them more frequent. Plan to get a pregnancy test if you have skipped a period but are unsure if the menopausal transition has begun.

How can you diagnose menopause?

Your healthcare professional can diagnose menopause in several ways. The first is talking about your menstrual cycle during the previous 12 months. You've reached menopause and may be postmenopausal if you've gone a full year (12 months without a period).

The Food and Drug Administration recently endorsed a brand-new blood test called the PicoAMH Elisa diagnostic test. This examination evaluates whether a woman has reached menopause or is on the point of doing so.

Women who exhibit perimenopause symptoms, which can harm health, may find this new test useful. An increased risk of osteoporosis, fractures, heart disease, cognitive decline, vaginal changes, libido loss, and mood swings is linked to early menopause.

A blood test that measures the blood levels of specific hormones, typically FSH and an estrogen variant called estradiol, can also be prescribed by your doctor.

Some additional blood tests to confirm menopause are:

Thyroid function tests
Blood lipid profile
Liver function tests
Kidney function test
Testosterone, prolactin, estradiol, progesterone and chorionic gonadotropin tests

How can menopause be treated?

Your body naturally goes through the menopause phase. You might not require any menopause treatment in some circumstances. While considering menopausal treatment with your doctor, focus on addressing the symptoms interfering with your daily life.

Doctors can treat symptoms in a variety of ways. The most common ways to treat this problem are:

Hormone therapy
Nonhormonal treatment

To create an effective treatment plan for you during menopause, it is crucial to speak with your healthcare professional. Each person is unique and has specific demands.

What is hormone therapy for menopause?

Your body undergoes significant hormonal changes during menopause, producing fewer hormones overall. Your ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone. Hormone replacement therapy can replace lost hormones when your ovaries cannot produce enough oestrogen and progesterone. Hormone therapy raises your hormone levels, which can alleviate symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness. You can avoid osteoporosis with its aid.

Hormone therapy has two primary forms:

Estrogen therapy (ET): This treatment involves taking only estrogen. Your doctor, in a small dose, prescribes it. There are numerous ways to get estrogen, such as a patch, pill, cream, vaginal ring, gel, or spray. If you still have a uterus, estrogen therapy is not a suitable way of treatment for you.
Estrogen Progesterone/Progestin Hormone Treatment (EPT): This medication, which uses dosages of estrogen and progesterone, is also known as combination therapy. One can purchase progesterone naturally or as a progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone). This form of hormone therapy is recommended for those who still have their uterus.

What are nonhormonal therapies for menopause?

Hormone therapy is a very efficient way to reduce menopause symptoms, but it isn't the ideal solution for everyone. A non-hormonal treatment could involve dietary and lifestyle adjustments. Those who have recently undergone breast cancer treatment or have other medical issues should consider these therapies. Your doctor may advise the following main nonhormonal therapies:

Making dietary changes.
Avoiding factors that cause hot flashes.
Exercising.
Joining support groups.
Prescription medication.

Can you get pregnant during menopause?

Postmenopausal women are no longer able to become pregnant. Yet, being pregnant during the menopause transition is possible (perimenopause). You should continue using birth control until you are certain that you have reached menopause if you don't want to get pregnant. Before stopping to use birth control, consult your doctor.

All-in-all

Menopause signifies the end of fertility and is the natural termination or end of a woman's menstrual cycle. Menopause typically occurs in women at 52; however, it can occur suddenly earlier in life due to pelvic or ovarian injury. Early menopause may also be caused by underlying diseases or genetics.

In the few years leading up to menopause, many women experience menopause symptoms, most frequently hot flashes, night sweats, and flushing. After menopause, symptoms can last for four or more years. If your symptoms are severe or harm your quality of life, you might benefit from treatment such as hormone therapy. Menopause symptoms can be controlled or lessened with natural treatments and lifestyle changes.

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