Menopause – second life or curse?

Are you starting to feel physical discomforts that are making it difficult to function? Or maybe someone close to you is struggling with similar difficulties? You've come to the right place! Menopause won't pass you by if you're a menstruating person, but knowing about it will definitely help you get through this period more easily or support someone close to you. We're usually afraid of the unknown - so I'll try to take you through each stage of menopause step by step and show you that the devil isn't as black as he's painted... :)

Menopause – what is it?

Let's look at it from a biological and slightly more theoretical perspective. Menopause is referred to by doctors as climacteric, while in everyday use you can also come across the word "climacteric", although this is a rather unfortunate formulation. Whatever you call it, it means one thing - it is a stage in the life of every menstruating person, when the ovaries stop producing hormones, as a result of which monthly menstrual bleeding stops. Menopause is said to occur when at least 12 months have passed since the last period. Until then, even less frequent, sporadic and irregular periods may occur, but more on that a little later...

Causes of menopause

Menopause is a natural process during which the follicular activity of the ovaries quiets down. At that time, the concentration of sex hormones in the body gradually changes – the concentration of FSH, or follicle-stimulating hormone, and LH, or luteinizing hormone, increase. In a feedback loop, this results in a decrease in the concentration of estrogens. These hormonal changes cause a permanent loss of fertility, cycles are no longer ovulatory, while menstrual bleeding becomes increasingly irregular. At some point, the last period appears, after which menstruation ends.

At what age does menopause occur?

Every organism is different, and symptoms occur at different times and with different intensity in each person. Hormonal changes related to menopause usually appear between the ages of 45 and 55. Sometimes it also happens that the first symptoms appear at a younger age - even before the age of 40. In such cases, however, we are dealing with a phenomenon called premature menopause, or premature cessation of ovarian function - POI/POF. You will learn more about it in this article. The onset of menopause is very often an inherited trait. If you want to know at what age it will occur in you - it is worth asking your mother.

Fortunately, menopause does not come overnight. All the symptoms, when accumulated, could indeed have negative consequences. This process is preceded by other stages – each of which can last up to several years. There is premenopause, which occurs before menopause and lasts from 4 to 10 years, and perimenopause, which begins about 3 to 4 years before menopause and ends a year after it. The main stage is of course menopause, or the last period, after which there is no menstrual bleeding for the next 12 months. After that, we have postmenopause, or the stage following the last period. However, if you experience spotting during this period, it is worth seeing a doctor, because it may indicate endometrial hyperplasia or other worrying conditions.

Is there anything to be afraid of?

At first glance, menopause means relief and something you've been waiting for almost your entire life. After all, who doesn't complain about their period and PMS every month? Menopause seems to be the end of regular suffering - especially for those who have extremely heavy bleeding and troublesome symptoms that accompany menstruation. Menopause is undoubtedly a difficult experience - tiring mood swings and a worsening of well-being can make life a bit more difficult.

Menopause is therefore usually demonized by people, but in reality, how you go through it depends on your body. It often turns out that the symptoms are mild and the stress was completely unnecessary. This stage is indeed accompanied by certain physical ailments, but remember that not all of them have to occur in everyone. In addition, their intensity and duration can vary - they can end relatively quickly, and they can also appear even over the course of several years, both before and after the actual menopause.

Phew, how hot it is – first symptoms of menopause

It is important to remember that every body is different and not everyone will experience the same symptoms of menopause. The time of their occurrence may also vary – in some, the first symptoms appear several years before menopause, in others only a few months before. What changes occur in the body during this time?

The first signs of menopause include a disrupted menstrual cycle – irregular periods and changes in the intensity of bleeding. Hot flashes, drenching sweats, occurring during the day and at night and causing sleep problems, mood swings and weight fluctuations are common. In addition, you can experience a number of other symptoms of menopause – both in the body, mind and emotional state.

Physical symptoms of menopause

The first thing you can see with the naked eye and what other people can see are the changes in your body. People in the perimenopausal age notice weight gain despite maintaining a constant diet. The skin becomes looser, drier and more sensitive to the sun, and hair falls out at a faster rate.

There is also a greater risk of developing osteoporosis, or a decrease in bone density. Cardiac diseases are more common, including heart palpitations, increased blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the blood. Urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence may occur. Dizziness and more frequent fatigue are also troublesome.

In the reproductive system, in addition to the lack of menstruation, other changes also occur. The risk of vaginal atrophy increases, which is manifested by dryness and pH changes, among other things. The result is a decrease in libido - sex is no longer enjoyable due to the lack of vaginal moisture, and often even causes pain and irritation. All of this is the result of hormonal changes in the body, or more precisely, a decrease in estrogen.

Emotional and Mental Symptoms During Menopause

In addition to physical discomforts, it is also good to prepare for mental ones. The aforementioned hormonal changes can cause irritability, mood swings and a worsening of well-being. In addition, we can face worries that are independent of hormonal processes - menopause coincides with a time when we think more and more about life in retirement, when children move out of home and when we face the challenge of arranging many areas of our lives anew.

All this can seem overwhelming – suddenly we are confronted with aging and inevitable changes in many areas. We usually do not receive support from society – menopause is most often passed over in silence, we rarely have the opportunity to share experiences with other people, and it seems embarrassing to talk about it with loved ones. Many people worry that when they are no longer able to have children, they become less valuable. It is easy to have a lower sense of self-attractiveness then.

Menopause and depression

The mental health problems of people going through menopause are being talked about more and more often – and depression is a particular topic. People who have previously had mental health problems and have been treated for depressive disorders are particularly at risk. All the physical ailments, bad mood and lack of support from loved ones can result in a worsening of the mental state.

Researchers from the Department of Women's Health at the Silesian Medical University in Katowice analyzed partnerships during menopause. The study involved 67 women aged 45-55, along with their partners. The results showed that despite the symptoms of menopause in the women studied, their partners still found them attractive. Most of them accepted the changes that were occurring, but... they did not help in dealing with the symptoms of menopause. What's more, 100% of partners admitted that they did not talk to their partner about menopause and did not help her in this situation.

That is why it is so important to talk, share your worries and support your loved ones during this difficult journey. Let us also remember that menopause is not something to be ashamed of – it affects all menstruating people! When you regularly feel worse, it is worth seeing a specialist who will help you get through this difficult period and, if necessary, prescribe appropriate medication.

Menopause symptoms – how to deal with them?

Hot flashes are one of the most common symptoms of menopause – statistical studies on this condition indicate that between 55% and 75% of menstruating people experience them. Hot flashes and night sweats can be very bothersome during menopause. How to deal with them? There are several ways to alleviate not only hot flashes, but also other troublesome symptoms of menopause.

One of them is taking up physical activity and maintaining a healthy, varied diet (read more about diet during menopause in the article here ). In this case, fixed meal times are particularly important, which should also be abundant in vegetables and fruits, whole grains and low-fat products. Animal fats should be replaced with healthy vegetable fats, such as linseed oil. During menopause, you should consume less salt, because it can intensify symptoms associated with menopause. It is also good to maintain regular physical activity, of course adapted to the age and predispositions of the body. Regular walks, swimming or yoga will perfectly support a person during menopause and will help maintain well-being.

In the case of frequent hot flashes, herbal preparations containing plant hormones – phytoestrogens – can help. They are found in red and meadow clover, pink mallow and common dandelion, among others. They are most often available on the market in the form of tablets or teas to drink.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

Many of the changes that occur in the body during menopause have a common source: changes related to hormonal balance. Over time, the ovaries produce less and less estrogen and progesterone, which means that the body functions they play a part in are disrupted. Some people then decide to undergo hormone therapy to alleviate the unpleasant symptoms.

The HRT method consists of providing the missing hormones to the body in order to equalize their levels. However, it has many opponents, according to whom the therapy only delays the symptoms in time, instead of eliminating them, and disrupts natural processes. It is important to select hormone replacement therapy individually for each patient and to eliminate contraindications to its use. These include, among others, active thromboembolic disease, neoplastic diseases (breast cancer, endometrial cancer) and liver diseases. It is best to reach for HRT after the menstruation has stopped - then the risk of adverse effects decreases.

Hormone replacement therapy can bring really positive benefits. If the symptoms of menopause are very bothersome, it will help to get rid of them, at least partially. Thanks to it, you will regain well-being and comfort. What's more, this type of hormone therapy can have a good effect on lipid levels and the cardiovascular system.

It is certainly worth raising this issue during a consultation with your doctor. Based on a hormone level test, we will obtain comprehensive information on the potential benefits and risks associated with HRT. Talks with doctors should also become regular - during menopause, additional blood tests should be performed more often and a gynecologist should be visited. After menstruation stops, the risk of osteoporosis may increase, so bone density should be checked or blood tests should be performed at the time indicated by the doctor.

Second life

I admit: all this does not look very optimistic. Tired ailments, body changes and irreversible loss of fertility... In reality, however, a lot depends on the approach. It is indeed the end of a certain stage. But why not reverse the perspective and treat menopause as the beginning of another chapter in our lives?

In most cases, the menopause period means that adult children become independent, which translates into greater independence for parents. It is a time for travel, education, and searching for new passions. It is worth focusing on self-development. Let's not forget that this is also a time when we can enjoy the fruits of our life's work - both material and spiritual. This is the right time to take care of our femininity and good mood. Menopause can have a positive effect on the quality of sexual life because we no longer have to worry about pregnancy, which at an older age could be too much of a burden.

Enjoy life :)

Is there really anything to be afraid of? And above all, is there any point in worrying in advance? Not necessarily. The risk of unpleasant symptoms during menopause can be reduced by a proper diet and daily exercise. Changing your mental attitude can be a bit more complicated, but it is worth taking the effort and calmly surrendering to what awaits us. It may turn out that life has never been so intense and beautiful. So accept the period of menopause with peace, remembering to maintain relationships with loved ones, as well as take care of your own body. Treat your body and mind as best you can, and enjoy life!

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