Menopause: A Painful Journey.

Menopause occurs when you haven’t had your period for a year. It usually strikes women in their late 40s to early 50s who have a uterus and ovaries.
Changes and symptoms, on the other hand, can begin a few years before menopause. Perimenopause is the period that precedes menopause.
This article will provide information on the various facts of menopause as discussed by Dr. Himali Maniar, a well-known gynaecologist in Bopal, Ahmedabad.

During perimenopause, a woman’s ovaries begin to generate less oestrogen and progesterone. Menopause symptoms are caused by changes in these hormones. During this time, ovulation, or the release of mature eggs from the ovaries, will become less and less common.

Other Factors that Contribute to Menopause:
Unless you start hormone replacement medication after surgery to remove both ovaries, you will experience menopause right away. Surgical menopause is the term for this procedure. Chemotherapy and other medical therapies for breast cancer can cause menopause.
However, not all women go through physical changes in addition to their irregular periods. When menopause proceeds to postmenopause, which lasts the rest of a woman’s life, some menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and memory loss, usually disappear. 2

Symptoms that Recur:
The most prevalent symptom of menopause is hot flashes. They usually occur in the year before a woman’s period stops and in the year after, says the gynaecologist who is from Bopal, Ahmedabad.
A hot flash is a quick feeling of warmth that might include flushing of the face and neck, red spots on the chest and arms, perspiration, and shivering. A hot flash might last anywhere from 30 seconds and ten minutes.

Perimenopause is when menopausal symptoms usually appear. The symptoms vary considerably from person to person and can last anywhere from a few months to over a decade.
Aside from hot flashes, other typical symptoms include:

• Emotional ups and downs
• Insomnia
• Dryness in the vaginal area
• Period irregularities or missed periods
• Feeling dizzy (associated with anxiety)
It’s natural for your sex urge to decrease as you get older and as you approach menopause. The loss of libido, on the other hand, is not universal. Some people will have no change in their sexual interest, while others will have an increase.

Perimenopausal women may suffer the following symptoms:

• Premenstrual syndrome symptoms getting worse (PMS)
• Periods that are heavier or lighter than typical
• A pounding heart
• Headaches
• Gaining weight
• Modifications in libido (sex drive)
• Concentration issues and memory issues

Symptoms that are uncommon
The following symptoms have also been observed by some people:
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) (hypotension)
• Muscle and joint aches and pains
• Hair thinning or loss
• Changes in temperature or feeling (such as chills and tingling)
• Changes in body odour and breath odour
• Otosclerosis (ringing in the ears)
• A burning sensation or a foul taste in the mouth
• Hair growth on the face
Menopausal women who are suffering new symptoms such as a racing heart, urine changes, migraines, or other health difficulties should see a doctor to rule out other illnesses and complications.

Complications
The following issues may arise as a result of the underlying hormonal changes associated with menopause.

1. Osteoporosis
Estrogen, which functions as both a signalling hormone and a receptor, is critical for bone reformation. Osteoporosis, a bone condition in which the body loses too much bone or doesn’t build enough, may develop as a result of lower oestrogen levels following menopause. During the first five to seven years after menopause, a woman’s bone density can drop by up to 20%. However, the rate of bone density loss varies.
A person’s bones become weaker and more prone to fractures as a result of this illness. Estimates of fractures have revealed:
• About 20% of women die in the first year after a hip fracture, a 12–20% increase in mortality when compared to women of similar age who do not have a hip fracture.
• After a hip fracture, half of previously independent older women become partially dependant.
• Following a hip fracture, one-third of women become completely reliant.

2. Stroke and Heart Disease
Lower oestrogen levels in postmenopausal women may contribute to their higher risk of stroke and heart disease. Menopausal symptoms such as sadness and sleep disturbances may potentially contribute to an increased risk of heart disease.

Do Not Ignore Heart Attack Warning Signs
Hot flashes and palpitations that are followed by chest pain, a burning sensation, breathing issues, exhaustion, or acute worry could indicate a heart attack. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, visit a doctor right once.

When Should You See a Doctor?
While menopause is not a condition that can be “treated,” the finest gynaecologist in Bopal adds that you can still see your doctor for symptom management if necessary.
The following are some of the reasons to consult a doctor:
• If your sexual desire is changing, it’s affecting your quality of life.
• If your intercourse is painful due to vaginal dryness and you’d want to talk about options,
• If you’re not sure how to communicate to your family about what you’re going through and want some tips on how to get greater emotional support,
• If your sleep issues are persisting, intensifying or interfering with your everyday activities
• If your mood swings are more akin to depression.
• If hot flashes are interfering with daily activities
• If you’re concerned about heart disease or osteoporosis,
Also, if you’re still having periods but they’re becoming heavier or more frequent than they were before perimenopause, visit a doctor. These symptoms could indicate precancerous alterations or uterine cancer.

Conclusion
Perimenopause and menopause symptoms can differ from one woman to the next. As a result, it’s better not to make generalisations about how menopause affects different women. Symptoms such as sleeplessness and hot flashes may remain a part of some people’s lives for years, waxing and waning. Others may just have minor symptoms.

Talk to your doctor about strategies to minimise your risk of osteoporosis or heart disease if you have a higher risk. Any home treatment should be started after speaking with a healthcare professional.