Menopause occurs at different ages in different countries and different peoples all over the world. That is, there is no predetermined rule that all women in the world will go through menopause at the same age. But if we have to talk about an average age, it should be said that menopause can occur in a woman’s life at the age of approximately 51-52 years. Some may experience menopause before this age, some may experience it at 53 to 54 years. Also, the age at which a woman will go through menopause depends somewhat on family history. That is, the age at which a woman’s maternal aunt experienced menopause, that woman can also experience menopause at that age.
How do you know if a woman has gone through menopause?
We call menopause when there is no menstruation for a full year after the last period. An example will make it clear. Let’s say someone last menstruated in June 2023. But she won’t be able to say she’s menopausal until June 2024. However, long before menopause, some symptoms appear in the body. By looking at those symptoms, it can be assumed that this time a woman is about to enter menopause.
How is that?
The onset of menopause is known from the perimenopausal phase. As I said, some symptoms appear before menopause. Those symptoms are called perimenopause. The number of women in the perimenopausal group is large. Because this phase starts after the age of 40 for some and lasts till 52-53.
That is, even if menopause is declared from a certain date, perimenopausal symptoms continue for 4 to 5 years before that. Now, not everyone will experience perimenopausal symptoms after 40. This age also depends on a woman’s country, caste and lifestyle. As a result, in some cases, such symptoms may appear at the age of 43, while in others, the symptoms begin at the age of 48.
What symptoms can be manifested in the perimenopausal stage?
Have multiple symptoms. But among the more familiar problems has-
• Girls of this age feel very hot. A sudden feeling of intense heat, called a hot flash. That is, face, head, cheeks start feeling very hot. The face feels very hot. Besides, those whose skin color is light, their cheeks turn red. It can even be seen from the outside. And it always feels like it’s hot! Any woman in her forties reports such symptoms.
• Mood swings are also one of the symptoms. Actually after this age there is a change in the hormonal balance in women’s body. It also affects the mind. This results in symptoms such as being easily irritated, quick to anger, or a person who was previously quite calm suddenly has a mood swing.
• Sometimes depression takes over for little reasons. Moreover, in our country, children grow up by the time they reach the age of forty. They crossed the school boundary and entered the college. They create their own world. It is not possible to spend time with them like before. Generally speaking, hormonal changes, social and family changes affect mood. Some may also suffer from depression. Changes in sexual functioning may also occur with it. That is, libido can decrease. Various complications related to urine are also revealed.
• Insomnia problems also occur in some.
•• Multiple changes related to menstruation may also manifest. For example, there may be heavy menstruation at first. Menstruation is heavy for the first one and a half to two years. It may go on for a long time with the medicine, then it can be seen that the level of menstruation decreases and the interval between two menstrual cycles increases. Thus when the interval of 2 to 3 months reaches the interval of 12 months, it is called menopause.
Physical symptoms that occur once menopause occurs are called post-menopausal symptoms.
It is heard that many people have early menopause or menopause at the age of 35-26 years?
•• See everything has a range. If we talk about that range, then we have to say, if someone has menopause before forty, we call it premature menopause. But there can be multiple reasons behind premature menopause. For example, someone may have to remove the uterus due to cancer, in which case menopause may occur. Menopause can also occur if someone has undergone chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and ovarian function has not been maintained. A woman’s maternal history of early menopause is also responsible.
Another well-known problem is premature menopause, even in the unfortunate event that the uterus has to be removed because of heavy bleeding during childbirth. However, menopause before the age of 40 is not uncommon.
• What are the changes in hormone levels in the body during the perimenopausal phase?
•• In the perimenopausal phase, the level of female hormone or estrogen in the body decreases. On the other hand, the level of male hormone testosterone increases. The source of these two hormones is the same—cholesterol. During the perimenopausal phase, female hormone production decreases slightly, while male hormone levels increase. Because of this, beards and mustaches appear on the face of many elderly women.
Besides, there is an excess of fat near the stomach. It may appear that the weight is the same, but the hips have increased.
Now it has been seen that those who have more fat near the stomach, their blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol levels are also higher. The risk of heart attack also increases. So a woman needs to be aware of menopause.
He should know what changes in the body after forty are normal and what are abnormal.
• How should a woman cope with the physical and emotional symptoms of the post-menopausal stage?
•• Pre and post menopausal symptoms are almost same. However, physical symptoms need to be identified and the severity of physical symptoms must be understood. How is that? If you give an example, the matter will be clearly understood – in the case of some people, if a hot flash occurs, the discomfort will be reduced a lot if they sit with a little water in the mouth and eyes, turn on the fan or run the AC. Many people do not get rid of the discomfort so quickly. The symptoms are so severe that it becomes difficult to do normal daily activities. Some do not sleep. Medicines may be needed in such cases. Therefore, the first treatment is not with hormones, but as the symptoms appear, the medication is given. There are many types of drugs such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)- etc. And if someone has problem with urine, he is given related medicine, and someone who has more menstruation problem, he is given related medicine. In general, the medicine is given depending on the physical condition of the patient. Besides, a little change in lifestyle is also necessary. Body fat levels should also be reduced. In that case, various physical symptoms can be kept away by increasing fitness. If you have cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, you have to take medicine regularly to control it. If you feel that you have depression or a psychiatric problem, mood swings are very high, if you cannot maintain your mood, you may need to consult a psychiatrist.
• You were talking about decreased libido. Conjugal life is also affected. How to deal with such issues?
** Our family structure in Indian society is like this. No one talks too much. In a Bengali family, when Karta-Ginni reaches the age of fifty, the desire for intimacy is no longer what it used to be. But some couples come to us with such complications. Then we treat with local hormones. Vaginal hormones are usually given. Counseling with him gives good results.
Decreased desire for intimacy can be largely remedied through counseling. Also, vaginal dryness is seen in some cases, in which case local estrogen is given, in some cases male hormone is also given, in which case the libido returns a lot.
• What to do if the defense of estrogen is reduced? What is the solution to hormone replacement therapy?
** Estrogen provides many defenses to the heart and bones. So just as the risk of heart attack increases after menopause, so does the risk of osteoporosis or bone loss. Therefore, calcium-rich food intake and exercise are necessary to prevent calcium deficiency in the body. She should be monitored regularly for lipid profile, diabetic profile and hypertension to prevent heart related problems in a woman. Other complications can also be kept away with it. Now let’s talk about hormone replacement therapy. Earlier, hormone replacement therapy was a well-known topic. However, several studies have shown that
Long-term use of estrogen increases the risk of breast and uterine cancer. Therefore, hormone therapy can be given only to those who absolutely need it. However, long-term hormone therapy is often avoided. So if you understand that menopause is coming, emphasize on lifestyle changes. Exercise especially, avoid excessive fatty foods.
And yes, menopause is a condition. Femininity does not disappear with menopause. Even after menopause, you can be as involved in activities as before. You can be as productive as ever in the office and at home. There is no hindrance in living one’s normal life. So treat menopause as a situation. Continue your work. keep smiling stay well Believe in yourself, the world is as beautiful as ever. You have also become more macho and beautiful.
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