For many women, menopause is a nightmare. But it doesn't have to be. With the right background knowledge and treatment tips for both women and men, you can relax. We've compiled an overview of what you should know about menopause and consulted an expert, Dr. Armando Farmini from Salzburg, with his experience. So: Get menopause out of the taboo corner!
When does menopause usually begin?
Menopause occurs when a woman hasn't menstruated for 12 consecutive months and can no longer conceive naturally. Many factors determine when menopause begins, including genetics and ovarian health. The average age for menopause is actually 51. Perimenopause (pre-menopause) is a time when your hormones begin to change in preparation for menopause. It can last from a few months to several years.
For many women, perimenopause begins sometime after their mid-40s. Other women skip perimenopause and enter menopause quite suddenly. About 1 percent of women experience menopause before age 40, which is called premature menopause or primary ovarian failure. About 5 percent of women enter menopause between the ages of 40 and 45. This is called early menopause.
Most women begin experiencing menopause symptoms about four years before their last period. Symptoms often last until about four years after a woman's last period. A small number of women experience menopause symptoms up to 10 years before it actually occurs. And 1 in 10 women experience menopause symptoms for 12 years after their last period.
The 3 phases of menopause
This new phase of life can be divided into three stages: During perimenopause , periods become irregular. Periods may be late, bleeding may become heavier, or you may miss one or more periods altogether. Menopause is defined as the absence of menstruation for a full year. And postmenopause refers to the years after menopause occurs.
What is the difference between menopause and menopause?
A woman enters menopause when her ovaries begin producing fewer female reproductive hormones . Menopause, the transition from the fertile to the infertile phase of life, begins around the age of 45 to 55, earlier for some women, later for others.
Menopause, on the other hand, is a clearly defined point in time during the menopause, namely, medically speaking, the last menstrual period after which there has been no further bleeding for one year.
Why does menopause occur?
Menopause is a natural process in every person's life. In women, it occurs when the ovaries produce fewer reproductive hormones. The body begins to change as it begins to cope with the decline in various hormones . These declining hormones include:
- estrogen
- progesterone
- testosterone
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Luteinizing hormone (LH)
There is also a loss of active ovarian follicles, which produce eggs and enable menstruation and fertility. Most women first notice that their periods become more irregular. This usually occurs sometime in their mid- to late 40s.
In some other cases, menopause is triggered by external factors or caused by injury or surgical removal of the ovaries and associated pelvic structures (even prematurely).
What are your symptoms?
For many women, medical treatment for menopause isn't necessary. But menopause can also cause unpleasant symptoms. Factors that affect ovarian health, such as cancer, a hysterectomy, or certain lifestyle habits, can increase these symptoms. Read on to learn what you need to know about menopause symptoms.
An estimated 75 percent of women experience menopausal symptoms. The most common symptoms of menopause can include:
- Hot flashes
- insomnia
- Dry skin, mouth and eyes
- Vaginal dryness
- Weight gain & reduced muscle mass
- Depression & Anxiety
- Difficulty concentrating & memory problems
- Decreased libido or sex drive
- Hair loss
- Increased hair growth on other parts of the body (face, neck, chest)
- Sensitive breasts
- palpitations
- Painful or stiff joints
- Reduced bone mass
Complications that may occur more frequently during menopause:
- Painful sexual intercourse
- Slowed metabolic function
- Osteoporosis or weaker bones
- Mood swings
- Periodontal disease
- Urinary incontinence
- Heart or blood vessel diseases
How is menopause diagnosed?
"There are three types of diagnostics," explains Dr. Armando Farmini, gynecologist and specialist in bioidentical hormone therapy. "What is the patient telling me? What does the patient look like, and what are their lab results? You can tell an incredible amount from a person's appearance. The connective tissue, the eyebrows, or the skin tell me a lot about the condition of the person who comes to my office." Lab results usually confirm what the body indicates and what the patient tells me.
Tests can be helpful in indicating perimenopause, which can also have negative health effects. Your doctor may order a saliva or blood test that measures levels of certain hormones, usually FSH and a form of estrogen called estradiol. A consistently elevated FSH blood level of 30 mIU/ml or higher, combined with the absence of menstruation for a consecutive year, usually confirms menopause.
What treatment options are available for complaints?
Entering menopause doesn't automatically mean you need to see your doctor. Whether you need treatment depends on one key factor: Are you experiencing symptoms or are you symptom-free?
Seek medical help if your symptoms are bothersome or affect your quality of life. Hormone therapy can be an effective treatment for reducing or treating a variety of symptoms, including hot flashes, vaginal atrophy, or osteoporosis. Other medications can be used to treat more specific symptoms of menopause, such as hair loss or vaginal dryness.
The importance of progesterone
Progesterone is a very important hormone, but only one piece of the hormonal puzzle the body needs. It maintains balance with many other hormones, such as cortisol, adrenaline, and insulin. Without this valuable progesterone, balanced hormone therapy is impossible. But why do progesterone creams sometimes not work?
"It's the processing," says Dr. Farmini. "All hormones administered transversely must be highly micronized (reduced in size). A key factor for effective hormone therapy is the correct amount of hormone. And there's no set dosage here." This must be determined gradually by the doctor until the patient is symptom-free.
According to Dr. Farmini, the best way to take progesterone is in cream form. In capsule form, the hormone passes through the gastrointestinal tract to the liver. This prevents optimal utilization of the progesterone.
Natural remedies & tips to get through menopause better
In general, you can improve your well-being with a healthy lifestyle. But practical tips can also help make everyday life as pleasant as possible. So here are a few ideas to help you get through menopause more easily.
Stay "cool"
Wear loose, layered clothing, especially at night and in warm or changeable weather. This can help you manage hot flashes. Keep your bedroom cool and avoid heavy blankets at night to reduce the risk of night sweats.
Movement is king
Exercise and reduce your daily calorie intake by 400 to 600 calories to control your weight. It's also important to get 20 to 30 minutes of exercise every day. This will give you more energy, help you sleep better, improve your mood, and make you feel more comfortable in your own skin.
Speak up!
If mood swings and depression are bothering you, don't let them get to you. Get support by communicating your needs more. Talk to a therapist or psychologist about your feelings. You should also try to talk to your family and loved ones about how you're feeling.
Pay even more attention to your diet!
"Fast, fast, and busy" used to be considered a sign that we were desirable and in the prime of life. That's changed. Mindfulness and awareness have been "the new sexy" for some time now. Use this phase of your life to take a closer look. How high-quality is your diet? Which eating habits are draining your energy? Pay attention and put quality on your plate.
Supplement your diet with calcium, vitamin D , and magnesium supplements to reduce your risk of osteoporosis and improve your energy levels and sleep. Studies also recommend herbal remedies for menopausal symptoms caused by estrogen deficiency. Nutrients that may help include flaxseed, melatonin, soy, and isoflavones. Talk to your doctor about supplements that can support your individual health needs.
Give your skin the care it needs
Menopause is no reason to develop worry lines or frown lines. Quite the opposite: As always, it's your inner attitude that counts, and a confident and relaxed appearance makes you attractive, no matter what year you were born. Rather, now is the time to take even more care of yourself and review your skincare routine. Apply moisturizer daily to reduce dryness. You should also avoid excessive bathing or swimming, as this can dry out or irritate your skin.
Stay away from nicotine and too much alcohol
Nicotine isn't really beneficial at any stage of life. But anyone who hasn't quit smoking yet should consider quitting during menopause at the very latest. Cigarettes worsen menopausal symptoms. This also applies to secondhand smoke. Heavy alcohol consumption can also increase the risk of health problems during menopause.
Drink enough and the right things!
Especially during menopause, you should make sure you drink enough. This means drinking two to three liters of fluids a day, such as mineral water or healthy, sugar-free, fresh juices. Drinking fluids not only boosts your overall metabolism but also prevents your skin from drying out.
A recent study also reveals what women should drink before menopause: tea! Previous research has indicated that tea consumption is associated with improved bone density in postmenopausal women.
A new observational study published in the journal Nature Communications shows that women must start drinking tea before menopause for significant differences to occur. Interestingly, no particular type of tea stood out, but the positive effect on bone health was observed regardless of the tea.
Off into the spotlight of life!
Don't forget: every person, every body, is different and reacts differently to external influences. Therefore, consult your doctor to help you navigate menopause more easily.
Menopausal symptoms are as diverse as the people who experience them. And there are just as many ways to calmly cope with them. Every body is different. Take advantage of this phase. If other people, your job, or your children were the focus of your earlier life, then perhaps now is the time to embark on the most exciting journey of discovery of your life: discovering yourself!
Sources:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41430-021-00856-y
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2644382/
Pictures:
Pic by Kanea/shutterstock_1148614526
Photo by We-Vibe WOW Tech on Unsplash
Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash
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