Today is Menopause Awareness Day. We all know the word, but what is menopause really? Unlike for puberty, very little information is provided by mothers, doctors, or schools to prepare a woman for “the change” or menopause transition. So, read further for some quick facts and a link to a legitimate internet site for more guidance (no ads or product placements).
The menopause transition starts with perimenopause as the ovaries—in fits and starts—cease their function of releasing eggs and making the hormones, estrogen and progesterone. The perimenopausal phase typically starts in a woman’s 40s and varies in length from a year to over a decade. Its path is highly variable.
Menstrual cycles may go through changes—early or late periods, heavy or lighter periods, and longer, shorter, or skipped periods—until 12 consecutive months have passed without a period. After this year of no menses, menopause has arrived—on average, at age 52. The next day you are considered postmenopausal.
As estrogen declines, almost 80% of women experience hot flashes or night sweats. Some struggle with insomnia, brain fog, and memory, while others have mood changes or develop anxiety and panic. Vaginal dryness, pain with intercourse, or more frequent UTIs plague many. And one woman might have problems with all of these and more. Yikes!
Some lesser-known symptoms like palpitations require medical testing to make sure they’re not a sign of something more serious. Women may have a myriad of minor complaints that can be bothersome, yet they are often told it’s all in their head when it may be due to hormonal shifts of perimenopause.
The good news is that many problems associated with fluctuating estrogen often improve after menopause. The sad news is that some of the symptoms of very low estrogen continue, and occasionally, new ones may develop.
The pain, distress, and inconvenience of each symptom exists on a spectrum. Some women suffer from frequent extreme hot flashes while others may have only a few warm flushes and wonder what the big deal is. Menstrual bleeding may become unpredictable and troubling. Each woman’s experience of the menopause transition is unique, so if you find one or more symptoms to be debilitating and affecting your work or home life, see your doctor, gynecologist, or a menopause specialist for guidance.
It is best to learn more about what is happening to your body in preparation for a doctor visit so you can prepare a list of questions. One of the best internet sites is from The Menopause Society: www.menopause.org. Click on the Patient Education tab to find lots of valuable information and resources.
The first choice is Choosing a Healthcare Practitioner. Here you can find a menopause specialist, a medical provider who has received much more training about the menopause transition than what is generally taught in medical school or even OB/GYN residencies. If you click the button at the bottom of this page, you can locate a menopause specialist in the US, Canada, and a few other countries.
There are two glossaries, the one for credentials which explains what all those letters after a person’s name refer to and another for medical terms to translate them into understandable words.
The Menopause Topics section addresses hot flashes and other common perimenopausal symptoms, hormone therapy, mental health (especially mood changes, memory, and anxiety), sexual health, and other medical issues pertinent to this time of a woman’ life.
Under MenoNotes you will find printable information sheets and menstrual calendars in 3 languages. You can also access Videos and Podcasts made for patients.
Menopause will occur in all females who live long enough. Maybe for some it is a gentle passage, but for others, it is not, and currently, preparation for what could be a rocky path is inadequate. I hope this is a good first step for my women readers and those that love them.
Let me know in the comments if you would like to know more about perimenopausal symptoms in general or if you think a particular problem needs more light shined upon it.
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