Understanding Menopause: Let's Navigate This Journey Together!
Hello wonderful ladies of the Women's Issues Community! Today, we're diving into a topic that affects us at some point in our lives – menopause. It's a natural and inevitable phase, yet it can be accompanied by various physical and emotional changes. Let's explore this journey together, armed with scientific resources, facts, and open-minded discussions in the comments section.
🔍 Exploring the Menopausal Transition
Menopause signifies a pivotal phase in a woman's life, marking the permanent cessation of menstruation. Typically occurring between the ages of 45 and 55, with the average age hovering around 50, menopause is a natural process that unfolds when the ovaries cease their hormonal secretion of estrogen and progesterone, consequently halting the monthly ovulation cycle. The criterion for defining menopause is met when a year has passed without menstruation.
The experiences linked to menopause can be broadly categorized into two realms:
— Symptoms During Menopause: Menopause can usher in a range of symptoms, encompassing hot flashes, insomnia, fatigue, irritability, and more. These manifestations stem from the hormonal fluctuations arising from the cessation of ovarian function. These symptoms can vary in intensity among individuals. We will delve deeper into these as we proceed.
— Increased Risk of Certain Diseases: Beyond the symptomatic challenges, menopause also ushers in an elevated risk of certain conditions, including osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases.
💡 Understanding the Onset of Menopause: At birth, each girl carries a finite reserve of ovarian follicles. Throughout her reproductive years, spanning from puberty to menopause, a woman's body undergoes menstrual cycles in which the potential for conception exists.
This menstrual cycle is divided into two phases, separated by ovulation:
During the follicular phase, the body prepares for ovulation. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates ovarian follicles, facilitating the maturation of an egg. Concurrently, the follicles release estrogen, which thickens the uterine lining and affects cervical mucus consistency.
Ovulation is triggered by heightened levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), influenced by estrogen. This surge prompts the release of the mature egg as the follicle ruptures.
Subsequently, the luteal phase bridges ovulation to the onset of menstruation. The follicle transforms into the corpus luteum, producing progesterone to bolster the uterine lining for possible implantation. If fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum regresses, causing a decrease in progesterone levels. This drop triggers the shedding of the uterine lining, initiating a new cycle.
This cyclical pattern continues until the reserve of ovarian follicles is depleted. With no follicles remaining, ovulation ceases, and the production of progesterone and estrogen declines, culminating in the establishment of menopause.
Premenopause is characterized by dwindling progesterone levels, while the cessation of estrogen production marks the onset of menopause.
🩺 Symptoms During Menopause:
Menopause often accompanies climacteric symptoms that vary in intensity due to hormonal changes tied to ovarian function cessation. These symptoms, arising from estrogen and progesterone deficiencies, are not experienced universally and include:
— Hot Flashes or Vasomotor Symptoms: These symptoms manifest as intermittent shivers, sudden intense heat rising from the chest to the face and neck, palpitations, excessive sweating, and chills. Their duration is typically short-lived, though they can be frequent and disrupt sleep.
— Night Sweats: These can occur independently of hot flashes, leading to disrupted sleep due to excessive sweating.
— Vulvovaginal Dryness: Gradual vaginal dryness results from declining female hormones and can lead to vaginitis.
— Urinary Issues: Increased susceptibility to urinary infections, frequent urination, and leakage can arise.
While some climacteric symptoms may be transient, others, like urinary issues, persist throughout menopause.
— Common Post-Menopausal Symptoms: Post-menopausal women frequently report various symptoms, including headaches, fatigue, insomnia, irritability, anxiety, and joint pains.
🕒 Understanding Early Menopause: Early menopause, occurring before the age of 40, can be spontaneous (genetic) or induced by factors like surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. In such cases, hormone replacement therapy may be prescribed until the age of 50 to mitigate potential complications.
📚 Backing Our Discussion with Scientific Resources
As we delve into this topic, let's ensure that our knowledge is backed by reputable scientific resources. I encourage everyone to share articles, studies, and research papers that offer insights into menopause and related health issues. Let's empower each other with reliable information!
🗣️Join the Discussion: Sharing Our Experiences and Support
Let's create an open and supportive environment in the comments section. Feel free to share your menopause experiences, the challenges you've faced, and the coping strategies that have helped you. Whether you're approaching, experiencing, or have already passed through menopause, your wisdom and insights hold great value. If you have questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to ask. Together, we'll provide answers and mutual support during this transformative phase.
Menopause marks a significant milestone in a woman's life, and by uniting as a community, we can navigate this journey more smoothly.
Important note: I have done my best to compose this post based on reliable sources, but I am not a healthcare professional, and there might be errors in this content. If you have health-related questions, it is crucial to consult a licensed healthcare professional who can provide guidance. I also encourage you to refer to multiple scientific sources when seeking information on a subject.
@Mya000 Well laid out! 👏
@trueconfidant123 Thank you!
@Mya000 You're welcome!
Thank you for all the information on Menopause! My mum suffers mainly the hot flushes. She hasn't had a good night's sleep for the past several years. Night sweats causing her to fall asleep past 3am, waking multiple times during the night and sometimes not being able to sleep until sunrise. She's tried drinking Rooibos tea, taking Melatonin, a prescription for sleeping, having a portable fan on at bedside, changing curtains in her bedroom, wears cotton pajamas, have a towel nearby.. etc. But nothing has helped with her hot flushes. She gets them during the day too, she hardly ever wears long sleeves, even during the winter season. She'd be wearing short sleeves or sleeveless, then just wear a jacket over top. That way, if she suddenly starts sweating, she can take off the jacket.
I posted about asking for advice from other women who is going through similar symptoms as my mum previously in Cups. I had some good suggestions as to changing the mattress, bedsheets, pillows, etc.. but my mum doesn't want to spend the money for the change in bedding. I keep giving her suggestions, but she's reluctant to try any of it. After a lot of convincing, she finally went to her doctor for the sleeping prescription. But because she doesn't like taking medication, she doesn't take it every night to help with sleep.
So, I think her disruptive sleep is not only because of hot flushes, but all the stresses too.. I think it's because of me, mostly.. being financially unstable, still single, and seem dependent on them.. to them, I'm still that ungrown child, even in my mid-30s now. *Sigh*
@Jaeteuk I'm really sorry to hear about your mom's struggles with hot flushes and the sleep disruptions. It's frustrating that nothing has provided relief so far. Your support and care for her, even seeking advice from others, is truly commendable. You mentioned feeling like a dependent child, but please remember that life circumstances can be complicated, you're not solely responsible for all the challenges you and your family faces. It's essential to take care of yourself, too, as you're doing your best to navigate life's ups and downs. Hang in there, and I hope your mom finds some relief soon. Take care 💖
I know she worries a lot about me. We have deep, heartfelt chats about twice a year. Where we sit in a Café and talk about our lives. Plans for the present and future. She always mention that she has a lot on her mind, and most of her worries are about me. But honestly, I don't want her to worry about me. I know I'm not in a good position considering my age, whether that be career-wise or on a personal level, but worries about that in myself is enough. Having her worry won't help with the situation.
My parents are Christians. I had always thought that they were supposed to lay out their worries in prayers before they go to bed each night. Leaving all the worries and stresses in His hands, which in turn, is suppose to help them sleep better because she would've given Him all her worries, lifting all the weight from her shoulders. I guess she either doesn't do a bedtime prayer or she isn't able to fully trust Him yet. They have been a Christian for more than a decade, I've seen good changes in my mum, but I think, when it comes to bedtime prayers, I think in our next chat, I'll have to ask her about it.
As with her hot flashes, I hope her menopause stage passes. Or will it ever pass by?
Hey everyone. I was just about to post on this subject. lol.. Glad I saw this first...
How do you live with it? Gaw, it's killing me... It seems to be lasting forever too.. I'm not in full menopause yet, still in the pre crap. I knew it would be rough, mainly because my body is seriously a drama queen. It will take something simple and make a big deal out of it. I've been dealing with pre-meno for nearly 4yrs now, give or take. The monthly visitor got so bad that I had to start getting the depo shot just to stop it. Right now I'm off it just to see what happens and to give my body a break from the shots.
Last 2, going on 3 yrs now... I've been dealing with severe sweats. I can't move at all without turning into a waterfall. Going to the store is embarrassing now. I understand that a lot of it most likely has to do with the weight gain I've gone through... But, I also know it is a menopause thing to get hot flashes as well. Probly a mixture of both at this point. Yes, I've been keeping up with my dr, all my test say that everything is perfectly fine. Nothing serious to worry about..
I guess my real question is, how long does pre-meno last? It didn't seem to last that long with my mom, or as far as I know, my grams.... Yet, it seems to be laughing and toying with me. I thought I was there at one point when I didn't have the visitor for close a year... then, well, it laughed as it knocked on the door. /sigh... What to do you do to overcome some of the adventures that this new phase puts you through?
Hugs and Love...
@tkazzy79 Hey there, I am sorry to hear you're going through a challenging time with pre-menopause. It's great that you're staying in touch with your doctor and getting regular check-ups. It's important to have that professional guidance during this phase.
The duration of pre-menopause can vary from person to person, but typically it can last for several years. It's not uncommon for it to last around 4–5 years, although for some, it may be shorter or longer.
As for the severe sweats and hot flashes, besides the medical aspect, there are a few things you can try to alleviate these symptoms such as wearing breathable fabrics, carrying a portable fan, managing stress through relaxation techniques, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise can make a significant difference for some.
It's also essential to reach out for support, just like you're doing now. Connecting with others who have been through or are going through similar experiences can provide valuable insights and a sense of solidarity.
You're doing a great job by seeking information, staying connected with your healthcare provider, and reaching out for support. Feel free to reach out whenever you need to talk or have questions. We're here for you! Sending you virtual hugs and love! 💕
My peri-menopause symptoms started in 2017 when I was 48 and are still continuing now 6 years later (I'm 54)!
I went 4 months without a period for the first time in 2022, but after getting covid that persisted, it came back and magnified my peri symptoms and created a bunch of new symptoms, and vice versa (hormone changes magnify my long covid symptoms, now going on 16 months). So now there's that too...
Hopeful for things to calm down after the periods stop, but I have a ways to go before menopause (which is 1 year with no periods).
I had a difficult peri menopause. I can’t remember exactly how many years of difficulty I had. In my case as soon as my period stopped all of the horrible symptoms went away.
@Mya000 You are doing a fantastic job educating on menopause - thank you also for giving brillian support to reach person who replied. :)
Concerning research I'm happy to share this article exploring the link between diet and early menopause - I think its pretty good :)
Factors associated with onset of menopause in women aged 45-49 D. J. Torgerson*a, A. Avenellb, I.T. Russell”, D.M. Reid” Maturitas 19 (1994) 83-9
zy0378-5122_2894_2990057-420170403-6136-11rnsnq-libre.pdf (d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net)
@GoldenRuleJG Thank you very much for your support and for sharing these articles!
Happy to share mya 😊