All about menopause

Menopause implies the cessation of the reproductive fertility of a woman permanently. It marks the end of her fertility traditionally indicated by the permanent stopping of her monthly menstruation. It commonly occurs in women when they reach their mid-forties. At this stage certain changes occur inside her reproductive system as the ovaries produce lower amounts of the female sex hormones- estrogen and progesterone. The former promotes development of a woman’s breasts and uterus and has a large effect on her physical and emotional health. The latter deals with menstruation and prepares the uterine lining to receive the fertilized egg.

Menopause is most common between the ages of 40 to 60 years. It may happen in the natural course or may result from the surgical removal of the ovaries on account of some medical condition. The latter is known as surgical menopause.

During the menopause transition years since the body undergoes a number of significant changes including dropping hormone levels, it results in quite a few effects.

Some of the common effects of menopause include hot flashes, cold flashes or night sweat, migraine, thinning of the membranes of the vulva, vagina, cervix, outer urinary tract and loss of elasticity of outer and inner genital areas, Itching, dryness or bleeding, urinary urgency, frequency or incontinence, breast tenderness or swelling, decreased elasticity of skin, psychological effects such as mood swing, irritability, depression, anxiety or sleeping disorders, decreased libido, painful sex and vaginal dryness, among others.

In dealing with menopause one must understand at the very outset that it is a natural phase in a woman’s life and not a disorder or disease that requires medical treatment. However at times the physical or psychological effects of this major transitional phase may get too severe and then the woman may be in need of some palliative medical therapy.

Another way to deal with menopause is to undergo the Hormone Replacement Therapy although it usually comes with a number of possible side effects. Anti-depressants are also resorted to in order to deal with hot flashes, to improve sleep and one’s mood. Also, one may use vaginal lubricants and moisturizers to deal with lubrication difficulties faced during intercourse. The adverse mental or psychological effects that tend to follow menopause may require one to seek individual counseling and therapy.