While most women view menopause with dread and trepidation, experts advice that it can be an experience to look forward to. With proper preparation and understanding, menopause can become quite an adventure.
All the perceived problems that come with this stage of womanhood do not have to be problems. A good place to start is to remember nurse practitioner Rebecca Papamihalakis' advice not to expect feelings and experiences to be the same for everyone.
Dr. Karen Deighan reminds, "I see a lot of menopausal patients, and one of the first things I try to help them understand is that it's a natural part of life."
"Attitude and outlook are huge in terms of managing it and taking it on."
#1 When estrogen production in the ovaries stops, menopause occurs. Although some women have irregular periods, menopause is certain if a woman's period stops for 12 months.
#2 Menopause may occur as early as the pre-40s, but this is uncommon and may occur because of a medical problem. The average menopausal age is 45-55.
#3 Pre-menopause may occur in a woman's 30s or 40s and is characterised by a change in the normal rhythm and strength of periods, hot flashes, increased weight, night sweats and sleeping irregularities, dryness in the genitalia, tenderness in the breasts, mood swings with bouts of emotion and depression, thinning of the hair, increased facial hair, increased heart rate and headaches, memory loss.
#4 The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) describes hot flashes as an intense sense of heat that lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes. It usually occurs after menopause has set in but, on occasion, may occur peri-menopausally.
#5 Estrogen loss may result to as much 20 percent loss in bone density within five to seven years after menopause sets in. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends,"Get calcium in your diet, add weight-bearing exercise to your routine, check your vitamin D levels, and ask your doctor to check your bone density."
#6 Getting into healthy eating habits and developing an exercise regime is a good way to alleviate the risk of heart attack and stroke. Estrogen provides a natural protection against these diseases. At menopause, this natural protection is relieved.
#7 Exercise can slow down bone degradation, address weight gain and regulate mood swings and irritability.
#8 The number of women opting for hormone replacement therapy has been increasing. As an added benefit, combination hormone therapy may help prevent bone fracture and colorectal cancer. Care must be taken, however, against taking this therapy long term as prolonged use may lead to heart attack, blood clots, stroke or breast cancer.
Dr. Deghan says, "I absolutely encourage [patients] to consider hormone therapy for a limited period of time."
"Six months to two years of therapy can help women get through the worst of the symptoms."
