Menopause and women’s health are topics that should be given attention in our present society; however, they are often relegated to the sidelines.
The menopause stage is a period in a woman’s life when menstruation becomes less frequent before it stops, and ovulation stops occurring. Menopause is a normal ageing process for women. This period in a woman’s life encompasses various thoughts. Some women feel happy about it, while some don’t.
Women find it hard to embrace menopause due to various reasons, like the inability to give birth, lifestyle changes, and changes to the body. Generally, it affects women’s health.
Research has shown that a lot of older Nigerian women do not realise the changes associated with menopause, and so they do not know how to manage it. This article aims to educate women about menopause and its impact on women’s health.
Table of Contents
Menopausal Age in Women
There is no precise age when menopause begins, but most times it begins between the ages of 45 and 55. There are rare cases of menopause coming as early as age 20 or before 48 years old (premature menopause).
According to statistics obtained from a questionnaire survey of Nigerian women, the average age is 48.4. There is no exact way to know your menopause age until it occurs, but you can get an idea of it through your mother’s or a family member’s experience.
Some medical factors influence menopause timing. Menopause timing can be hastened due to some factors, like the removal of ovaries, some autoimmune diseases, and so on.
Menopause in Women
Menopause is a natural and biological process for every woman; it can, however, cause significant physical and emotional changes to women’s health. Most times, menopause is not easily detectable. This is because the symptoms can sometimes be similar to other health issues. There are tests conducted to confirm menopause in women. The estrogen level is checked to confirm menopause.
Estradiol is the form of estrogen found in premenopausal women. A decrease in estradiol level indicates menopause at a normal level of 30 – 400 picograms per millilitre. The estradiol level falls below 30pg/ml after menopause. For further confirmation of menopause, the follicle-stimulating hormone( FSH) levels are measured.
A consistent elevation of a woman’s FSH blood level to 30mu/ml or higher, alongside missed menstrual period, generally denotes that she has reached menopause.
The 3 Stages of Menopause
These menopausal stages entail the various changes that occur before and after menopause. A woman’s health becomes vulnerable to some diseases after menopause. Here is a closer look at some occurrences during each stage:
1. Premenopause/perimenopause
As the word implies, premenopause means before menopause. Premenopause is the stage when a woman starts experiencing some symptoms leading up to the menopause period.
A woman at this stage starts experiencing some symptoms, a change in the menstrual period, and so on, within a span of 4 – 8 years before menopause. The perimenopause age varies from woman to woman. Some experience theirs as early as their 30s, but others in their 40s.
2. Menopause
This is a stage when a woman can not become pregnant because, at this point, her menstrual period must have stopped. Menopause lasts for one year, after which you enter post-menopause. There is no specific age for menopause until it happens
3. Postmenopause
At this stage, after menopause, you will be in this stage throughout the rest of your life. Ovulation stops at this stage, so you can’t become pregnant, thereby ending your reproductive years. Women’s health in post menopause is at risk of conditions like heart disease, osteoporosis, and so on.
Symptoms of Menopause: signs women should look into when in menopause
1. Change in the menstrual period
This is mostly the first symptom noticed in women. Your period may cease from time to time, could be shorter or last longer than usual, or you may experience less or more bleeding. See your doctor when you have;
- Heavy bleeding
- Spotting
- Your period commences after a year of no bleeding
- Your period lasts for more than a week
2. Sleep
Menopause affects one’s sleep. Some women have difficulties sleeping at night as a result of the menopausal period. Sleep is essential for one’s health. Lack of adequate sleep can affect a woman’s health during menopause.
3. Hot flushes
Hot flush is a sudden sensation of feeling heat over the body, resulting in heavy sweating and sometimes cold shivering. Many Nigerian women experience this without realising that menopause could be the reason for it. Hot flushes can last for many years even after menopause.
4. Sex life
Your feelings about sex tend to change. You could lose interest in having sex or become so excited about it since you no longer have to worry about painful periods or pregnancy. Also, sexual intercourse can become uncomfortable as a result of the vaginal becoming drier after menopause.
5. Mood change
One can suddenly have mood swings and be stressed during menopause. Depression could set in if proper care isn’t taken to treat your mood change.
Other symptoms include
- You might develop memory problems
- Weight gain
- Stiffness and aches in the joints and muscles
- Headaches
- Heart palpitations
Symptoms vary according to each woman; menopause might have severe symptoms, which affect a woman’s health. So, if your symptoms are severe, see a doctor for medical advice.
Premature Menopause
As a lady, you should pay attention to every change in your body. This is what the concept of menopause and women’s health is about. From a 2019 research, around 3.7 per cent of women experience what is called primary ovarian insufficiency or premature menopause. A lady in her 20s going through menopause is going through premature menopause.
Women should stop self-treatment. When you feel unusual or experience things that can affect your health, talk to your doctor. A lady missing three or more periods in a row without being pregnant might not be experiencing a hormonal imbalance, but premature menopause.
Causes Of Premature Menopause
As earlier stated, menopause and women’s health aren’t discussed often. This is why many people do not know about the causes of premature menopause. The causes of premature menopause will give insight to women to understand the concept of menopause. Some of the causes are:
1. Family genes
Premature menopause might run in the family. You can talk to your biological relatives about it, and learn about the symptoms their experience and the age they stopped menstruating.
2. Exposure to estrogen-disrupting chemicals
This gives a high risk of early menopause. Some substances found in certain pesticides and phthalates affect estrogen.
3. Oophorectomy
Removal of the ovaries because of cancer or other conditions sometimes causes premature menopause.
4. Smoking
Research shows that the more you smoke, the higher the risk of having premature menopause. In essence, one’s lifestyle affects health generally.
Symptoms Of Premature Menopause
The symptoms are not different from those you would experience if you begin menopause later. The menopause symptoms vary from person to person. Symptoms include;
- Hot flush
- Lower sex drive
- Vaginal dryness
- Memory problem
- Sleeping problem
How Premature Menopause Affects Women’s Health
Premature menopause makes it difficult for people to become pregnant naturally. Premature menopause affects women’s health by:
- Exposing them to dry eye disease
- Anxiety
- Lower self-esteem
- Depression
- Heart diseases and so on.
Premature Menopause Treatment
There is no particular way to reverse premature menopause, but there are different treatment options to select from.
- Therapy: This is just for you to be able to relieve yourself. It is healthy to communicate with your doctor during a period like menopause, so you don’t develop depression or any health issues.
- Hormonal therapy: This treatment works to balance the body’s hormone levels by giving supplementary estrogen. Hormone therapy comes in skin patches and topical creams. It can help reduce some menopause symptoms. However, this treatment option may increase the risk of acquiring certain infections and health conditions. People with health issues like heart disease and gallbladder disease should not use hormone therapy. The benefits and risks should be discussed with a doctor before proceeding with it.
- Regular screening: This is done to ensure healthy bones, heart, and thyroid since menopause is inevitable. You must make sure it doesn’t affect your health, regardless of it being inevitable.
You should note that selecting a treatment that is best for you is essential because what works for another woman might not be as effective for you.
Final Thoughts
Menopause and women’s health should be taken seriously because of the underlying issues that surround them. It is a normal occurrence in a woman’s life that cannot be evaded. The menopausal transition can be complicated, mild, or severe; this is why women need to know about the stages and effects.
However, many women live long lives and do not experience any symptoms. This doesn’t mean they are lucky; it could be a result of their genetic history. This shows that symptoms and effects vary from woman to woman. Being familiar with your body helps with the transition. Health is wealth. Cheers to a healthy life.
Read also: The Emotional Toll of FGM on Women and Girls (Research-Backed)
