Are you a woman approaching her fifties, and have been recently noticing postmenopause changes in your body? Do you feel moody, irritated, or straightforward annoyed all the time? Most of all, have your monthly cycles recently gotten irregular, shorter, or longer than usual?
If any of the above applies to you – then chances are, you are approaching your menopause.
Menopause is that phase of a woman’s life when she approaches the end of her reproductive years. It is at this time when her menstrual cycles cease permanently, and she can no longer conceive. Hormonal changes and levels play a significant role in the onset of menopause.
Menopause is an age-related change that every female has to go through. However, along with menopause comes a myriad of symptoms resulting from it that a woman faces. Not always are these symptoms mild in nature and can cause significant problems for many women.
Let us have a look at these changes that menopause brings in the lives of women, and see if there are any ways that a woman can manage them with ease.
Symptoms Indicating the Onset of Menopause
Following are some of the symptoms that are widely reported to be experienced by a woman approaching her menopausal years:
- Irregular menstrual cycles (most common),
- Hot flashes,
- Chills,
- Vaginal dryness,
- Weight gain due to a prolonged metabolic rate,
- Mood changes, easily irritable and annoyed,
- Sleep disturbances.
Some women may experience one symptom more intensely than the other, while others may not feel anything at all.
But whatever the case is, menopause leaves its mark behind, and the women ultimately face one of more permanent changes in their body that then continues throughout their life.
Changes That Occur After Menopause
Out of the many changes that occur after menopause, a few commonly encountered chronic, life-long conditions that women face are:
- Osteoporosis
- Diabetes
- Cognitive Impairments
- Heart Diseases
- Memory Decline
- Depression
- Breast, Endometrial Cancer.
How to Take Care of These Changes?
Source: Freepik.com
Usually, menopause is not a disease or condition that causes one to become disabled or disable. However, to prevent other restricting or chronic conditions from occurring, supplements or medications are needed to be taken by women for their betterment.
Here are a few treatment and supplementation options for postmenopausal women that could help them ‘get a grip’ on their lives and lead it without worries:
1. Low Dose Antidepressants:
As hormone supply fluctuates a lot during and after menopause, it would be an ideal scenario if the woman, after discussion with her doctor, starts a low-dose antidepressant therapy.
That would save her from depressive episodes and curb down her anxiety that is bound to occur in menopausal symptoms.
A low-dose is recommended because antidepressants may cause withdrawal symptoms or an addiction to them.
2. Hormonal Therapy:
Menopause is a consequence of deficient estrogen levels. Since after menopause, there is no estrogen synthesis in the body; therefore, it is deprived of its regular estrogen supply.
To prevent the harmful effects of little to no estrogen from taking over your body, you can always start taking estrogen supplements in the form of pills or injections to compensate for the lack of it.
Estrogen will not only help you with getting rid of hot flashes but would also slow down the process of bone density loss, thus also preventing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
3. Vitamin D Supplements:
Since bone loss is evident following menopause due to low estrogen levels; therefore, vitamin D and Calcium supplementation are essential for every postmenopausal woman.
These supplements help in the prevention and progression of these conditions. They do not necessarily stop the disease from occurring but only slow it down.
4. Exercise:
Source: Freepik.com
A regular exercise and a low-calorie diet help menopausal women to stay active and fit. It keeps up on their legs all day long and busy.
An active and busy lifestyle is vital for all postmenopausal women to keep sane and healthy. It keeps their cholesterol levels down too, which is beneficial for preventing obesity, cardiovascular disorders, and
5. NSAIDs:
Postmenopausal women often experience breast pain and tenderness. They have a sensation of breast swelling that disturbs them from performing well in their daily lives.
For getting rid of this problem, women can always take NSAIDs or usual painkillers.
Any OTC painkiller can help in getting rid of breast tenderness and swelling.
Menopause might be a life-changing experience in the life of many women. You often become vulnerable and feel hormonal or irritable during this time.
If you start preparing beforehand along with taking measures to deal with this phase even before its onset, then you can always smart get your way out from this, and that too, without complications – mind you.
Women are expected to embrace this change naturally and not think of it as anything out of the blue.
With the proper amount of care and the right kinds of supplementation, you can very quickly deal with this change with full perfection.
It is always better if you start planning for the future – start drinking milk, try to adapt to an active lifestyle, and live life to the fullest so that happy hormones are triggered all inside your body!
Bonus video: 5 Skincare Hacks For Better Skin after Menopause
FAQs
How can I keep my hair healthy postmenopause?
Follow these tips to keep your locks healthy and strong during postmenopause.
- Reduce Stress.
- Get Moving.
- Eat Well.
- Hydrate.
- Talk to Your Doctor About Your Medications.
Do things go back to normal after postmenopause?
Women are said to be “postmenopausal” when a year has elapsed since their last period. As hormone levels stabilize, either naturally or through Hormone Replacement Therapy, the symptoms disappear, and many women feel better than they have in years.
What is the best diet for postmenopause?
Most women will benefit from a well-balanced diet that is low in sodium, added sugars, and saturated and trans-fats, and is high in fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and unsaturated fats. A well-balanced diet includes only a moderate amount of dairy products and meat protein.
What can I take for postmenopause?
Aside from hormone therapy, some of the most common postmenopausal treatments include:
- Hormone therapy: Helps reduce hot flashes and vaginal dryness and may prevent bone loss.
- Vaginal estrogen: Relieves vaginal dryness, discomfort during sex, and some urinary symptoms.
Do you age faster postmenopause?
Does your hair change postmenopause?
Most women find that their hair loses volume and length around postmenopause. That is because menopause causes your estrogen levels to decrease, and estrogen is a hair-friendly hormone, helping to keep your hair in its anagen (growth) phase for longer. You may also find that your hair breaks more easily after menopause.
How can I increase my estrogen naturally?
Studies conducted by the Linus Pauling Institute of Oregon State University indicated that eating plant-based foods that contain phytoestrogens may help women raise estrogen levels. Examples of such foods include Seeds: flaxseeds and sesame seeds. Fruit: apricots, oranges, strawberries, peaches, many dried fruits.
Does estrogen change your face?
The female sex hormone estrogen prevents the growth of facial bone, reduces the size of the nose and chin, and leads to large eyes, increased thickness of lips, and fat deposition in the cheek area, along with hips and buttocks, features that announce that a woman is fertile.
What happens to a woman sexually postmenopause?
The loss of estrogen and testosterone following menopause can lead to changes in a woman’s body and sexual drive. Menopausal and postmenopausal women may notice that they’re not as easily aroused, and they may be less sensitive to touching and stroking. That can lead to less interest in sex.
What is the last stage of menopause?
Menopause is the point when a woman no longer has menstrual periods for at least 12 months. Postmenopause is the stage after menopause. As you age, your hormone levels drop. The most vital symptoms of menopause happen during the largest drop in your hormone levels.
References:
- Peacock K, Ketvertis KM. Menopause. [Updated 2020 Aug 16]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507826/
- Santoro N, Epperson CN, Mathews SB. Menopausal Symptoms and Their Management. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2015;44(3):497-515. doi: 10.1016/j.ecl.2015.05.001
- Gava G, Orsili I, Alvisi S, Mancini I, Seracchioli R, Meriggiola MC. Cognition, Mood and Sleep in Menopausal Transition: The Role of Menopause Hormone Therapy. Medicina (Kaunas). 2019;55(10):668. Published 2019 Oct 1. doi:10.3390/medicina55100668
- Johnson A, Roberts L, Elkins G. Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Menopause. J Evid Based Integr Med. 2019;24:2515690X19829380. doi:10.1177/2515690X19829380
- Delamater L, Santoro N. Management of the Perimenopause. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2018;61(3):419-432. doi:10.1097/GRF.0000000000000389
- Wilson, DR. (December 2017). Managing the Symptoms of Menopause. Healthline. Assessed from: https://www.healthline.com/health/menopause/managing-the-symptoms