Menopause: A New Chapter of Life

Have you ever experienced terrible menstrual cramps? Often feeling down in the dumps due to premenstrual syndrome? Ever wished these symptoms could go away forever? In fact, they do! Here’s all you need to know about menopause.

What is menopause?

Menopause occurs after your ovaries—an organ that plays a critical role in producing eggs and hormones that allow you to become pregnant—no longer release an egg every month and your menstruation stops completely. Although menopause usually is a natural process, individuals who have undergone surgery that removes the ovaries, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or suffer from primary ovarian insufficiency (failure of the ovaries to produce normal levels of reproductive hormones) are likely to experience menopause earlier.

While people commonly use the term “menopause” to refer to the ending of menstrual periods and the menopausal transition period, true “menopause” refers to a point in time 12 months after a woman’s last period. The years leading up to menopause are called the “menopausal transition,” which usually happens when you approach your late 30s. During this period, your estrogen and progesterone—hormones that regulate menstruation—levels and fertility declines. Depending on your genetics and life habits, you may experience longer or shorter, heavier or lighter, or more or less frequent menstrual periods, as well as hot flashes (sudden flares of heat, paired with sweating and flushed skin) and other symptoms that will be listed in the next section. These symptoms persist until you experience your last period, which usually happens in your 40s or 50s. As of now, the average age at which women experience menopause is 51 in the States.

The menopausal transition period usually lasts about seven years but can also be as long as 14 years. The length of individual transition periods usually depends on factors such as race and ethnicity, or lifestyle factors such as whether you smoke or the age at which this period began. In addition, your body may experience changes not related to menstruation, including but not limited to changes in bone or heart health, body shape and composition, physical function and capabilities. Your emotional health may also become affected by the hormonal changes of this transition period—many report experiencing mood swings that may develop into depressive symptoms or episodes.

Symptoms and signs

Everyone experiences the menopausal transition period differently depending on lifestyle and genetics. However, some commonly seen symptoms and signs include:

  • Irregular periods

  • Hot flashes

  • Chills

  • Sleep problems

  • Mood changes, such as irritability, feelings of sadness, fatigue, and more akin to those you experience through PMS (premenstrual syndrome)

  • Weight gain and slower metabolism

  • Vaginal dryness

  • Thinning hair and drier skin

If you’ve been experiencing the above symptoms or other menstrual signs, your healthcare provider may ask you questions relating to your age, symptoms, and family history to see if these problems were caused by menopausal transition. In some cases, your doctor may advise you to take blood tests to check for reproductive hormone levels to rule out other causes for the symptoms you’ve been experiencing.

If symptoms you have been experiencing have been officially attributed to menopausal transition, many of the symptoms will eventually cease over time as menopause is a natural process. However, if they are causing problems, there are some methods of treatment that can lessen them, such as hormonal therapy and medications. Consult your doctor or healthcare provider to determine which treatment is most suitable for your symptoms and condition.

Postmenopausal changes and complications

In addition to menopause, these hormonal changes also increase your risk of developing certain medical conditions. Some of them are listed as follows:

  • Cardiovascular diseases — When estrogen levels decline, it is easier for fat and cholesterol to build up in the arteries, which contributes to heart attack and stroke. 

  • Osteoporosis — This is a condition that causes your bones to become weaker and brittle, resulting in an increased risk of bone fractures. The first few years of menopause also may cause you to lose bone density rapidly, putting you at risk of developing osteoporosis. 

  • Urinary incontinence and changes to sexual function — Another result of menopause is the loss of elasticity in your vaginal and urethral tissues. As a result of which you may experience strong, sudden, and frequent urges to urinate, as well as urine incontinence. Loss of elasticity and decreased moisture production can also cause discomfort and reduced desire to engage in sexual activity.

  • High cholesterol and blood pressure — As it is common for most people to lead a more sedentary lifestyle postmenopause, either due to decreased physical activity or capability, they are at a higher risk of having high cholesterol and blood pressure.

To combat the more serious complications of menopause and maintain balanced hormone levels postmenopause, exercising regularly and following a nutrient-dense diet may be helpful. Avoiding certain foods, such as foods with high sugar levels, and taking nutrient supplements may also assist in alleviating menopausal symptoms. For more information on menopause and its symptoms, this website also provides many related tools, guides, and resources.

Ariel Shih