Anyone with a female reproductive system will go through menopause as hormones in the body begin to change. These hormones can change for a variety of reasons, including age, surgery to remove the ovaries, and chemotherapy treatments. But knowing 1.3 million people experience menopause each year may not make you feel better about the symptoms or stigma associated with it. In this blog, we cover the most frequently asked questions about menopause, list several tips for managing symptoms, and discuss the stigma around menopause.
What is menopause?
Menopause is the time when menstrual periods stop permanently. This is diagnosed after 12 months without a menstrual period. Menopause is not a disease or condition; it is part of the natural process of having female reproductive organs.
What is menopausal transition?
The menopausal transition, also called perimenopause, can begin as early as your mid-30s, but most often occurs around age 40-44. This transitional period will look and feel different for everyone, but this is when typical menopause symptoms begin.
What causes menopause?
In the natural process of menopause, the ovaries stop releasing eggs, leading to the inability to conceive a child. During this process, the ovaries also slowly begin to make less and less estrogen and progesterone – the hormones responsible for regulating menstruation.
Oophorectomy, a surgical procedure that removes the ovaries, causes immediate menopause. Without ovaries, the body cannot store eggs or release estrogen and progesterone naturally. Because removing the ovaries happens at once, menopausal symptoms caused by hormone changes occur at once, instead of over the course of several years.
Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy can induce menopause. Radiation therapy only affects ovarian function if radiation is directed at the ovaries.
Chemotherapy affects the entire body, oftentimes including ovarian function. While chemotherapy can affect menstruation and fertility during treatment, the effects aren’t always permanent following cancer treatment.
If the effects of cancer therapies on your reproductive system is a concern for you, be sure to talk directly with your oncologist and OB-GYN about all possible effects.
Primary ovarian insufficiency is a rare condition in which someone experiences menopause before age 40. Often no cause can be found for premature menopause, but it’s thought to be linked to genetic factors or autoimmune diseases.
Does a hysterectomy cause menopause?
Unlike an oophorectomy, a hysterectomy usually doesn’t cause immediate menopause. Although periods will stop, the ovaries are still releasing eggs and producing estrogen and progesterone.
What are the symptoms of menopause?
During the months or years spent in the transition to menopause, many experience some of the following symptoms:
- Irregular periods
- Vaginal dryness
- Hot flashes
- Chills
- Night sweats
- Sleep problems
- Mood changes
- Weight gain and slowed metabolism
- Thinning hair
- Dry skin
- Loss of breast fullness
- Mood changes
- Urinary incontinence
- Brain fog
- Breast pain
How can I alleviate symptoms of menopause?
Many symptoms of menopause can make a difficult time even more challenging. We’ve listed a few tips below to alleviate the most common symptoms of menopause, but always discuss any concerns with your doctor.
- Exercising regularly will improve sleep quality and can help regulate emotions.
- Drink cold water when experiencing a hot flash or night sweats.
- Make time to destress and do something you enjoy each day.
- Establish a good sleep schedule.
- Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.
- Avoid screens 30 minutes before bed.
- Dress in layers or wear light clothing to ease hot flashes.
- Keep your bedroom cool at night.
- Avoid potential triggers for hot flashes, such as spicy food, caffeine, cigarettes, and alcohol.
- For vaginal dryness, try over-the-counter vaginal moisturizers or lubricants.
- To ease urinary incontinence, avoid foods and beverages with high acidity or caffeine content, as they can irritate the bladder lining.
If these solutions aren’t adequate in relieving your symptoms, speak with your doctor or OB-GYN about other options. Some doctors may recommend hormone replacement therapy for severe symptoms.
How does the stigma surrounding menopause affect health?
The stigma surrounding women’s health has led to a gap in knowledge about menopause. It can be difficult to discuss and manage symptoms of menopause if people aren’t comfortable discussing their discomforts with friends, family, or their doctor. Menopause is often treated as a disease, signifying the end of a woman’s heyday. But this isn’t the case at all!
This time is the beginning of the next stage of life, filled with opportunities for growth and change. Menopause can be overwhelming at times, but keep in mind that this is a natural transition.
To learn more about menopause and find support, visit The North American Menopause Society’s website.
