What You Need to Know About Menopause
October is Menopause Awareness Month. The early stages of menopause can begin as early as the mid-30s, but the usual age range is 44-58. Knowing what to expect will help to know how to counteract and cope with symptoms. Menopause is broken down into three different phases, perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause.
During perimenopause, the ovaries begin to produce less estrogen and accelerates in the last two years of perimenopause until your ovaries stop releasing eggs altogether. This will cause irregular periods. Menopause is officially diagnosed after 12 consecutive months of no menstruation, leading into post-menopause. Symptoms could start anywhere from 8-12 years before you hit the “menopause” stage of not having a period for a whole year. Being aware of the symptoms is the first step in menopausal wellness. Symptoms include:
- Irregular periods- cycle length, changes in volume
- Changes in mood r/t fluctuations in hormones
- Hot flashes- face flushing, sweating
- Changes in libido
- Vaginal dryness- lining becomes thinner, less elastic.
- Night sweats
- Weight gain
- Oral health issues- drying of saliva
- Headaches/migraines
- Fatigue/severe exhaustion- one of the first symptoms
- Lack of focus and forgetfulness
- Restless leg syndrome/ anxiety
- Osteoporosis
There are a myriad of ways to manage symptoms, such as being active, eating healthy, daily relaxation and Vitamin D and Calcium. While there is no way to get rid of menopause altogether, there are ways to improve your experience as follows:
- Hormone replacement therapy– bio-identical estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.
- Acupuncture
- Red Light Therapy- concentrates the wavelengths to your vaginal skin to support the production of collagen, elastin and fibroblasts
Talk with your doctor and find support groups for sharing ideas and knowing that you are not alone.
