Health Tips

Am I facing menopause? 

Natural menopause is the permanent cessation of menstrual periods, determined retrospectively after a woman has experienced 12 months of amenorrhea without any other obvious pathological or physiological cause and is usually diagnosed with a high serum FSH value. It usually occurs above 50 years of age. 

Anticipating the symptoms

During the perimenopause phase (menopause transition), it is common to have irregular periods. However, the most common symptom is hot flashes, where you experience a sudden feeling of heat in your body. You probably can identify with this when you experience redness in your face and neck and sometimes even sweating followed by cold chills after the hot flashes.

Suggestions:

• drink cold water, lose weight, use a fan/ stay indoors, wear cooling clothing

• if it is getting to you, see a doctor to consult for medications.

Other symptoms include mood swings where one tends to get irritated with or without crying spells. Although there is a higher rate of depression in postmenopausal women, mood swings experienced are not depression. Nevertheless one can still experience depression and anxiety during this period. 

Suggestions:

• Get enough sleep, exercise and learn how to cope with stress

• Talk to someone or join a support group

• If you experience depression and anxiety, seek professional help. 

Sleep disturbance - affected by various factors ranging from low progesterone levels to anxiety and depression or even the night sweats from hot flashes.

Suggestions:

• practise good sleep hygiene, exercise, identify the root cause 

Vaginal dryness - with itching and pain during intercourse as the amount of lubricant decreases due to estrogen insufficiency, which could affect one’s sexual function.

Suggestions:

• use vaginal lubricants

• hormonal therapy (seek a doctor’s advice prior to this as it might be dangerous for some health conditions)

There are many other symptoms that come with or after menopause, and it can differ per individual. Some individuals experience breast pain and menstrual migraines while others don’t. The most important thing to note is to learn how to recognize your symptoms and deal with it accordingly. I guess it is just part of the process of growing old gracefully. 

Long term effects to look out for:

Bone loss 

Bone mineral density loss occurs annually but it increases during the perimenopause and menopause period. Therefore, it is vital to care for your bones by calcium and vitamin D intake even from a young age. And like the saying goes ‘Use it or lose it’, exercise is extremely important, bone and muscle loss occurs much faster if it is not used. 

Cardiovascular disease 

Studies shows that there is a higher risk of cardiovascular disease after menopause as well as an increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL). A balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle can help to reduce the chances. 

Skin changes

The collagen content of the skin and bones is reduced by estrogen deficiency. Decreased cutaneous collagen may lead to increased aging and wrinkling of the skin. 

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Reference :

1. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-and-diagnosis-of-menopause?search=menopause&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=1

2. https://www.womenshealth.gov/menopause/menopause-symptoms-and-relief

Picture reference:

1. https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2018/menopause-symptoms-doctors-relief-treatment.html

2. https://www.timegoesby.net/weblog/2017/03/hot-flashes-and-a-resistance-note.html 

3. http://comprehensiveprimarycare.com/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-menopause/

4. https://www.premierhealth.com/images/default-source/women-wisdom-wellness/p-w-wmn53039-early-menopause-lrg.jpg?sfvrsn=56b97e0f_0

Written by

Dr. Jessamine Chong Sze Lynn