Simply put, menopause refers to the stage in a woman’s reproductive life when she stops experiencing her monthly menstrual flow. It actually signals the end of the fertile phase of a woman’s life. In other words, at menopause, a woman can no longer expect to procreate or give birth to children. Normally, the transition from the fertile period of a woman’s life to menopause is not a drastic one – it usually takes place over several years during which her period may become erratic or irregular until it eventually comes to a halt. Averagely, the typical Nigerian woman attains menopause between 45 and 54 years of age.
In order to better handle this peculiar stage of life, it is essential for every woman to understand a few salient facts regarding menopause:
1. Menopause is not a disease
Just like pregnancy, menopause is a natural phase of a woman’s reproductive life. However, because of the gross hormonal changes that take place around menopause, many women often experience unpleasant sensations like hot flushes and poor sleep, albeit to varying degrees based on individual differences. According to Karen Deighan, MD, an associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, attitude and outlook are key to coping with the challenges of menopause.
2. Menopause is 12 months without a period
In the period leading up to menopause, a woman may often go several months without seeing her period. However, she can only be said to have attained menopause when she has not had a menstrual flow for 12 uninterrupted months. At menopause, the ovaries cease producing eggs as well as estrogen which are critical to the shedding of the uterine lining (menstruation). A few years prior to menopause, it’s not out of place for a woman not to see her menstrual flow for months or to see it more than once in a month. In the same vein, there is fluctuation in volume ranging from mere spotting to a heavier-than-usual flow.
3. Menopause before 40 years is considered early menopause
While the age of attainment of menopause tends to vary among different races, most women in Nigeria are likely to attain menopause sometime between 45 and 54 years. Note that menopause before 40 years is premature and is often a result of premature ovarian failure. Medical conditions such as thyroid disorders as well as chemotherapy or exposure to radiation can also damage the ovaries and lead to early menopause. Similarly, women who have had their ovaries removed before 40 years as part of a medical treatment invariably experience surgical menopause.
4. Menopause may be symptomatic
According to the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), hot flush is the most well-known symptom of menopause. It is an intense feeling of warmth, lasting for a few seconds to several minutes. It may start from inside the abdomen before eventually spreading to the face. It leads to night sweats at night. Furthermore, menopause may be associated with sleep difficulties, headache, memory problems, mood changes and vaginal dryness.
5. Menopause may lead to bone loss
On account of a cessation in estrogen production by the ovaries, bone loss often sets in during menopause, rendering many women more prone to fractures. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, a woman may experience as much as a 20% drop in bone density within 5 – 7 years after menopause. To mitigate this problem, women should get enough calcium in their diets, vitamin D from sunlight and indulge in routine weight-bearing exercises.
6. Increased risk for heart diseases
Research has shown that the hormone, estrogen tends to have a protective effect on the heart. Consequently, at menopause, with a fall in estrogen levels, a woman’s risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke tends to increase especially if she leads a sedentary lifestyle with high blood pressure and cholesterol.
7. Hormonal therapy relieves menopausal symptoms
It’s been observed that short-term use of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone helps to relieve many of the problems of menopause such as hot flushes and bone loss. However, take note that prolonged use of these hormonal replacements can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. According to Deighan, 6 months to 2 years of hormonal treatment can help women get through the worst symptoms of menopause.
In conclusion, despite the numerous challenges of menopause, women can still take solace in the fact that gynaecologic problems like fibroids and endometriosis tend to abate after menopause as a result of a fall in hormone levels. Plus the monthly stress of periods, which are sometimes painful and heavy has become a thing of the past!
