Menopause refers to one of the stages of life, like infancy, adolescence and adulthood. A natural biological process, menopause is diagnosed after 12 months have passed without a menstrual period. Menopause can occur in your 40s or 50s.
Along with physical symptoms such as being more affected by heat, menopause can bring emotional symptoms and negative effects on your sleep pattern. In addition to lifestyle changes, there are many effective treatment options, such as hormone therapy.
Symptoms of Menopause
Among the signs of menopause, you may experience the symptoms listed below, which are commonly seen in the period leading up to menopause.
- Irregular periods
- Vaginal dryness
- Hot flashes
- Chills
- Night sweats
- Sleep problems
- Mood changes
- Weight gain and slowed metabolism
- Thinning hair and dry skin
- Loss of breast fullness
Signs and symptoms can vary among women. Most likely, some irregularities may occur before menstrual periods come to an end.
Skipping periods during the perimenopausal period is common and expected. Often, periods skip a month and return, or skip several months and then monthly cycles start again for a few months. Periods also tend to occur in shorter cycles, so they are closer together. Despite irregular periods, pregnancy is possible. If you have missed a period but are not sure the menopausal transition has begun, you should consider taking a pregnancy test.
When should you see a doctor?
It is important to have regular check-ups with a specialist for preventive healthcare and any medical problems. Specialist support is also important during and after menopause. As part of age-related “preventive healthcare,” you can have health screening tests such as a colonoscopy, mammography and triglyceride screening. When your doctor evaluates your family history, they may also recommend other tests and screenings, including thyroid tests and pelvic exams.
If bleeding continues after menopause, seeking medical help should not be neglected.
If bleeding continues after menopause, seeking medical help should not be neglected.
What factors affect the onset of menopause?
One of the common causes of menopause is the natural decline of reproductive hormones. As you approach your late 30s, the ovaries begin to produce less estrogen and progesterone (the hormones that regulate menstrual bleeding), and fertility declines.
In your 40s, your periods may become longer or shorter, heavier or lighter, and more or less frequent. By around age 51 on average, your ovaries stop producing eggs and you no longer have periods.
Surgery that removes the ovaries (oophorectomy): The ovaries produce hormones such as estrogen and progesterone that regulate the menstrual cycle. Surgery to remove the ovaries causes immediate menopause. Periods stop, and hot flashes and other signs and symptoms of menopause are likely to occur. Because the hormonal changes occur suddenly rather than gradually over several years, the signs and symptoms can be severe.
Surgery that removes the uterus but not the ovaries (hysterectomy) usually does not cause immediate menopause. Although you no longer have periods, your ovaries still release eggs and produce estrogen and progesterone.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy: These cancer treatments can trigger menopause, causing symptoms such as hot flashes during or shortly after treatment. The halt to menstruation (and fertility) following chemotherapy is not always permanent, so birth control measures may still be desired. Radiation therapy affects ovarian function only when radiation is directed at the ovaries. Radiation therapy to other parts of the body, such as breast tissue or the head and neck, does not affect menopause.
Primary ovarian insufficiency: About 1% of women go through menopause before age 40 (premature menopause). Early menopause may result from the ovaries failing to produce normal levels of reproductive hormones (primary ovarian insufficiency), which can be caused by genetic factors or autoimmune disease. Often, however, no cause of early menopause can be found. For these women, hormone therapy is usually recommended at least until the natural age of menopause to protect the brain, heart and bones.
What are the complications of menopause?
After menopause, the risk of certain medical conditions increases. Examples include:
Heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease: When estrogen levels drop, the risk of cardiovascular disease increases. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women as well as in men. That is why it is important to exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet and maintain a normal weight. You can ask a specialist for advice on how to protect your heart, such as how to lower your cholesterol or your blood pressure if it is too high.
Osteoporosis: This condition causes bones to become brittle and weak, leading to an increased risk of fractures. During the first few years after menopause, you may lose bone density rapidly, increasing your risk of osteoporosis. Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis are especially susceptible to fractures of the spine, hips and wrists.
Urinary incontinence: As the tissues of the vagina and urethra lose elasticity, you may experience frequent, sudden, strong urges to urinate followed by involuntary loss of urine (urge incontinence), or loss of urine with coughing, laughing or lifting (stress incontinence). More frequent urinary tract infections may also occur.
Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles with Kegel exercises and using topical vaginal estrogen may help relieve incontinence symptoms. Hormone therapy may also be an effective treatment option for menopausal urinary tract and vaginal changes that can cause urinary incontinence.
Sexual dysfunction: Vaginal dryness resulting from decreased moisture production and loss of elasticity can cause discomfort and slight bleeding during sexual intercourse. In addition, decreased sensation may reduce your desire for sexual activity (libido).
Water-based vaginal moisturizers and lubricants can help in this case. If a vaginal lubricant is not enough, many women benefit from local vaginal estrogen treatment, available as vaginal creams, tablets or rings.
Weight gain: Many women gain weight during the menopausal transition and after menopause because metabolism slows down. You may need to eat less and exercise more to maintain your current weight.
The information on our website is not intended to direct individuals to any treatment. Do not take any diagnostic or treatment steps without consulting your doctor. The content does not contain information about İzmir Can Hastanesi's therapeutic healthcare services.
