Second innings

Menopause is a natural biological process. Although its onset brings in hormonal upheavals, physical changes and emotional changes, it is far removed from end of youth or sexuality of women.

Menopause is the cessation of the monthly female menstrual cycle. Women who have not had a menstrual period for a year are considered post menopausal. Women in late forties or early fifties experience menopause. Women who have gone through menopause are no longer fertile.

The journey to menopause begins for women long before cessation of their menstrual cycle. Menopause begins naturally when your ovaries start making less of estrogen and progesterone. During reproductive years these hormones regulate monthly cycles of ovulation and menstruation. For most women, hormone production begins to slow down when they reach their thirties and continues to diminish as they age. Since this process spans over decades perimenopause precedes menopause.

During perimenopause you start experiencing menopausal symptoms though you are still ovulating.

Symptoms:

• Anxiety
• Fatigue
• Bloating
• Headaches
• Heart palpitation
• Hot flashes
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Reduced sex drive
• Mood swings
• Night sweats
• Urinary incontinence
• Weight gain
• Vaginal dryness

By the time women reach menopause and stop menstruating altogether, acute problems linked with it are likely to disappear. However, women become increasingly vulnerable to serious health problems. Over the period, diminished supply of estrogen increases the likelihood of cardio-vascular diseases, osteoporosis and vaginal atrophy. Osteoporosis is a common problem women experience post-menopause.

Recent researches say soybeans, chickpeas and other legumes contain phytoestrogens which help in tiding over menopausal symptoms.

Lifestyle changes

• Increase intake of dark green leafy vegetables, turmeric, fenugreek, bitter gourd and broccoli.
• Consume foods high in magnesium – (nuts like almonds, walnuts), dairy products and bananas.
• Exercise
• Eat well
• Get 1500 mg of calcium and 400 to 800 IU of Vitamin D.
• Eat five to six small nutritious meals instead of three large ones.
  Go the soy way.
• Take Vitamin E.
• Quit smoking
• Get your sleep.
• Do pelvic floor exercises to strengthen urinary muscles.
• Experiment with acupuncture.
• Evening Primrose Oil seems to benefit hormonal balance and promote healthy looking skin.
• Avoid pungent sour and salt tastes. Refrain from alcohol, caffeine, hot weather or spicy food.

Related Posts

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2. Making Sense of Hormonal Profiles
3. Herbal Support for Menopause
4. Fix It Before It Breaks
5. Follicle Stimulating Hormone