Menopause is natural, and every woman must go through it. But the physical symptoms such as hot flashes and other emotional symptoms can disrupt your sleep, affect your emotional health or lower your energy. Women’s Healthcare Physicians menopause approach is always the best. They have experience in helping women throughout their menopause and postmenopause. You can book an appointment for more consultation.
Causes of menopause
Declining of reproductive hormones. As you near your late 30’s the ovaries begin making less progesterone and estrogen, the hormones that regulate menstruation and fertility decline. In your 40’s, menstrual periods can become shorter or longer, lighter or heavier, and more or less, until your ovaries stop releasing eggs at around 51 years, and you have no more periods.
Surgery that removes the ovaries. Your ovaries produce two hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. Surgically removing your ovaries causes immediate menopause. Your periods will stop, and you begin experiencing hot flashes and other signs and symptoms. The symptoms can be severe because hormonal changes occur instantly rather than gradually over the years.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These cancer therapies can cause menopause causing symptoms like hot flashes shortly after treatment. The halt to fertility is not generally permanent following chemotherapy, and birth control can still be used. Radiation therapy affects ovarian function if it is directed to the ovaries.
Primary ovarian insufficiency. Not more than 1% of women experience menopause before the age of 40. Premature menopause can be caused by ovary failure to produce normal reproductive hormone levels stemming from an autoimmune disease or genetic factors. Hormone therapy is recommended to women with premature menopause to protect the heart, brain, and bones.
Complications
Heart and blood vessel disease. When estrogen levels decline, the risk of getting cardiovascular disease increases; heart disease is one of the common leading causes of death in women. It is significant to get regular exercise, maintain an average weight and eat a healthy diet. Ask your doctor what to do to protect your heart.
Urinary incontinence. As your vagina tissues lose elasticity, you might experience sudden, frequent urges to urinate followed by urge incontinence or loss of urine with lifting, laughing, or coughing. You can get urinary tract infections often. Hormone therapy can also be effective for menopausal urinary tract and vaginal changes, which lead to urinary incontinence.
Sexual function. Vaginal dryness and loss of elasticity can cause slight bleeding and discomfort during intercourse. Decreased sensation can reduce the desire for sex. Vaginal moisturizers and lubricants can help. If vaginal lubricants are not enough, you can benefit from the use of vaginal estrogen treatment available as a tablet or vaginal cream.
Osteoporosis. It makes the bones weak and brittle, leading to a high risk of fractures. In the first years of menopause, you can lose bone density faster, increasing the risk of osteoporosis. Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis are prone to fractures of their wrists, hips, and spine.
Menopause is a normal biological process that stops a woman’s menstrual cycle and marks the end of fertility. Many women reach menopause at the age of 52 years, but ovarian and pelvic damage can cause immediate menopause early. You can benefit from hormone therapy treatment if you get severe symptoms during your menopause years. It’s essential to go for regular checkups to maintain good health.