What to Know About the Causes and Symptoms of Menopause

The literal meaning of menopause is “the end of menstruation,” the last menstrual period. For some women this can feel liberating (no longer worrying about possible unwanted pregnancies and no more hassle with the menstrual cycle). For others it can cause emotional instability and a sense of loss. A common misconception is that menopause equals the end of femininity and sexual life, which is far from true. The post-menopausal state does have drawbacks, however, since the risk of certain diseases increases and therefore requires heightened attention.

Why does menopause occur?

Menopause generally occurs between the ages of 48 and 52. As women age, their ovaries produce progressively less estrogen and progesterone (the hormones that regulate the monthly ovulation cycle), so as menopause approaches fewer and fewer cycles result in a mature egg, until ovulation stops entirely. At that point the menstrual cycles cease, and pregnancy can no longer occur.

Symptoms of menopause

You can only be sure that a menstrual period was the last one after a full year has passed without menstrual bleeding. Ovarian activity begins to decline well before menopause (usually toward the end of the thirties). Fewer hormones are produced and fewer follicles mature each month. Early signs of menopause include hot flashes, general malaise, sleep disturbances, and emotional lability. Some symptoms only appear years after the last menstrual period (for example abdominal weight gain, hair thinning, vaginal dryness, and sagging breasts).

What is the climacteric?

The climacteric refers to roughly the five years before and after menopause.

• In the period before menopause, called premenopause, some of the above-mentioned premenopausal symptoms may already appear, but menstruation is generally still present (even if irregular), so pregnancy is still possible.
• In the period after menopause, called postmenopause, the ovaries produce much less estrogen and no progesterone at all, so pregnancy is no longer possible.

Common conditions during the menopausal transition

Because of hormonal changes, the risk of certain diseases increases after menopause.

• With the decline in estrogen levels, the risk of cardiovascular disease rises, so it is especially important at this time to quit smoking, exercise regularly, and eat healthily.
• After menopause bone density decreases, which raises the risk of osteoporosis. To prevent this, adequate calcium and vitamin D intake is necessary. If the disease has already developed, modern medical technology can also help. In addition to dietary and physical activity changes, physiotherapy including magnetotherapy can be used effectively in the treatment of osteoporosis.
• With decreased estrogen levels the elasticity of the vagina and urethra also declines, which can lead to urinary incontinence. You can read more about incontinence and its treatments on this page.

Geographical perspective: an interesting fact about menopause

There are cultures where menopause is not seen negatively but is associated with an increase in social status. In India, women who have passed menopause are allowed to eat, drink, and even converse with men. In Ethiopia, menopausal women may enter previously forbidden sacred areas and take part in religious ceremonies.

In our country too we can consider menopause a milestone. It is worth regarding it as a milestone that does not symbolize the loss of femininity but rather a lifestyle change that has many positive aspects!