The word menopause comes from the Greek words "men", which means month, and "pausis" which means disappearance. Thus, it can be said that menopause is the cessation or disappearance of menstruation. Menopause is the last menstrual bleeding controlled by the ovaries and occurs around the age of 50. In practice, the words "climacteric" and "menopause" are very often confused.
Climacteric is a slow process that usually lasts 3 to 5 years. During this period, the woman has irregular cycles or shorter or longer periods without menstruation. The process comes to an end with the last menstruation.
One can only know later which menstruation is the latest since 12 months must go by before one can know the date of menopause.
No woman can know for sure when she will be menopausal. All women are different. Many start menopause around the age of 50, others at 40 and only a few have it around age 30.
Symptoms of Menopause
Some women may experience all these symptoms and others none. Some symptoms may last only a few minutes and others may last a long time.
What can women do to feel better during menopause?
You can do many things to feel better after menopause begins.
Treatment
Some women do not need any treatment during menopause. But treatment may help others. Talk to your doctor about what is best for you. If you need treatment, he or she has many to choose from, for example:
In any case, you should consult your doctor about what is best for you when using any of the above therapies.
False beliefs about menopause
Other women feel the same emotions and concerns as you do.
Climacteric is a slow process that usually lasts 3 to 5 years. During this period, the woman has irregular cycles or shorter or longer periods without menstruation. The process comes to an end with the last menstruation.
One can only know later which menstruation is the latest since 12 months must go by before one can know the date of menopause.
No woman can know for sure when she will be menopausal. All women are different. Many start menopause around the age of 50, others at 40 and only a few have it around age 30.
Symptoms of Menopause
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Hot flashes: are a feeling of warmth in the face and upper body. Hot flashes occur quickly and usually last a few minutes. They can be annoying and produce copious sweat. Hot flashes can make it hard to sleep at night.
Vaginal dryness: can dry out and itch. Dry vaginas also tend to cause pain during intercourse.
Mood swings: women may feel sad, tired or upset and have trouble sleeping.
Weight gain
Bone pain
Vaginal dryness: can dry out and itch. Dry vaginas also tend to cause pain during intercourse.
Mood swings: women may feel sad, tired or upset and have trouble sleeping.
Weight gain
Bone pain
Some women may experience all these symptoms and others none. Some symptoms may last only a few minutes and others may last a long time.
What can women do to feel better during menopause?
You can do many things to feel better after menopause begins.
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Do not smoke: Smoking increases the chances of getting many diseases, which include heart disease, osteoporosis, cancer and others.
Exercise regularly: Exercise helps maintain a healthy heart and strong bones. It also helps you feel better. The best exercises are the simplest:
Eat a healthy diet: each day, eat a combination of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables (preferably fresh), cereal, pasta and rice (preferably whole grains), milk, yogurt and cheese (preferably low fat or fat free) chicken and fish.
Avoid refined and processed foods (such as frozen or microwave dinners), caffeine (found in coffee, tea and some sodas), fat (such as butter, eggs, bacon and fried foods), sugar (candy, biscuits and soft drinks) and alcohol.
Take calcium (this is important): Calcium helps keep bones strong and healthy and helps prevent osteoporosis. It is better to get calcium from food. When this is not possible in the required amounts, supplements with calcium and vitamin D3 must be added to the diet.
Stay cool during hot flashes: a few things can cause or set off hot flashes, such as hot drinks, alcohol and eating very spicy foods with hot sauce or pepper; stress can also trigger hot flashes. Once you know what situations trigger hot flashes, try to avoid them. In any case, consult with your doctor, since he or she will recommend products that can relieve hot flashes.
Relieve vaginal dryness: some products such as moisturizers and lubricants can reduce vaginal dryness, which helps sexual relations. Buy a product designed exclusively for vaginal use. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about which product to use.
Improve bladder control: some special exercises can help prevent the loss of urine, such as:
Speak to your family and friends: talking about how you feel can help you feel better. Do not be afraid to talk about menopause, it is a normal and natural part of life.
Ask for help: we all need help occasionally. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness!, Talk to your family, friends or your doctor about the kind of help you might need.
Learn new ways to relax: relaxation will help you stay healthy and happy, to relax:
Set aside time for yourself: most women have spent many years taking care of others. Menopause is a good time to begin looking after yourself. Start a new activity. Take a trip. Take classes. Spend more time with family and friends. Take time to do what you've always wanted to do.
Exercise regularly: Exercise helps maintain a healthy heart and strong bones. It also helps you feel better. The best exercises are the simplest:
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Walking briskly
Cycling
Weightlifting
Cycling
Weightlifting
Avoid refined and processed foods (such as frozen or microwave dinners), caffeine (found in coffee, tea and some sodas), fat (such as butter, eggs, bacon and fried foods), sugar (candy, biscuits and soft drinks) and alcohol.
Take calcium (this is important): Calcium helps keep bones strong and healthy and helps prevent osteoporosis. It is better to get calcium from food. When this is not possible in the required amounts, supplements with calcium and vitamin D3 must be added to the diet.
Stay cool during hot flashes: a few things can cause or set off hot flashes, such as hot drinks, alcohol and eating very spicy foods with hot sauce or pepper; stress can also trigger hot flashes. Once you know what situations trigger hot flashes, try to avoid them. In any case, consult with your doctor, since he or she will recommend products that can relieve hot flashes.
Relieve vaginal dryness: some products such as moisturizers and lubricants can reduce vaginal dryness, which helps sexual relations. Buy a product designed exclusively for vaginal use. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about which product to use.
Improve bladder control: some special exercises can help prevent the loss of urine, such as:
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Tightening vagina muscles as if trying to stop urinating and count to ten while contracting them, then relax and repeat muscle contractions and relaxation ten times. Do these exercises as often as possible.
Ask for help: we all need help occasionally. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness!, Talk to your family, friends or your doctor about the kind of help you might need.
Learn new ways to relax: relaxation will help you stay healthy and happy, to relax:
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Breathe slowly and deeply, stretch often and devote time to your favourite activity
Soak in a hot bath
Sit alone with your eyes closed. Find the ways to relax that give you better results. Then, take time to relax every day.
Soak in a hot bath
Sit alone with your eyes closed. Find the ways to relax that give you better results. Then, take time to relax every day.
Treatment
Some women do not need any treatment during menopause. But treatment may help others. Talk to your doctor about what is best for you. If you need treatment, he or she has many to choose from, for example:
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Phytotherapy:
HRT: some women find it helpful to take oestrogen to replace what the body stops making after menopause. This treatment is known as oestrogen replacement therapy or HRT, hormone replacement therapy. The drawback is that this therapy may have some adverse effects.
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Cimicifuga racemosa L.: is a natural plant substance which may improve menopausal symptoms; many European women have been taking it for more than 40 years. The most important thing is that it has no estrogenic hormone action and is a very effective and safe treatment supported by multiple clinical studies.
Phytoestrogens (Soy isoflavones): are compounds that are structurally similar to oestrogen in the body and their action depends on the ability to bind to oestrogen receptors.
Phytoestrogens (Soy isoflavones): are compounds that are structurally similar to oestrogen in the body and their action depends on the ability to bind to oestrogen receptors.
In any case, you should consult your doctor about what is best for you when using any of the above therapies.
False beliefs about menopause
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After menopause, everything goes from bad to worse
¡False! Menopause can be a new beginning. It all depends on you. If you take care of yourself today, you will remain healthy and active for many years.
After menopause, you lose your looks
¡False! Our appearance changes as we age, but that change does not need to be bad. Wrinkles and gray hair occur normally with age and are not due to menopause. The best way to stay beautiful is to stay healthy.
Menopause causes depression
¡False! Menopausal changes can sometimes make you feel sad, but depression is a feeling of sadness that does not disappear. Depression is caused by something else, not menopause. If you feel sad most of the time, talk to your doctor.
Menopause is the end of your sex life
¡False! Without the worry of getting pregnant, many women enjoy sex more after menopause. Since children become independent, couples have more time to devote to each other. After menopause, many single women start dating again. Therefore, this can be a new and exciting time of life.
Hysterectomy is the best way to treat menopause
¡False! A hysterectomy is performed when there is a uterine disease. There are many easier ways to alleviate the problems of menopause.
Support groups for menopause
In many cities, there are groups of women who get together at special meetings to discuss menopause. In these support groups, you can:
¡False! Menopause can be a new beginning. It all depends on you. If you take care of yourself today, you will remain healthy and active for many years.
After menopause, you lose your looks
¡False! Our appearance changes as we age, but that change does not need to be bad. Wrinkles and gray hair occur normally with age and are not due to menopause. The best way to stay beautiful is to stay healthy.
Menopause causes depression
¡False! Menopausal changes can sometimes make you feel sad, but depression is a feeling of sadness that does not disappear. Depression is caused by something else, not menopause. If you feel sad most of the time, talk to your doctor.
Menopause is the end of your sex life
¡False! Without the worry of getting pregnant, many women enjoy sex more after menopause. Since children become independent, couples have more time to devote to each other. After menopause, many single women start dating again. Therefore, this can be a new and exciting time of life.
Hysterectomy is the best way to treat menopause
¡False! A hysterectomy is performed when there is a uterine disease. There are many easier ways to alleviate the problems of menopause.
Support groups for menopause
In many cities, there are groups of women who get together at special meetings to discuss menopause. In these support groups, you can:
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Get together with other women who are also going through menopause
Share ideas and feelings
Discover that you're not alone
Share ideas and feelings
Discover that you're not alone
Other women feel the same emotions and concerns as you do.
