Get to Know more about Menopause

Menopause marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle, and they can’t get pregnant naturally. It begins at the ages of 45 to 55. Although menopause is inevitable, you shouldn’t have to cross this change on your own. Lafayette menopause specialists provide you with expert and compassionate support to address health changes and symptoms during this stage of life.

Causes of menopause

Naturally declining reproductive hormones. As you are in your late 30s, ovaries begin producing less progesterone and estrogen, the hormones regulating menstruation, and your fertility ends. In your 40s, the menstruation can become shorter or longer, lighter or heavier, and less or more frequent until around 51 years, the ovaries stop releasing eggs, and you don’t get periods anymore.

Surgery which removes the ovaries. The ovaries produce hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen, which regulate the menstrual cycle. Surgery involving the removal of ovaries causes immediate menopause. Your periods stop, and you can have hot flashes and some menopausal signs and symptoms. These signs can be severe because hormonal changes appear shortly rather than regularly over several years.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Cancer therapies can encourage menopause, causing hot flashes during and shortly after treatment. The halt of fertility is not permanent after chemotherapy, and birth control measures can still be desired. Radiation therapy affects ovary functions if radiation is directed at the ovaries.

Primary ovarian insufficiency. Less than 1% of women experience premature menopause before age 40. This might result from immediate ovarian insufficiency, which is a form of failure of the ovaries to produce reproductive hormones stemming from autoimmune diseases or genetic factors.

Complications

After menopause, some medical conditions can put them at risk. Examples include:

Osteoporosis. This condition makes the bones weak and brittle, leading to an increased risk of fractures. In the first years of menopause, you can lose bone density at a high rate, accelerating the risk of osteoporosis.

Heart and blood vessel disease. When estrogen levels decline, the risk of getting exposed to cardiovascular diseases increases. The leading cause of death in both men and women is heart disease. It is essential to eat a healthy diet, get regular exercise and maintain an average weight.

Urinary incontinence. As the urethra and vagina tissue lose elasticity, you can experience sudden, frequent, strong urges to urinate, followed by loss of urine with laughing, coughing, or lifting. You can get urinary infections often. Hormone therapy can be an effective menopausal vaginal change and urinary tract treatment option.

Sexual function. Vaginal dryness can cause slight bleeding and discomfort during intercourse. Vaginal dryness is caused by loss of elasticity and moisture production. Also, the decreased sensation can lead to low libido. Vaginal lubricants and moisturizers can help, or you can benefit from vaginal estrogen treatment.

Weight gain. During menopause, metabolism slows, and many women tend to gain a lot of weight. You need to exercise more, eat less to maintain your current weight.

During the menopause period, you can be experiencing symptoms like night sweats, hot flashes, and flushing. The symptoms can be severe sometimes. In this case, hormone therapy treatment can help. Ensure you get the proper medical care even when approaching menopause. However, many people tend to live active, and healthy lives during their menopause periods, and this marks the start of a new chapter in their life.