Menopause: what's the best way to deal with it?

What is menopause?
The maturity of women
Menopause in the USA
Defining the moment of menopause
A transitional phase
Self-knowledge
Decrease in hormones
The biology of women
Symptoms that menopause is approaching
What about fertility?
The most common symptoms of menopause
Hot flashes affect most women
Restless nights
Mood changes
Libido
Body weight
How many women are in menopause?
Menopause in the American workforce
Effects of menopause at work
New mentality, new legislation
How to deal with the discomforts of menopause?
Healthy lifestyle
Physical exercise
Less stress, more quality sleep
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
Consult a professional
What is menopause?

The term is widely known, but socially, not much is said about the topic. Do you know what menopause is?

The maturity of women

Menopause is a natural phase in a woman's life marked by the end of menstrual cycles and reproductive capacity. It usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can vary for each person.

 

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Menopause in the USA

In the United States, the average age at which women reach menopause is 52 years, according to National Geographic. Before that, around age 40, it is called early menopause.

Defining the moment of menopause

It is common for the term 'menopause' to be used to designate the entire process but, technically, it only denotes the moment when a woman has completely stopped ovulating and menstruating.

A transitional phase

The transition period, known as climacteric, causes unpleasant symptoms. Since the topic is not being discussed often, many women don't know how to deal with these symptoms.

Self-knowledge

But before discussing the symptoms, it is important to understand what happens to the body itself during menopause. It is, in fact, a part of a long phase of life.

Decrease in hormones

During the climacteric phase, hormone levels such as estrogen and progesterone decrease. This occurs because the structures that house the eggs, responsible for hormone production, become depleted little by little.

The biology of women

"When this reserve of follicles ends, the woman stops ovulating and the menopause process begins", gynecologist Dr. Luciano de Melo Pompei explains in the Brazilian Drauzio Varella's column.

Symptoms that menopause is approaching

One of the first symptoms that the hormonal transition phase has begun is irregular menstruation. The process is slow, however. It can last up to seven years before the woman stops menstruating completely.

What about fertility?

During this stage, fertility decreases but ovulation and pregnancy are still possible, the American Menopause Society claims. Therefore, experts recommend that women continue the use of contraceptives if they want to avoid getting pregnant.

The most common symptoms of menopause

Hot flashes are very common at this stage of life. They can appear in different areas of the body, such as the neck, face, and upper back, and vary in intensity. In certain situations, hot flashes cause a feeling of suffocation accompanied by redness in the face.

Hot flashes affect most women

According to National Geographic, 80% of women say they suffer from hot flashes. They can last from one to five minutes and occur several times per day.

Restless nights

Variations in the body's thermal sensation also occur during the night. Therefore, many women report having difficulty sleeping.

Mood changes

Irritability, depression, and crying spells are also common at this stage. Women who have experienced such symptoms during their menstrual cycles or after giving birth are more likely to develop them in menopause, too.

Libido

The hormonal drop causes a woman's appetite for intimacy to decrease. It can also cause dryness in the private parts.

Body weight

Another common symptom is weight gain. As the body produces fewer hormones, the metabolism starts to work more slowly.

How many women are in menopause?

According to the Society for Human Resource Management, by 2030, the number of menopausal and postmenopausal women is expected to reach 1.2 billion. There are 47 million women entering menopause each year, Forbes magazine reports.

Menopause in the American workforce

According to Forbes, in the USA, 20% of the workforce is currently going through menopause.

Effects of menopause at work

The challenging physiological symptoms of menopause can affect women at work. However, talking about menopause is a problem, especially within businesses.

New mentality, new legislation

In March 2022, the City of London introduced menopause leave for municipal employees. It also ensured inclusive work spaces with temperature-controlled areas, Forbes reported.

How to deal with the discomforts of menopause?

While society slowly changes and begins to provide the necessary support for women at this stage of life, there are some things they can do themselves to minimize physical discomfort.

Healthy lifestyle

A diet rich in calcium and vitamin D is essential for the bone health of mature women, as this element is scarce in the body during menopause.

Physical exercise

In addition, regular physical activity helps maintain cardiovascular health, control weight, and improve mood.

Less stress, more quality sleep

For those who suffer from irritability and lack of sleep, practices such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing can help reduce stress and improve sleep.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

In some cases, hormone replacement therapy may be prescribed to alleviate severe symptoms. However, considering the risks and benefits, this treatment should take place under medical guidance.

Consult a professional

Each woman uniquely experiences menopause. Therefore, treatment must be personalized according to her individual needs. Consulting a healthcare professional is crucial to assess the situation and determine how to deal with menopause.

 

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