Menopause is a natural process that all women experience throughout their lives -usually during their late forties and fifties. Menopause is defined as the time when a woman has not had a period for twelve consecutive months. However, the entire process of menopause and perimenopause can last for a few years and, for some women, can be a very emotional and destabilizing experience.
Both menopause and perimenopause come with physical, emotional, and psychological changes. While some of these changes might be minor, others may be more consequential. Therefore, it’s useful to understand these changes and what steps can be taken to help reduce their impact on your quality of life.
Symptoms of Menopause
As menopause occurs, women may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
- Hot flashes
- Trouble sleeping
- Changes in libido
- Irritability and/or mood changes
- Pain during sex (vaginal dryness)
- Vaginal and urinary problems
- Depression
- Weight gain and slowed metabolism
- Night sweats
Every woman experiences menopause differently. So, the presence, absence, and severity of these symptoms may vary. The intensity of these symptoms may also change over time. The important thing to note is how symptoms impact your quality of life and day-to-day activities.
Managing Menopause
Managing the symptoms of menopause is less of a science and more of an art. Symptoms can likely be managed using one or more interventions, as noted below. Control of symptoms usually requires a number of options being used in conjunction with one another. For example, using targeted options that help specific symptoms while engaging in general lifestyle changes. Management options include:
Targeted Therapies
- Vaginal Creams and Lubricants – Used specifically for vaginal dryness.
- Clonidine (Catapres, Kapvay) – A pill or patch typically used to treat high blood pressure might provide some relief from hot flashes.
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) – HRT works by artificially replacing the hormones estrogen and progesterone. By mimicking their actions, HRT helps to mask their decline, helping your body react less dramatically to the natural loss of estrogen. HRT is available in pills, patches, creams, or injections.
- Bio-identical Hormones – Bioidentical hormones are plant-based estrogens that are synthetic. Like traditional HRT, bioidentical hormones come in various forms, including pills, patches, and creams.
General Management
Good menopause management is greatly helped by adopting healthy lifestyle choices such as healthy eating, regular exercise, and good quality sleep. Additionally, following menopause (post-menopause), women are more vulnerable to certain medical conditions like heart disease and osteoporosis. So practicing healthy lifestyle choices will not only benefit your current menopausal symptoms, it will help reduce the risk of some of these illnesses.
- Lifestyle changes – Diet, exercise, or stopping smoking are some options that are always encouraged. Even small lifestyle changes can make a huge difference in limiting symptoms.
- Exercise – Keep active by engaging in low-impact exercises such as walking, aerobics, and yoga.
Other management options
Although not used as a first-line treatment option, some women have found success in using non-traditional therapies. These techniques promote relaxation, good sleep, and stress management:
- Consulting with a sleep specialist to help improve sleeping practices
- Natural supplements – There is limited evidence that supplements such as soy and Vitamin E help with symptoms. However, speak to your doctor first before starting any new supplements.
- Practicing mindfulness and meditation
- Acupuncture
- Yoga
- Pilates
Managing the symptoms of menopause usually involves a combined approach where some of the options listed above are used alongside one another.
When to See Your Doctor or Obgyn
If the symptoms of menopause or perimenopause begin to interfere with your quality of life or interrupt your day-to-day activities, then make an appointment to see your doctor. They may be able to prescribe specific treatments that help reduce symptoms or recommend therapies that work by alleviating pain and discomfort. Your doctor can also provide guidance or counseling on other aspects of your health that may be affected by menopause.
Outlook
As with any major life change, going through menopause can leave some women feeling a little unbalanced and unsure about what to expect. The symptoms of menopause are unpredictable and can last from a few months to years. Wherever you are in the process, it is always helpful to seek advice. Your doctor can assist with guidance and management options to help you navigate the trickier aspects of health concerning menopause.
