Menopause
“So many women I’ve talked to see menopause as an ending. But I’ve discovered this is your moment to reinvent yourself after years of focusing on the needs of everyone else. It’s your opportunity to get clear about what matters to you and then to pursue that with all of your energy, time and talent.” — Oprah Winfrey
Menstruation is the beginning of puberty, whereas menopause is the end of fertility. So when the menstruation period is about to end, that results in menopause. Menopause is when regular periodic cycles have stopped. The reproductive organ is no longer active. The span of the menstrual cycle varies in every woman. The average age for the occurrence of menopause is from 45 to 55 years.
Now that you understand menopause fundamentally check this post that seeks you to manage mental health and prioritize the well-being of women.
Menopause and Mental Health
Menopause involves shifts in the levels of hormones which have an impact on your mental health. You may experience mood swings, including anxiety, stress, or depression.
These are the following symptoms related to mental health that include:
- Emotional Outbursts – anger, irritation, and annoyance.
- Anxiety – sleep disorders, dizziness, sweating, irregular heartbeat, etc.
- Forgetfulness – memory loss, confusion, unhealthy lifestyle.
- Low Self-Esteem – emotional thinking, ignorance, and negative thoughts.
- Feeling Depressed – insomnia, fatigue, restlessness, etc.
- Cognitive Problems – poor memory such as reasoning, judgment, thinking, and language difficulties.
Menopause and mental health are closely viewed as depressive symptoms due to hormonal fluctuations. For a few women, menopause can be a time for isolation, so let’s look into the matter that gives you the solution.
With respect to the above statement, let’s find out the relationship between menopause and well-being closely.
Menopause and Well-Being
Changes in physical well-being at the time of menopause may affect psychologically. Menopausal symptoms are directly related to health in many ways.
According to PRISMA guidelines, psychological distress during the menopause transition in 2 out of 18 studies found a statistically significant association between the menopausal stage and well-being, and one found a significant negative association between vasomotor symptoms and well-being.
Here are the following lifestyle changes:
Adequate Sleep
Women in menopause often suffer from poor sleep quality. Lack of sleep can cause tiredness, irritability, and anxiety.
In support of mental well-being, adequate sleep is essential. You should follow proper sleep schedules, such as keeping the room clean, dark, and noiseless.
Get doctor advice; they may recommend medication or a sleep hygiene checklist for better sleep.
Regular Exercise
Regular exercise will improve the hormonal challenges. Schedule your time for exercise at least thirty to forty-five minutes every day.
Regular exercise can help relieve stress during menopause. Mindful breathing exercises are also helpful in handling stress.
Including exercises as lifestyle changes is a fundamental wellness component. It also has an influence on your weight, maintaining hormonal balance.
Quit Smoking or Alcohol
People addicted to smoking or alcohol are at a greater risk of developing depression. It is advisable to quit smoking and alcohol consumption as they may aggravate stress levels.
Follow healthy routines that include healthy food habits necessary in developing lifestyle changes. Menopausal women should avoid smoke and alcohol for a healthy lifestyle.
Seek Support
You may seek help from your family and friends whenever needed. Community support is also helpful in coping with mental health issues. Women with menopause should have access to doctors’ advice if the condition worsens.
Menopause with Treatments
There are various possible treatments concerning menopause. Treating menopause can be tricky as every person has different medical conditions. Seek your doctor’s support that works best for your mental and physical health.
Here are some of the treatments that can impact menopause:
Hormonal Replacement
The hormonal replacement depends on a person’s medical history, as short-term and long-term treatments help treat menopausal distress. Hormonal Replacement Treatment is safe and effective for people going through menopause.
Your doctor may prescribe antidepressant medications if needed. Also, before going through any treatments, speak to a healthcare advisor about the risk and benefits involved in the process.
Testosterone Gel
The ovaries and adrenal glands produce female testosterone. The testosterone level naturally gets lower with age which causes fertility problems. People with low sex can have testosterone gel as a treatment in menopause.
Estrogen levels did not fluctuate during the induction of testosterone. The endometrial thickness did not oscillate during testosterone treatment. There were no side effects in treating testosterone, and no changes were found, even in hemoglobin and erythropoietin hormone.
Estrogen
Estrogen is an essential female sex hormone necessary for reproduction. For women with menopause, it’s safe to use vaginal estrogen with hormonal replacement treatment.
Your vagina may become dry, itchy, and even painful due to menopause in treating with vaginal estrogen that does not get into the bloodstream.
Your doctor can advise you to take a low dose of estrogen pills in reference to your health conditions and family history in case of early menopause.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive behavior therapy is a short-term medical approach. It effectively manages menopausal problems, which include anxiety, depression, sleep disorder, and sexual concerns.
Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has previously been proposed as a low-risk treatment for hot flushes. But recent studies have found CBT helpful in treating highly symptomatic women in menopause.
Herbal Treatments
A British Menopause Society found that 95% of women try natural remedies before Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to help keep hot flashes, mood swings, and other symptoms affecting menopause.
However, there are a few natural menopause treatments that work well:
- Vitamin E and Coconut oil help relieve common skin issues such as itchy skin problems in menopause.
- Ginkgo Biloba is another herbal remedy for menopause, which causes more perceived sexual desire than those under placebo treatment.
Soy and Evening Primrose Oil are also helpful during menopause, particularly for people suffering from hot flashes and night sweats.
Conclusion
We hope you came up with menopause as a health journey. In this post, we have mentioned the different stages of menopause and their symptoms. Finally, you’ve also encountered lifestyle changes that can aid you significantly during menopause.
If you want more information regarding menopause, feel free to go through SimplyMenopause.net, where you get tips and solutions to menopause problems.
I hope you enjoyed reading this post!
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