Menopause - the Change of Life is a Fact of Life

Menopause is a fact of life, and for some women a rather unpleasant one. Menopause can vary tremendously from a minor inconvenience and the cessation of menses, to an experience that mimics having perverse aliens take over your mind body and spirit, wreaking havoc and destruction. Most women experience mild to moderate symptoms, with the extreme experiences being, thankfully, rare.

Just the Facts Ma'am

Menopause is a normal and natural process, not a disease. It is the time period in which the female body shifts from being fertile to no longer being fertile. The medical community normally defines menopause as the point in a woman's life when menstruation slows down and eventually abates altogether. In short, no more ovulating, no more cycles, no more risk of pregnancy and no more monthly shedding of the uterine lining (periods). Just like adolescence, when all that reproductive machinery got started, menopause is a time of change, disruption to the regular routine, and for many women, at least some discomfort. Let's take a closer look at what happens and what women can do to ease this transition as much as possible.

The Good

While the more common symptoms of menopause are widely known, and the butt of many a crass joke, the benefits of menopause are less frequently acknowledged. As with any major life transition, menopause is not all bad. Once menopause is complete, some benefits an active and sexually active woman might experience include:

  • No more PMS symptoms. That's right - say goodbye to moodiness, appetite changes, bloating, cravings, tender breasts. the whole nine yards, as they say.
  • Once menopause is complete, no more cyclical roller coaster!
  • No more risk of becoming pregnant. Many report that knowing there is no longer a risk of pregnancy "ups" their sexual drive.
  • Just remember to take care in preventing sexually transmitted diseases, regardless of your fertility status.
  • No more staining clothes and bedclothes. In fact, you might consider buying some gorgeous new lingerie or sexy thongs to celebrate!

The Bad

Ok, maybe celebrating no longer having periods is going too far. For many women the process of moving from being fertile and cycling to being finished with the reproductive stage of life is a loss, painful both physically and emotionally. The following symptoms that women struggle with during this transition can range from mild to severe, and can for some women be quite debilitating:

  • Irregular periods especially at first
  • Vaginal dryness and decreased libido and/or pain during intercourse
  • Hot flashes and night sweats
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Mood swings, including anxiety and depression
  • Increased abdominal fat and overall weight gain
  • Thinning hair
  • Loss of breast fullness
  • Short-term memory loss
  • Loss of bone density

The Ugly:

Modern mainstream culture pressures us to equate youth with goodness and beauty. This can lead to seeing an aging body as unattractive. Combined with menopausal symptoms of anxiety or depression, and the strains that menopausal symptoms can place upon intimate relationships, this can lead to a real decline in self-esteem or serious clinical depression.

There are Things You Can Do

While menopause is a fact of life, suffering does not need to be part of that sentence! While treatment doesn't mean "cure," there are options for women seeking to be more comfortable as they navigate this process

Hormone therapy (taking a medicinal form of the natural hormones estrogen and progesterone) is one option, not without its own pros and cons. In short, hormone therapy consists of replacing the hormones the body is no longer making to "fool" the body into "thinking" it is not in menopause. This treatment is usually recommended for women experiencing severe symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood issues or vaginal dryness. However, taking these hormones can increase the risk of certain cancers, heart attack, blood clot and stroke. The decision to pursue hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is one you should undertake carefully, with clear guidance from a doctor who has access to your complete medical history.

Antidepressants are also prescribed for certain menopausal symptoms. These medications have been shown to be helpful with mood swings and hot flashes. Again, as with hormone replacement therapy, there are pros and cons to using these medications and risks involved. Side effects can be frustrating and finding the right medication and dosage can take time. Working closely with your doctor, be sure to be honest and provide feedback about how you are feeling and what's working (and what isn't!).

Natural Remedies and Alternative or Complementary Care?

Well, it seems like the jury is still out on this one. Recent studies indicate that many of the commonly touted herbal remedies have not been proven to be effective in clinical trials, but some anecdotal evidence still favors using red clover, black cohosh, and/or dong quai, as well as Vitamin E and soy supplements. Solid scientific evidence argues against making any strong supportive statements here, and caution and common sense should rule the day: dong quai contains a known carcinogenic compound, and black cohosh can have unpleasant or serious side effects.

Lifestyle

Managing your symptoms and keeping perspective - knowing that "this too shall pass" can help keep you sane in the midst of the moody mayhem that may come from feeling like the towering inferno! The same sensible lifestyle recommendations that have become like a mantra are that much more important during menopause: eat right, get enough rest and get lots and lots of exercise. The best part? No side effects!

To be more specific:

  • Minimize your alcohol, spicy foods and caffeine as these tend to exacerbate symptoms
  • Loose clothes allow you to be as "in charge" as possible of your own internal thermostat
  • Get adequate calcium and vitamin D in food or supplements to protect your bones
  • Get plenty of exercise. This will help your mood, your overall weight management and your bones.
  • Kegel exercises will help to strengthen your vaginal muscles
  • Have sex as regularly as possible! Sex is a great way to decrease stress, promote sleep and maintain a positive, loving and supportive connection to your partner.
  • Consider trying acupuncture to address anxiety or other symptoms
  • You can learn a thing or two from the Chinese (Tai Chi and meditation) and the Indians (yoga)
  • *Retirement communities are a great place to find yoga, tai chi and meditation (the best part is that everyone will be your age)
  • Water-based lubricants during sexual intercourse if you are dealing with vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse or sensitive thinning of the vaginal walls

Surround Yourself with Positive "Peeps":

Now might be the right moment to rethink your living situation. During and post-menopause, surrounding yourself with positive people with healthy and enthusiastic attitudes towards this next part of life can only help to keep you focused on the truth: that certain types of beauty increase with age. One way to do this is online: you can "meet" and interact with comrades in arms with amazing speed and ease on the Internet.

Talk About It - Get it Out

The most important thing you want to remember is that you are not the first woman to experience menopause. This is not the time to be embarrassed or shy. Talk with your friends, your sister, your doctor, your husband or one of the nurses in your assisted living programs.

Don't go through this alone; there is certainly no need to. The bottom line is, whatever you decide to do to treat your symptoms, do what makes sense for you and what continues to make you the best YOU there is.



Published: 2011-01-28