Menopause-meaning, causes, tips, symptoms

Menopause is the term used to descirbe the physiological cessation in a women’s body with regard to her menstural cycles that are seen with the advancement of age. This usually starts at the the age of 45 years in a Women’s Life. This occurs when the ovaries of a women stop producing a group of steriod compounds, estrogen, in the body resulting in the gradual shut down of the reproductive system.

Causes of menopause:

Menopause occurs when the ovaries present in the women’s body are totally depleted of eggs and there is no stimulation from the regulating hormones for birth of eggs.
A woman experiences approximately 400,000 eggs during her first menstural period whereas during the occurrence of Menopause, the body is able to produce only 10,000 eggs. It can occur early in cases where the woman is suffering from cancer or any surgical intervention.

Types of menopause:

Premature menopause: It happens before the age of 40 years.

Perimenopause: This is just before menopause and is a usual period of transition between the child-bearing years of a woman and menopause.

Symptoms:

Sleep disturbances and night sweats.
Dryness and bleeding.
Muscle and Joint pain.
Mood swings and vaginal dryness.
Breast atrophy and decrease in elasticity.


The features of Menopause are caused by the reduction in the levels of estrogen, testosterone and progesterone in the body of the woman.

Tips for menopause:

Exercises must be done regularly.
Eat healthy and balanced diet.
Take proper vitamins, carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
Avoid junk food, smoking, alcohol, drugs and sedatives.
Nuts and flax seeds are beneficial.
Avoid caffeine.
Small and frequent meals than one-time large meals.
Drink fruit juice, and have lots of green vegetables.

Relaxation Techniques:

Rhythmic breathing.
Deep breathing.
Visualized breathing.
Use of relaxing music.
Progressive body msucle relaxation.
Mental imagery relaxation technique.
Think positive, be positive.

Treatment of menopause:

Estrogen can be taken in gel, pill or patch form for suppressing hot flashes.
Progestin therapy may be used under closed medical supervision.

It can help in the prevention of osteoporosis and relieving discomfort and vaginal dryness. But, they may also result in breast pain, headache, stroke, abnormal vaginal bleeding and nausea. So this has to be strictly under the supervision of a certified medical practitioner.

Women who experience menopause before the age of 45 years or who had undergone hot flashes that had not been treated are advised not to use the above therapy.

Alternatives to Hormone replacement:

Use of Cycrin, Provera or Megace.
Low doses of paroxetine.
Aromatherapy, acupuncture.
Use of lubricating jelly and drinking lots of water.