Medically reviewed by Dr. Unsa Mohsin.
What do you think when you hear the word menopause? Is it a heart wrenching realization of growing old and cranky? Or are you scared that as soon as you hit menopause, your bones will start losing their strength and you will eventually be like that old lady who walks with a stick?
It’s okay to be vulnerable, but it’s high time we accept menopause as a natural transition of the female body and embrace it by doing all things needed to live a healthy life during and post menopause.
So, let’s go ahead and find out how menopause demonstrates itself and learn ways to live with it happily!
Perimenopause and Menopause
Menopause does not just happen out of the blue. There are certain bodily changes that finally lead to the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle. This transition, called perimenopause is the time when the ovaries gradually stop producing estrogen. For most women, it starts in their 40’s but can also start in late thirties for some.
As soon as perimenopause hits a woman, the periods start becoming irregular and the premenstrual syndrome symptoms may even worsen. Apart from that, the sex drive keeps getting lower and the breasts feel constantly tender. Women undergoing these changes feel fatigued and have to deal with mood swings, and difficulty in sleeping. Hot flashes and night sweats are also a common occurrence.
In some cases, urinary urgency and urine leakage while sneezing or coughing is a characteristic of perimenopause.
These symptoms are present till menopause finally hits. Even though the changes leading to it are signs that it’s coming, as soon as a woman stops getting her periods, other major changes may occur. The breasts lose their fullness and the skin starts becoming dry. Metabolism becomes slower and a post-menopausal woman is more likely to gain weight. Apart from that, a woman after hitting menopause is at a higher risk for heart diseases and osteoporosis.
Learning to Embrace the Change
Even though the signs of menopause are quite alarming, it is a natural phenomenon. Therefore, despite of dreading getting older as a woman, let’s embrace the changes and learn how to tackle them.
Now, if you are a woman in her late 30’s to early 40’s, its high time you make your health your number one priority. Keep up with your calcium levels and eat healthy. Take a 30 minute walk every day and most importantly, keep up with regular visits to your doctor for preventive healthcare and any medical concerns.
That being said, what is even more important is your approach towards this transition. Revitalize your health and awaken a new spirit within yourself, explore more about yourself and remember, it is not a ‘natural’ plague and it does not make you any less of a woman.
Guest Post Credit:Dr. Maleeha Syed
