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Five Things No One Tells You About Menopause

Menopause

Menopause is a natural phase in a woman’s life marking the end of her reproductive years, typically between the ages of 45 and 55. This normal and inevitable process brings about significant changes that can cause concern or frustration, especially if the woman experiencing it isn’t mentally or physically prepared before it occurs.

In this article, we’ll share some menopause facts you should know to prepare yourself for these changes — or find answers to the symptoms you’ve been experiencing.

Menopause Can Occur for Many Reasons
Most people associate entering menopause with reaching a certain age, typically your 40s or 50s. In reality, there are a number of reasons why you might experience menopause earlier than expected.

A small fraction of women can enter early or premature menopause naturally by the time they hit 40, but other causes include:

• Chemotherapy and similar medical treatments, such as radiation therapy to the pelvic region. Chemotherapy drugs and radiation treatments stop the ovaries from working properly, leading to treatment-induced menopause.
• Reproductive surgeries that entail the entire or partial removal of the uterus or ovaries, such as a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy. When both ovaries are removed, the body will immediately undergo menopause; if one is left intact, it will not occur immediately but could degrade over time, leading to premature menopause eventually.
• Chronic health conditions, like autoimmune diseases, HIV, AIDS and chronic fatigue syndrome, can all result in early menopause, as they can accelerate the body’s timeline.
• Smoking can cause women to experience menopause one year or earlier than non-smokers, due to smoking’s negative impact on hormone balance and ovarian health, specifically.

Reaching Menopause Takes Longer Than You Think
If you’re experiencing hot flashes, that means you must be going through menopause, correct? Think again.

Perimenopause, the transitional phase before you officially reach menopause, can take anywhere from two to four years. During that time, you might experience any or all of these symptoms:

• Brain fog
• Menstruation changes
• Mood changes
• Problems sleeping
• Urinary problems
• Changing feelings about sex

Unfortunately, even once you reach menopause — which occurs after you no longer experience a period for at least 12 months — some of these symptoms are likely to linger. Hot flashes can continue for up to a decade.

Menopause Can Mess Up Your Mood
Menopause is all about hormonal shifts; the changing amounts of estrogen and progesterone in your body can impact your mood starting in perimenopause and lasting all the way into menopause.

It’s believed that fluctuating — and overall declining — estrogen means your body is no longer making the same amount of mood-boosting chemicals, called serotonin and norepinephrine, it once was. These chemicals play an important role in mood stabilization and concentration, with lower levels bringing mood changes, such as feelings of anxiety, irritation or sadness.

Take Triggers into Account to Avoid Hot Flashes
Hot flashes are the bane of many peri- and menopausal women. These sudden feelings of warmth are uncomfortable, leading to night sweats, disrupted sleep and interrupted daily rhythms of life.

Fortunately, by avoiding common triggers that cause hot flashes, you can be more comfortable overall as you weather this new life stage. These can include caffeine, smoking, warm or tight-fitting clothes, alcohol, spicy foods, hot weather, hot showers or baths and stressful situations.

All of these activities naturally increase your body temperature and impair its ability to regulate itself; by keeping your temperature low, you can help manage how often you get hot flashes. This is especially important as research suggests that hot flashes can increase your cardiovascular disease risks, potentially resulting in high blood pressure, heart attack or stroke, likely due to the increased inflammation in the blood vessels.

Your Background Can Impact Your Menopause Experience
Your genetics can impact the age at which you reach menopause and the symptoms you have, but another important piece of the puzzle is your lived experience.

According to research by the Mayo Clinic, the factors below, tied to how you live and how you’re treated, can impact how you experience menopause:

• Socioeconomic status – Women with higher levels of education, income and employment are more likely to have fewer or less severe menopause symptoms. This is likely due to their ability to afford healthcare and medicine to manage their symptoms. Conversely, women of lower socioeconomic standing are more likely to experience early menopause, more hot flashes and increased sleep issues, which can be caused by stress factors present in their lives.
• Stress – As mentioned above, the stress experienced by women of lower socioeconomic status can result in early menopause and undesired side effects. When stress becomes chronic — whether due to overarching societal issues, like racism and bias, or simply an economic struggle to make ends meet — it can increase your likelihood of many health problems.
• Health care struggles – Amid shortages of qualified healthcare professionals and an increase in the cost of quality care, it can be difficult to find an experienced doctor you can trust to discuss your concerns regarding menopause. This might be further complicated by personal factors, such as your gender identity, race or immigration status.

By familiarizing yourself with this information about menopause, you can take proactive steps to improve your outcomes by consulting a trusted healthcare professional or gaining a greater understanding of the changes you’re going through. Don’t make any changes to your health routine, such as diet or exercise, before consulting your doctor.

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