How to Stay Healthy During and After Menopause

How Menopause Affects Your Health?

Menopause is the time that marks the end of your menstrual cycles. It is diagnosed after a woman has gone 12 months without a menstrual period.

Oestrogen and progesterone are the primary female hormones related to reproduction. When ovarian function declines with age and finally ends, levels of oestrogen and progesterone. This can cause several health issues:

–        Hot flashes:

A hot flash is a sudden feeling of warmth in the upper body, which is usually most intense over the face, neck and chest. They occur due to a lack of oestrogen.

–        Mood Swings:

A mood swing is a sudden or intense change in emotional state. You may feel happy and like yourself one day but then down the next.

–        Incontinence:

Incontinence is an inability to control the flow of urine from the bladder or the escape of stool from the rectum. It may be caused by a menopause-induced drop in oestrogen levels.

–        Heart attack:

A heart attack can happen after menopause due to a reduced level of oestrogen. Less oestrogen in the body can increase the level of cholesterol, which could increase the risk of a heart attack.

–        Cold sweats:

Cold sweats are sudden feelings of cold in the body. The drop in oestrogen levels causes the body’s temperature regulation system to malfunction which results in reductions in deep chilling feelings.

Health During and After Menopause:

There are several treatments for menopause symptoms. Here are some of them:

–        Hormone replacement therapy:

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) involves using oestrogen to replace your body’s own levels around the time of menopause.

The main benefit of HRT is that it can help relieve most menopause symptoms including hot flashes and mood swings.

–        Testosterone gel:

Testosterone gel can be used to help restore your sex drive, mood and energy levels. You can safely use this at the same time as HRT.

–        Clonidine:

Clonidine is a blood pressure medicine. It reduces hot flashes.

–        Gabapentin:

Gabapentin is an epilepsy medicine. It is used to decrease cold sweats.

Cognitive behavioural therapy is a talking therapy that helps improve low mood and anxiety caused by menopause.

If you’re having treatment for your symptoms of menopause you must return to the doctor or nurse who is prescribing your medicines or hormone replacements for a follow-up review after 3 months. During the review the doctor or nurse will check if your symptoms are under control and if you are taking your medications regularly.

When You Should See a Doctor:

You should discuss with your doctor about menopause in your early forties before you reach menopause. When you reach menopause, you need to consult with your doctor about any symptoms that you are experiencing.

Our obstetricians and gynaecologists at the Chennai Gynaecology Centre have decades of experience in treating menopause and it’s accompanying symptoms. If you come to us, we will prescribe the best treatments that are suited for you and your needs.