How Does Menopause Affect the Body?
Menopause is the transition wherein the woman stops ovulating and therefore stops getting her period. Oftentimes women experience the following symptoms:
• Hot Flashes
• Night Sweats
• Sleeplessness
• Fatigue
• Menstrual Irregularity
• Urinary Tract Infections
• Decreased Sex Drive
• Skin, Hair and Nail changes
• Brain Fog/decreased concentration
• Emotional changes (including irritability, anxiety and depression)
It’s a slow transition, much like puberty is — so one tends to start being symptomic in a state called peri-menopause. It typically starts in the mid 40s and can last about 10 years, but there have been a lot of age variances. Very early menopause, chemo-induced menopause, and some women are even asymptomatic (approximately 20% do not experience hot flashes.
Menopause is not a disease. Menopause is a time of transition where the levels of a woman’s female hormones such as estrogen begin to decline. Many women may approach this time of their life with a preconceived view of what it means to them, shaped by watching their mother and other female relatives experience menopause. Some women cope better with it than others, and although it’s a normal feature of aging, for some women it has a huge impact and can alter their comfort level with their own bodies.
The symptoms of menopause can have a huge impact on a woman’s life. Menopause can cause vaginal dryness, hot flashes, sexual dysfunction, joint pain, depression, mood changes, metabolism changes, and sleep disturbances. Everyone is familiar with hot flashes, but menopause does not equal hot flashes. Some women may not even experience hot flashes. Vaginal dryness is a common symptom and not necessarily one that women discuss freely or even associate with menopause. There can be discomfort with sexual intercourse if vaginal dryness is not treated. Sleep disturbance may be related to hot flashes, but not always. Some women may just have trouble sleeping through the night. The most common symptoms I see in practice are vaginal dryness and hot flashes – these are the symptoms that would often prompt someone to see their doctor. Most women going through menopause may have some symptoms, but not all are necessarily disabling. I like to compare this situation to women in pregnancy – some women are fine, while others experience nausea and vomiting to varying degrees.
