Where menopause is concerned, my power statement is that knowledge is power and forewarned is forearmed. So many myths and disbeliefs that have made the rounds for decades would not hold if we knew the truth– we would not believe the lies, and women would be empowered to go into menopause with confidence, knowing exactly what to expect and how to cope. I think it's time to demystify the old wives' tales and whispers surrounding menopause. It's not discussed much, yet every woman will go through it.
There are so many questions that have been asked, especially in our community (Black African), such as:
· So what exactly is menopause?
· What causes the menstrual blood to stop?
· Why do women get the "menopausal tummy"?
· Can menopausal women enjoy sex?
· What causes early menopause if it's not witchcraft?
· What are the symptoms that come with the stages of menopause
I will attempt to answer these questions as simply as I can so that we can bring the truth out and put the whispers to rest.
What is menopause?
Menopause is when a woman stops having periods. It's a natural part of ageing that usually happens between 45 and 55. Menopause happens when our ovaries stop producing eggs. And fertility stops. It's a normal part of ageing and marks the end of your fertile reproductive years. The actual menopause occurs when there has been no period for 12 months. Black women experience menopause differently from Caucasian women; research by the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) shows that Black women reach menopause at 49, two years earlier than the national median age. It also appears that Black women spend more time in the menopause transition than white women do.
There are three stages of menopause:
· Perimenopause
This is the first stage that a woman will experience as she begins the transition into menopause. It is here that women begin to notice any changes or symptoms. However, this phase can go on for years.
· Menopause
Actual menopause occurs when a woman has not had a period for 12 consecutive months.
· Post menopause
After menopause, a phase you stay in for the rest of your life. Symptoms may calm down or not, and hormones are low. You must take care of your bone and heart health in this stage.
What causes the menstrual blood to stop?
Your periods stop due to the decreasing hormone levels in your body. The NHS says this usually occurs between the ages of 45 – 55. The process is gradual. As you age, the reproductive cycle begins to slow down and prepares to stop. This cycle has been continuously functioning since puberty. As menopause nears, your ovaries make less of a hormone called estrogen. Your menstrual cycle (period) starts to change when this decrease occurs. (The Cleveland Clinic. It can become irregular and then stop. The ovaries are the reproductive glands that store eggs and release them into the fallopian tubes. They also produce the female hormones estrogen and progesterone as well as testosterone. Together, estrogen and progesterone control menstruation. As menopause nears, your ovaries no longer release eggs into the fallopian tubes, and you'll have your last menstrual cycle.
Why do women get the "menopausal tummy"?
Many women in midlife notice an increase in weight that starts to gather around the tummy area known as the "menopause belly." As Old wives' tales would have it, this belly is not a gathering of male sperms with nowhere to go because of the cessation of the menstrual blood. It happens due to shifting hormones, an activation of a "menopausal gene ". A decline in estrogen causes fat cells in the abdominal area to store more fat. It may even reduce your body's ability to burn fat. (aaptiv.com/magazine/menopause-belly)
Can menopausal women enjoy sex?
Speaking to those in my community, I learned that some couples ceased having intercourse when the woman transitioned into menopause. It's a myth that your sex life ends when you get to menopause – this part of your life need not end. It is not taboo to have intercourse with your husband.The hormonal changes will affect your body, and some women may experience, among other symptoms, loss of libido, hot flushes, and vaginal dryness, which can destroy interest in sex. Some women, though, may go the other way and enjoy sex more than before, experiencing more sexual freedom without the risk of getting pregnant or worrying about periods. Again, the decrease in hormones causes loss of sex drive and vaginal dryness. There are solutions – i.e. the use of vaginal gel/lubricants. There is help out there, don't suffer in silence.
What causes early menopause?
Well, it's not witchcraft!
Early menopause happens when a woman's periods stop before age 45. It can happen naturally or as a side effect of some treatments. Early menopause can happen due to the ovaries stopping to produce normal levels of estrogen, causing what is known as premature ovarian failure. This can be genetic.
Other causes of early menopause can be:
· Medical treatments such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
· Auto immune diseases
· Family History
· Removal of uterus
· Removal of ovaries
· HIV Aids
· Chronic fatigue syndrome
· Missing chromosomes
What are the symptoms that come with the stages of menopause?
As you transition into Perimenopause and menopause, your body will go into adjusting mode to deal with the changes taking place. Unfortunately, as it tries to adjust, most women will experience symptoms that can greatly impact life. There are Over 30 symptoms that negatively affect women, and every woman will experience these symptoms differently.
Below are some of the symptoms you may experience:
You can find more symptoms on the NHS website on menopause.
If you are worried about some of the symptoms you are experiencing – or they are debilitating and affecting your daily life/quality of life, please see your doctor.
Disclaimer– I am not a clinician. My knowledge base is around non-clinical advice, guidance and support for women transitioning into menopause.
Comentários