Menopause
Menopause represents the end of menstruation. While technically it refers to the final period, it is not an abrupt event, but a gradual process. Menopause is not a disease that needs to be cured, but a natural life-stage transition.
How can I tell if I am Menopausal?
There is no mathematical formula to figure out when the ovaries will begin to scale back either, but a woman can get a general idea based on her family history, body type, and lifestyle. Women who began menstruating early will not necessarily stop having periods early. It is true that a woman will likely enter menopause at about the same age as her mother. Menopause may occur later than average among smokers. Body composition also plays a part and being very overweight can delay the onset of menopause. Blood and saliva hormones will also help to confirm a diagnosis.
What symptoms are associated with Menopause?
Menopausal symptoms affect about 70% of women approaching menopause. Changing hormonal levels in the female reproductive system causes typical menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes or night sweats. Almost all women notice early symptoms while still having periods. This stage of gradually falling and fluctuating hormone levels is called peri-menopause, which often begins in the early 40s.
The most common symptoms are:
- hot flashes
- night sweats
- insomnia
- mood swings/irritability
- memory or concentration problems
- vaginal dryness
- heavy bleeding
- fatigue
- depression
- hair changes
- headaches
- heart palpitations
- sexual disinterest
- urinary changes
- weight gain
What causes Menopause?
Menopause is a natural transition in a woman’s life. By the time a woman reaches menopause her ovaries begin to shut down, producing less estrogen and progesterone and releasing eggs less often. The gradual decline of estrogen causes a wide variety of changes in tissues that respond to estrogen—including the vagina, vulva, uterus, bladder, urethra, breasts, bones, heart, blood vessels, brain, skin, hair, and mucous membranes. Over the long run, the lack of estrogen can make a woman more vulnerable to osteoporosis (which can begin in the 40s) and heart disease.
How Can Melbourne Anti-Ageing Clinic practitioners help?
We view menopause as a normal transition phase which affects women in their passage through life and which may need supportive treatment. Rather than encouraging mid-life women to believe they have a disease, we encourage menopausal women to adopt positive lifestyle changes, good eating patterns and a positive attitude to this phase. Diet has a direct influence on menopausal symptoms and changing dietary intake of various food containing natural oestrogens (phyto-oestrogens) reduces hot flushes and symptoms associated with vaginal dryness.
Your MAAC practitioner may recommend you have a salivary hormone profile or a blood FSH and LH test for you to confirm tmanopause. Salivary hormone profiles give information on the hormone levels of many hormones including Progesterone, Estradiol, Estriol, DHEA, Cortisol, Androstenedione and Testosterone
Take a proactive approach and consult one of our highly qualified naturopaths at MAAC today. You can make an appointment online, email us, or phone us on (03) 96862566. Our clinic in Albert Park, Melbourne, is open six days a week.
