Knowing how to prepare for menopause is crucial since it is an essential stage of a woman’s life in transition
Mens, which means monthly, and “pause,” which indicates cessation, are the Greek words for menopause. As a result of the reduction of ovarian activity and the normal ageing process in women, menstruation and reproductive life come to an end.
The average age of menopause is 50 years old and ranges from 45 to 55 years. Ovarian function decreases throughout the premenopausal transition period, which starts for the majority of women at roughly 45 years old. Women often go through menopause around that time, which is characterised by irregular menstrual periods, hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, tiredness, mood swings, reduced sex desire, vaginal dryness, urinary bladder issues, weight gain, and a loss of bone density.
According to Dr. Jayashree Nagaraj Bhasgi, Senior Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Fortis Hospital, Richmond Road, Bengaluru, “Varied women go through menopause with different symptoms, thus it’s not the same with everyone.”
A woman’s health is significantly influenced by ovarian hormones in addition to their role in reproduction. An essential ovarian hormone called oestrogen affects the adult skeleton’s ongoing renewal through remodelling, which involves both creation and resorption. Loss of oestrogen therefore causes an increase in bone remodelling and tips the scales in favour of bone resorption, which raises the risk of fractures.
The effects of oestrogen on cholesterol include a contribution to the rise in HDL, or “good” cholesterol.
Women’s cardiovascular systems are also safeguarded by oestrogen thanks to a number of its effects.
The production of the insulin hormone, and therefore the equilibrium of nutrients, is regulated by oestrogen. Therefore, Type 2 diabetes and obesity are predisposed to by its insufficiency.
Additionally, women frequently put on weight in the lower belly and around their organs. Visceral fat is what it is known as, and it has been related to diseases including diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and malignancies.
On a healthy brain, oestrogen has a neuroprotective effect. It affects the brain’s higher cognitive function-related systems, whose deficiencies are linked to mental and mood problems including Alzheimer’s disease.
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