Natural menopause is the process that a woman goes through after the age of 40. The average age of menopause is 51. Menopause is when you have gone a whole year without having your period. Pre-menopause is the time leading up to the menopause transition; it is when you see the effects of your decreasing estrogen and progesterone before you go into full menopause. Pre-menopause begins an average of about four years before that final menstrual period. Dekalb Women’s Specialists offer Decatur OBGYN services to support menopausal women by helping relieve some of the symptoms causing them discomfort.
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What are the symptoms that you can see?
- Many menopausal women report experiencing hot flashes that last anywhere between one and five minutes.
- Other most common menopausal-related symptoms are redness of your face, neck, and chest.
- You can also get tingling of your fingers and have a rapid heartbeat.
- Some women have insomnia, so they can have problems going to sleep, while others often wake up in the middle of the night.
- You can have vaginal dryness. A decrease in your estrogen causes vaginal dryness.
- You can also have vaginal tightness, which causes pain during sex, leading to burning soreness. Most women say that sex during menopause can lead to what is described as sharp feeling pains.
- Problems with bladder control, joint pain, and racing heart are also common during menopause.
How can you treat these symptoms?
- You can use herbal medications such as primrose oil to relieve some of your menopausal symptoms.
- Additionally, you can do Eastern medicine, such as acupuncture and essential oils.
- Mild antidepressants or hormone replacement therapy can also offer relief, specifically for hot flashes and night sweats. You can also dress in layers.
- You can keep a fan on when you sleep and lower the room temperature to help relieve hot flashes and prevent you from waking up in the middle of the night. Alternatively, you can use an ice pack or a pillow that stays cold.
- You can reduce stress through practices such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing, to avoid mental concerns such as menopausal depression.
- Women who experience vaginal dryness can use over-the-counter vaginal lubricants during sex. However, avoid any lubricants with propylene glycol in them, which will cause you to feel like you are burning. You can also opt for more natural lubricants.
Menopause and heart disease
Complications of the heart are the number one killer of menopausal women. Twice as many women die from heart disease as all cancers combined. Some cardiovascular risk factors include cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, overweight, diabetes, and menopause among younger women. Generally, the risk of heart disease is one in nine. Once you reached the age of 65, that risk climbs to one in three. Some of the American Heart Association’s recommendations are to live an active lifestyle and exercise for 150 minutes a week. Moreover, limit red meat and sugar, and maintain your ideal body weight. Quit smoking if you are a smoker to ensure that your cardiovascular system is running smoothly.
Visit Dekalb Women’s Specialists to learn more about menopause and the services they offer that can help you relieve some of your symptoms.