Menopause stays for a long time. So it’s better if you are aware of all the significant effects of menopause on your body, both physical and psychological. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word ‘menopause”? It’s probably delayed periods.
But do you know a host of changes happen to the body during menopause apart from changes in your menstruation cycle? However, there’s no need to worry as there are various menopause medications available to treat its symptoms.
8 Primary Menopause Symptoms
Table of Contents
Everyone’s body is different. Therefore everyone faces different body changes during menopause. The 8 most commonly found symptoms of menopause are listed here.
Weight Gain
Menopause and weight gain are experienced together by many women. Ageing often causes a decline in metabolism and estrogen and progesterone levels. Menopause accelerators it. However, the weight gain during menopause is more around the belly. A healthy lifestyle, including exercise and a nutritious diet, can help maintain optimum weight. Because a woman’s insulin resistance increases with age, especially during menopause, weight loss becomes significantly more difficult.
Irregular or No Periods at All
This is one of the most common body changes during menopause as your body stops ovulating. Therefore your periods become irregular during perimenopause, which is a pre-menopause stage. They stop altogether once you enter menopause. It may take months or years for periods to stop completely.
Hot Flashes and Sweating at Night
Do you sometimes wake up in the middle of the night feeling a lot of heat and sweating profusely? This stage is known as hot flashes and night sweats. They can happen separately or together. It happens due to a sudden surge in body temperature paired with excessive perspiration at night.
Changes in Hair & Skin
The decline in estrogen levels also declines the capacity of your skin to generate collagen. As a result, your skin shows visible changes such as ageing spots, acne, sagging, etc. It is also common to experience hair loss during menopause. It also happens due to a decline in estrogen level.
Insomnia
The hormones that help set a wake-sleep pattern are controlled by the same part of the brain that controls the reproductive hormones. Therefore your sleep cycle may disrupt during menopause resulting in insomnia. You can prevent this menopause symptom with meditation and maintaining good sleep hygiene.
Headaches & Migraine
Migraine and menopause often go hand in hand for some women. You must’ve gauged by now that hormones are capable of causing all kinds of havoc in your body. One more uncomfortable body change due to fluctuating hormones is periodical headaches or migraines. The headaches may or may not stop after you enter menopause.
Osteoporosis
Weakened bones are also one of the unpleasant changes that happen to the body during menopause. It leaves you vulnerable in terms of bone strength. You can lose bone density, easily get a fracture, or suffer from osteoporosis in the future.
Mood Swings & Irritability
Effects of menopause are not limited to your body only. You may also go through psychological changes. You guessed it right. All because of fluctuating hormones! Use meditation and positive thinking to manage your mental health and control the psychological menopause symptoms like mood swings, depression, irritability, and anxiety.
4 Ways to Treat Symptoms of Menopause
All these symptoms are troublesome, but no need to hit the panic button as your GP can treat even the most severe symptoms. 4 common menopause medications are as follows:-
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
HRT artificially elevates your estrogen levels to reduce menopause symptoms. It’s a boon to women suffering from hot flashes, headaches, and reducing bone density because of menopause.
Antidepressants
Apart from helping you treat mood swings and irritability, antidepressants also provide relief from hot fleshes.
CBT or Counselling
CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) and counselling help women manage mood swings, stress, hot flashes and night sweat. It involves a few interactive and educational sessions with the patient.
Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle
Healthy lifestyle choices like exercising and eating low salt, low sugar, and nutritious food go a long way in managing menopause symptoms like weight gain and osteoporosis.
Don’t Suffer in Silence.
You don’t need to suffer in silence and wait for your menopause to get over. We are living in times of modern medicines. Your GP can recommend a suitable menopause medication for you. Proper medication and therapy help immensely in managing the effects of menopause on your body and mind. So contact your GP and get started with your treatment at the earliest.
Author Bio:
Krishma Patel is the Co-founder and the Superintendent Pharmacist at MedsNow, an online pharmacy in the UK that provides health and wellness products and treatments along with free online consultations. She is passionate about showcasing the integral function community pharmacies can play in supporting the healthcare system and the NHS by providing patients with high-quality, safe, and discreet access to healthcare at their convenience. Along with being the co-founder of MedsNow, Krishma is also the Director and the Superintendent Pharmacist of Enimed Ltd., an independent pharmacy group comprising 32 branches.
