17:57, 17 May 2023, author: Chulikova E.
Experts: Six important facts about menopause
Every woman sooner or later faces this difficult period in her life. How to approach it fully armed, in our review.
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Despite the same symptoms experienced by most women, menopause or menopause unfolds differently for everyone. For example, the average age of the beginning of a period marked by an annual absence of periods is 51 years. Although some begin to experience the corresponding symptoms between the ages of 45 and 55. But that’s average. Sometimes women enter menopause even earlier, before the age of 40.
menopause in women
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Based on family history, you can predict the onset of menopause
Knowing the onset of menopause in the mother will tell you when you will become familiar with this phenomenon. “If you come from a family of women who had an early menopause, for example, some time after the start of the 40th birthday, start preparing shortly before that date. This will have huge implications for your long-term health,” advises Dr. Sharon Malone, Obstetrician/Gynecologist and Chief Medical Officer of Alloy Women’s Health. According to her, it is not at all necessary for your menopause to coincide in time with that of your mother. “We only inherit 50% of the genes from our mothers,” she explains. “It’s a good guideline. But I don’t recommend getting too attached to him.”
Menopause makes you fat
On average, women gain about 2.5 kilograms during menopause. This is due to a combination of hormonal changes and aging. According to Malone, we tend to put on a pound every year because our metabolism slows down as we age. But weight gain in menopause is different in that the fat layer begins to concentrate in the abdomen. The reason for this is low estrogen. “Fat in the waist area is more harmful to the body than in other parts of the body, as it carries a risk of cardiovascular complications and type II diabetes,” says Sharon. “Most inflammatory processes occur due to the concentration of excess weight in the abdomen.” Also, during menopause, women begin to sleep less well or wake up often, which also leads to extra pounds. A small 2021 study found that treating sleep disorders can reduce the risk of weight gain during menopause.
Apogee can affect vision
Gynecologist and women’s health expert Dr. Samina Rahman spoke to Yahoo Life about the deterioration of vision during menopause. “The aging process itself leads to weakening of the optic nerve and can cause glaucoma and other retinal problems,” she said. According to the North American Menopause Society, even the shape of the eye can change slightly during this time, making it difficult to wear contact lenses. But the most common problems are dry eyes and blurred vision. Research shows that hormonal changes during menopause often lead to the true diagnosis of dry eye syndrome or insufficient eyeball lubrication. This disease occurs in women after 50 years twice as often as in men at the same age.
During menopause, a woman can have a child
menopause in women
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During menopause, a woman stops menstruating, but, as they say, she can still technically bear a child, having conceived it with the help of IVF. Naturally, with the support of hormone therapy, explains Malon. Premenopausal women are known to experience fewer complications during pregnancy than postmenopausal women. Therefore, according to the doctor, it is important to consult a fertility specialist.
Climax can cause forgetfulness
With the decline in estrogen levels around menopause, some women suffer from a cognitive impairment known as brain fog. According to research, it is often accompanied by increased forgetfulness. Obstetrician-gynecologist and Bonafide Clinic’s chief medical officer, Alyssa Dweck, explained that there are other reasons why women experience impaired consciousness and forgetfulness during menopause. These include hot flashes, insomnia, and other sleep disturbances that impair the ability to concentrate and take in information. According to Dweck, the increase in anxiety and depression that accompanies menopause can also lead to brain fog. Rahman agrees, adding that “fog” is a common symptom of perimenopause/menopause and can be very concerning for women who are still in an active phase of life and have many plans for the future. “These women are used to multitasking. And of course, sometimes they fall into a stupor, suddenly forgetting what they wanted to say or trying to remember the name of this or that object or phenomenon,” she says.
Early menopause can lead to dementia
The association between early onset menopause and a high risk of dementia later in life is well established. A 2022 study found that menopause before age 45 increased the risk of developing dementia by 35%. In addition, these women may show symptoms of dementia until the age of 65. The same applies to cases of surgical menopause, when, for medical reasons, a woman undergoes an operation to remove the ovaries and, as a result, her menstrual cycle ends. However, there is also good news. According to Dr. Rahman, the use of estrogen therapy will help slow the development of dementia. “Estrogen has a protective effect on patients with dementia,” she added.
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