Menopause is also a medical condition that requires and can be treated.
The average age of menopause for women in my country is 49.5 years. From 45.5 to 50.5 years old, many women struggle and feel helpless during the five years from the onset of menstrual irregularities to one year after menopause. Menopause is the period when the ovaries-a woman's most important organ-gradually lose function, leading to disordered and eventually stopped estrogen secretion. Some female patients report experiencing uncontrollable hot flashes while talking to others, causing them to immediately flush and sweat profusely, which is extremely embarrassing.
Some people experienced significant memory loss, felt anxious and fearful, and others even experienced palpitations, believing they had heart disease. Other patients reported facing mental breakdowns, being constantly irritable and prone to outbursts of temper. Their families said they had become unrecognizable, and their colleagues described them as unreasonable. Some experienced family crises, while others contemplated suicide, and some even attempted suicide.
However, very few women go to the hospital for menopause treatment; many choose to endure it silently, believing that menopause is a physiological process every woman goes through, and that various uncomfortable symptoms are natural and will pass. This thinking is incorrect. Menopause doesn't have to be so painful.
Menopause is a medical condition that requires and can be treated. Appropriate estrogen supplementation can alleviate the aforementioned discomforts. Experts point out that while it's understandable that low thyroid and insulin levels require external supplementation, the loss of ovarian function and low estrogen levels also necessitate supplementation. This not only reduces menopausal symptoms but also impacts a woman's health and quality of life in her later years.
Hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, decreased libido, insomnia, and the psychological impact of menopause can be extremely distressing for women. Dr. West, an obstetrician-gynecologist in London, England, offers five suggestions to make menopause less painful for women.
1. Regular Pap smears: West points out that around menopause, women face an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure, and 90% of cervical cancers occur around age 45. Therefore, menopausal women should have a Pap smear every 3 years, a pelvic exam annually, and regular checks of blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
2. Weight-bearing training: During menopause, women's metabolism slows down, so exercise helps to speed it up. Weight-bearing exercises such as walking, jogging, cycling, or jumping on a trampoline help maintain bone density and prevent osteoporosis. It is advisable to exercise this way 5 days a week for half an hour each day.
3. Take care of your breasts. 80% of breast cancers occur after menopause, so if you notice any changes in your breasts, see a doctor immediately. Women should have a mammogram every 3 years after age 50.
4. Eat more legumes. Studies have found that foods such as soybeans, lentils, and kidney beans contain phytoestrogens, which can alleviate various discomforts caused by the decline in estrogen during menopause in women.
5. Maintain a positive mindset. West emphasizes that maintaining a positive mindset and minimizing life and work stress can also help alleviate menopausal discomfort. Acupuncture and hypnotherapy can also effectively relieve insomnia and depression symptoms in women during menopause.
