There’s always something to complain! Although many of us women complain every month about our periods and the mood swings, cravings, and cramps that accompany them, no one seems to much like menopause either! That comes with its own set of problems and ones that we may not even anticipate. Even more disconcerting, menopause doesn’t come on all at once, like getting your period does. Many women go through perimenopause, the time before entering menopause when your periods are off or different than they usually are. Around 90% of women go through perimenopause for around four years before they actually hit true menopause. Some women choose to seek out HRT (hormone replacement therapy) to alleviate symptoms.
Understanding Menopause
Menopause is the time in your life when you are no longer able to become pregnant, because your cycles end and no more eggs are released. You might notice some of the first stages of menopause, like irregular periods. However, other symptoms as your body changes include loss of libido, mood swings, vaginal dryness, hot flashes.
What To Know
Menopause can be affected by more than just your age! This can be important to know as you either enter the age of menopause or are looking ahead at what to expect. Research from two studies conducted in 2003 shows that if you struggle with chronic depression or are constantly under financial stress, you can actually have menopause earlier. According to a report from The Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health backed this up saying that women who experienced financial problems for a long period of time were more inclined to start menopause at an earlier age than women who were better off.
Relieving the Symptoms
If you’re one of the unlucky women who suffers from really bad menopause symptoms, there are menopause solutions out there to help you! One of the most common treatments is hormone replacement therapy. This is a fairly low risk treatment that women can be on for up to five years. Although hormone replacement therapy might get a bad rap, there are no medical reports that back up suspicions that it increases the risk of heart disease, although doctors do recommend to continue to be regularly screened as you would, even if you weren’t on HRT.
HRT can help you feel better as you go through menopause, can boost your sex drive, and even strengthen your bones and guard against osteoporosis. HRT is a friendly menopause treatment in that you can choose what’s best for you — you can take varying amounts and even choose what hormones you take. Common combinations include estrogen or estrogen and progesterone, both natural to your body. Your doctor will be able to best advise you on what might be the right dosage and kind of hormone for you.
Although womens health blogs and forums may make you anxious about menopause, don’t worry! It’s a natural thing that every woman goes through. With support, HRT for bad symptoms, and the right kind of attention, you can get through it without a hitch too!