World Menopause Day: Understanding perimenopausal, postmenopausal experiences

Last week was World Menopause Day which is commemorated on October 18 annually to raise awareness on menopause and the support options available for improving health and wellbeing.

While menopause is not a disease, there are perimenopausal and postmenopausal symptoms that women experience that can result in discomfort that affects quality of life. This is why women must understand the symptoms in order to manage it well.

Menopause marks the end of women’s reproductive years which occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 years; at this point, they can’t get pregnant except via specialised fertility treatments which may not necessarily be successful

Menopause is a natural biological process of ageing caused by the loss of ovarian follicular function and a decline in circulating blood oestrogen levels; the process often is gradual, usually beginning with changes in the menstrual cycle.

The first stage is the perimenopause; the period from when signs are first observed and this ends a year after the final menstrual period. This stage may span years and can affect physical, emotional, mental and social well-being.

Usually, menopause is seen to have occurred when menstruation has not occurred in 12 consecutive months without any confirmed physiological or pathological cause.

There is premature menopause which occurs before 40 years of age which is caused by chromosomal abnormalities or autoimmune disorders among other unknown causes. It can also be induced by surgical procedures that involve removal of both ovaries and medical interventions that cause cessation of ovarian function.

Symptoms experienced during menopausal transition vary; some have few while in some, symptoms can be severe and affect daily activities and quality of life and be prolonged.

Symptoms include hot flushes; sudden feeling of heat in the face, neck and chest, often accompanied by flushing of the skin, perspiration, night sweats, palpitations, acute feelings of physical discomfort, changes in regularity and flow of the menstrual cycle, culminating in cessation of menstruation, vaginal dryness, pain during sexual intercourse and incontinence, difficulty in sleeping/insomnia, changes in mood and depression or anxiety.

It may also lead to and cardiovascular risk, weakening of pelvic support structures, increasing in risk of pelvic organ prolapse and loss of bone density.

However, pregnancy is still possible during perimenopause so contraception is recommended to avoid unintended pregnancy until after 12 consecutive months without menstruation.

A woman’s health status at perimenopausal period will largely be determined by prior health, reproductive history, lifestyle and environmental factors. Because this stage can be disruptive to personal and professional lives and changes at menopause affect a woman’s health, perimenopausal care plays an important role in the promotion of healthy ageing and quality of life.

Sadly, awareness and access to menopause-related care remain a significant challenge and the sexual well-being of menopausal women is overlooked in Nigeria like many other countries.

READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE 

• Nigeria’s current situation lamentable — Anyaoku

• Bukola Saraki foundation covers Mr Ibu’s medical bills

• Hold my pastor responsible if anything happens to me — Chef Dammy

• Why Tiwa Savage may not sing for more than a year

• How Gomba won 2023 Nigeria Prize for Literature

• What causes kidney failure