Menopause is a natural process that every woman can experience in her life from the age of 45. From the first menstruation, a woman’s body is geared towards having children. The fertility hormone estrogen plays an important role in this, among other things.
During menopause, the production of estrogen by the ovaries decreases significantly.
The ovaries have fulfilled their task and lose their function. The ovaries slowly shrivel up. During menopause, a new balance in the hormonal system is established, which for many women is accompanied by various discomforts.
What exactly is menopause?
Menopause can be divided into several periods, keeping in mind that these are averages and the age limits may vary for each woman.
Premenopause
The first period encompasses premenopause: the menstrual pattern changes. Menstruation continues to occur regularly but is generally shorter in duration and often becomes heavier. As premenopause progresses, the menstrual cycle will become increasingly irregular, and there will be longer periods without bleeding.
A new period has recently been added called perimenopause, which covers the late period (>45 years) of premenopause up to 1 year after menopause. Typical menopausal symptoms and complaints are now usually noticeable
Menopause
The moment when the last menstruation occurs. This moment can only be determined afterwards. In the Netherlands, the average age of menopause is 51 years. By age 56, menopause is a fact for 90% of women, and their fertile period is over.
Postmenopause
During this period, menstruation no longer occurs. During the first 5 years, there may still be slight activity of the ovaries. The typical menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and sweating decrease in late postmenopause. However, vaginal complaints such as vaginal dryness/atrophy increase more and more and will not go away on their own. Late postmenopause is actually considered the rest of life.
Menopausal symptoms
Until recently, it was assumed that about two-thirds of women in menopause experience these symptoms and that the rest go through menopause almost symptom-free.
However, in Finland, it was found that almost 95% of women in the age group of 52-56 years reported mild, moderate, or severe forms of one of the following menopausal symptoms.
Typical Menopausal Symptoms
- Heavy sweating (including at night)
- Hot flashes
- Involuntary urine loss*
- Vaginal Dryness
- Dyspareunia (pain during intercourse)
- Decreased sexual desire
- Recurrent urinary tract infections*
Non-typical menopausal symptoms
- Depression*
- Sleep disorders*
- Irritability
- Dizziness*
- Heart palpitations*
* These are NOT self-care indications, consult your doctor. Premeno and Hyalofemme, of the above menopausal symptoms, only affect vaginal dryness and can prevent pain during intercourse by helping to heal wounds and fissures.
