Better understanding menopause

How can we define menopause?

Menopause is defined as "the cessation of menstruation (or "amenorrhea") for more than a year, without an identified cause. This natural phase of a woman's life corresponds to the cessation of ovarian function and therefore marks the end of the period during which a woman can reproduce" according to INSERM.  

Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.  

It is often preceded by a transition period of 2 to 4 years: during this phase: perimenopause , periods can become irregular and various functional disorders can appear, in particular premenstrual syndrome ( painful breasts , irritability, etc.).

What happens in our body?

At birth, the ovaries contain a stock of about one million oocytes (or eggs) which drops at puberty to 600,000–700,000. With each menstrual cycle the stock decreases regularly and menopause occurs when this stock of oocytes is exhausted.  

Little by little, as the available stock becomes depleted, the ovaries do not release an oocyte in each cycle: this is the cause of an anarchy of hormonal secretion which explains the symptoms of perimenopause. The production of progesterone is the first to become deficient, followed by that of estrogen. This is when menopause occurs.  

What can be the cause of menopause?

The main cause of menopause is naturally aging. But it can occur prematurely in rarer cases. Due to medical or surgical treatments, either by the alteration of the hormonal mechanisms that govern ovarian function, or because the ovaries have been removed or their functioning altered: we can speak of iatrogenic or medically induced menopause.  

What are the symptoms?

Menopause can cause several symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, sleep disorders, mood swings, weight gain, concentration and memory problems, decreased libido, joint and muscle pain, palpitations or even osteoporosis.  

Some figures: 87% of women have at least one symptom of menopause in addition to the cessation of periods. 20-25% suffer from severe disorders that affect their quality of life.  

What treatment can we find?

Hormone therapy for menopause (THM) can help with some symptoms but can increase the risk of cancer and thromboembolic venous diseases. Check with your doctor for the benefit-risk ratio.  

In addition, more natural treatments can help reduce some symptoms of menopause. In order to contribute to bone health, we have as a solution, the consumption of dairy products and those rich in calcium, exposure to the sun (15 to 30 minutes per day) to produce vitamin D, as well as physical exercise. As for physical exercise, it helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Symptomatic treatments for hot flashes (herbal medicine, acupuncture, hypnosis, etc.) or vaginal dryness (moisturizers, lubricants, or even vaginal estrogens) can be used or prescribed.  

There are also food supplements for menopause that can reduce symptoms (pay attention to the ingredients, take the most natural possible)  

Before starting any treatment it is important to discuss it with a healthcare professional.  

Understanding your body is the key to living better with it