Every woman will experience menopause, which is the period when her menstrual cycle ends naturally, in her 40s to 50s. Menopause signs for each woman are different and can sometimes mimic certain health problems. So as not to be mistaken, recognize what are the signs of menopause in women.
A woman is said to have experienced menopause if she no longer has menstruation for 12 consecutive months, even though her menstrual periods were normal and regular.
Menopause occurs when the ovaries or ovaries in a woman's body no longer release eggs, so her body stops menstruating. In other words, after entering menopause, a woman can no longer get pregnant naturally.
Some women do not experience any symptoms before menopause. However, not a few also experience some symptoms or signs of menopause before the end of the menstrual period.
Some Signs of Menopause
The signs of menopause have actually started to appear since the perimenopause period, which is a transition period that occurs several years before menopause. At this time, the production of the hormone estrogen by the ovaries has gradually begun to decrease.
Generally, perimenopause lasts for 4 years, but it can be longer or shorter. The following are signs of menopause that can appear before menopause:
1. Irregular menstruation
As menopause approaches, women may experience changes in their menstrual cycles, which are characterized by irregular or fluctuating periods.
Menstruation that was previously smooth and regular can come sooner or longer and of shorter duration. The amount of blood that comes out during menstruation may also be more, less, or it may just be blood spots or spots.
2. Urinary tract problems
Women who have entered menopause will usually experience urinary incontinence or difficulty holding pee, urinating more often, to pain or anyang-anyang when urinating.
These complaints occur due to tissue in the vagina and urinary tract that thins and loses elasticity.
Meanwhile, the decrease in estrogen levels in the body that occurs before menopause can make women more susceptible to infections, including urinary tract infections (UTIs).
3. Sensation of heat (hot flashes)
A burning sensation that radiates from the face and neck to the body is the most common sign of menopause. In some women, this complaint can appear earlier when the menstrual cycle is still ongoing.
The emergence of this burning sensation usually occurs suddenly and it is not known what the trigger is. In addition to the heat, other symptoms that are felt are body sweating, redness, and chest palpitations.
4. Difficulty sleeping or insomnia
Approaching menopause, women may find it harder to sleep or experience insomnia. This is due to the decreasing levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body.
Women who experience this complaint will wake up more easily at night and find it difficult to go back to sleep. When menopause occurs, sleep quality can decrease, so the body still feels tired and lacks energy after waking up.
5. Dry vagina
This sign of menopause occurs due to a decrease in the production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone in a woman's body during menopause. This can cause the production of the vaginal lubricating fluid to decrease, causing the vagina to become dry.
Vaginal dryness is usually described as discomfort, itching, or burning around the vagina. Women who experience vaginal dryness will also feel pain during intercourse.
6. Decreased sex drive
The decrease in estrogen that occurs during menopause can make the clitoris less sensitive to sexual stimulation, and the vagina becomes dry and less elastic. This sign of menopause can cause decreased sex drive and women find it difficult to orgasm.
7. Psychological problems
Hormonal changes in the body of women who are going through menopause also have an impact on changes in their emotions and psychological conditions. Prior to and during menopause, women become more irritable and sad, feel tired and unmotivated, and are more prone to anxiety and depression. mood swings.
In addition to the signs of menopause above, some women may also experience complaints in the form of:
- Muscle ache
- Bones are more brittle
- Breast shape changes
- Weight gain
- Skin looks dry and dull
- Increased cholesterol levels
How to Overcome Complaints You Feel During Menopause
Some of the symptoms of menopause that appear are generally temporary and may subside on their own over time. However, sometimes the signs of menopause that appear can be felt quite heavy and disturbing.
If you feel a complaint that is quite disturbing, try to relieve it in the following ways:
- To reduce hot flashesCool down by drinking cold water and wearing clothes that can absorb sweat. Avoid consuming hot food or drinks, spicy foods, and alcoholic beverages, and stay away from hot places.
- So that the quality of sleep remains good while relieving symptoms mood swings, do light exercise and relaxation techniques regularly (eg with yoga and meditation), and avoid consumption of caffeinated or alcoholic beverages.
- To relieve complaints in the urinary tract, such as difficulty holding pee and increased frequency of urination, do Kegel exercises regularly.
- To make sexual intercourse more comfortable, use a water-based vaginal lubricant.
If the symptoms of menopause are bothersome, you may need hormone replacement therapy.
In addition to hormone replacement therapy, doctors can also provide treatment to treat complaints during menopause, such as sleeping pills to treat insomnia, or antibiotics if there are recurrent urinary tract infections.
Complaints that arise when entering menopause can vary for each woman, as well as the level of severity. There are some women who do not feel any complaints at all, but there are also those who experience severe signs of menopause that require treatment from a doctor.
If you experience very disturbing signs of menopause, or if you are in doubt whether the complaints you are experiencing are a sign of menopause or a health problem, do not hesitate to consult a doctor.