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Menopause Effects--The Cold, Hard Facts

Dear WomenOver40, here are the cold, hard facts about Menopause effects…

These physical effects are common during menopause:

irregular or no menstrual periods

hot flashes

night sweats

changes in your sleep patterns

dizziness

headaches

muscle and joint pain

dry skin

palpitations (awareness of a fast or irregular heartbeat)

tiredness

vaginal dryness, sometimes causing discomfort or pain during sex

grayish vaginal discharge with a bad odor

more frequent need to urinate, or leakage of urine

more frequent minor vaginal and urinary infections

loss of desire to have sex.

depression

mood swings

insomnia

Menopause usually occurs at a time in your life when other dramatic changes take place. Some of these changes may include loss of parents, adjustment to children growing up and leaving home, becoming a grandparent, retirement, or career changes. These changes, in addition to the changes in your body, may result in psychological or emotional stress.

Psychological symptoms of menopause may include:

anxiety

depression

tearfulness and irritability

sleeplessness

less desire for sex

lack of concentration

more trouble remembering things.

How long will the effects last?

Symptoms of menopause may last just a month, or they may continue for several years.

If you have had no menstrual periods for several months or years and then have bleeding from the vagina, check with your healthcare provider promptly. Unusual vaginal bleeding can be a sign of a precancerous problem or cancer of the uterus.

How can I take care of myself?

To help your general mental and physical well-being, you should:

Have a physical exam, including a pelvic exam, every year.

Have a Pap test every 1 to 3 years, according to your provider's recommendations.

If you are 40 years old or older, you should have a mammogram every 1 to 2 years, depending on your personal and family history.

Eat more foods that are high in calcium, such as dark green vegetables and nonfat dairy products.

Reduce saturated fats in your diet. Check food labels for nutrition information.

Get regular physical exercise according to your provider's advice. Exercise will help you fight depression and maintain good blood circulation, mobility, and a sense of well-being. Weight-bearing exercise, such as walking or stair climbing, will help keep your bones strong.

Do not smoke.

Use birth control during sexual intercourse until your provider says that you may stop. It is not possible to know exactly when you will no longer be able to get pregnant, and it is important to avoid high-risk pregnancies.

You may also choose to:

Wear cotton sleepwear to reduce discomfort from night sweats.

Use a vaginal lubricating cream or jelly if sex is painful.

Talk and share feelings with a friend or family member.

Join a support group for women who have been or are going through menopause.

Here is Robin’s story:

I just turned 40 in January. I am a mother of 2 girls 8 and 14. I live with my boyfriend who is 5 years younger than me. His two children live with us as well. I am an office manager for a dentist, I have worked in dentistry for 16 years. I am a runner and love to exercise.

I am a very happy go lucky person. Within the last 2 months, I can't stop crying at times and I am getting so grumpy and I can't get happy, and I am having hot flashes, and low energy. I can barely make myself finish my runs and my workouts. I think I gained some weight as well.

I talked to my gyn he tested my hormones and he said that I am in menopause and that I have osteoporosis. He wants to put me on birth control pills , I am a smoker. I have been trying to quit for sometime. I quit for about a month and then go back, and then quit again.

I am also taking Boniva. I had an endometrial ablation and a tubilagation. I have a fibroid tumor in my uterus and I have had 8 centimeter ovarian cyst, 1 removed, 2 drained and most of the other ruptured.

I don't want to take hormones/ birth control because of my risk for cancer and honestly the weight gain. When I was 18 I took birth control pills and they made me super nauseated and horrible headaches. I need help in the emotional area also, it is freaking me out. What should I do, Is there someone who I can talk to??? Thank you for listening sorry if I've rambled on...

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