3 Things you may not know about menopause!

Menopause affects all women and typically begins around the age of 50. The ovaries stop the release of eggs and this causes the menstrual cycle to stop.

The time leading up to menopause is called peri- menopause. During this time a woman may experience symptoms related to hormonal changes, a change in the frequency of her period and she may begin to experience some menopause symptoms.

This process usually happens over several years but for some women it can come on quite suddenly.

Symptoms of menopause can range from hot flashes, blushing and sweating, vaginal dryness, insomnia, mood changes and many more.

But did you know…..

1. Menopause leads to bone loss. This is due to the loss of estrogen. In fact, women may experience as much as a 20 percent drop in bone density in the five to seven years after menopause. This significant decreased in bone density can lead to Osteoporosis. For this reason, it is important to consult with your healthcare provided to complete screening bone density testing at the appropriate age. It is also worthwhile to check you are getting adequate dietary calcium and taking supplemental vitamin D. www.osteoporosis.ca is a great resource for further information.

2. The changes attributed to menopause have been proven to have an adverse affect to both a women’s physical and mental health. Self-care has been proven to help with this. Exercise helps to slow the rate of bone loss and prevent weight gain after menopause. The release of natural endorphins from exercise, help with low mood and irritability.

3. The risk of heart disease increases after menopause. Increasing age is an independent risk factor. But estrogen is known to offer protection against cardiovascular disease. The drop in estrogen following menopause will increase your risk. This is where modifying other risk factors including, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, alcohol intake and diabetes will significantly benefit you, especially after menopause.

Menopause is unfortunately unavoidable. But it doesn’t have to be unbearable. Understanding the symptoms of menopause and the treatment options available to lessen the impact of those symptoms can make you feel much more comfortable.

If you are interested in finding out more about the treatments we offer for the symptoms of menopause, contact us today.

Written by Dr. Avneet Parmar MBChB CCFP