What is menopause?
Menopause is the period in a woman’s life when menstruation stops. Menopause often occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, when a woman has not seen her period for at least 12 months. From then on, women can no longer have children. She moves on to another stage in her life.
Menopause is often perceived negatively because it is accompanied by discomforts. The menopause is often accompanied by physical symptoms such as hot flushes, trouble sleeping, vaginal dryness and emotional symptoms such as mood swings, uncertainty, irritability… You may feel different and have new needs. It’s also a wonderful time of life when you can change and feel truly at ease.
In most cases, menopause arrives gradually. The peri-menopause is the phase that precedes the menopause and marks the beginning of changes in the body. Signs may include irregular periods or some of the symptoms listed above. The peri-menopause often arrives around the age of forty, but this can vary.
Acknowledging and talking about your emotions helps you get through this period. Sharing your experience with women around you can be comforting and help you realise that you’re not alone. It’s also an opportunity to exchange tips and plan activities with other women.
To make the most of this stage in your life, it’s important to listen to yourself and take care of yourself. It’s a perfectly normal period of change, a kind of metamorphosis. All women go through it. It’s a phase of life that allows you to get to know yourself better!
It’s good to notice the changes going on inside you, whether they’re physical or emotional (like a new way of thinking or feeling, for example). Menopause is a natural phenomenon.
During peri-menopause, the phase preceding the menopause, the body produces fewer hormones. At the menopause, the body no longer produces oestrogen. It is this hormonal change that can cause the physical and mental symptoms that many women experience. Each woman experiences different symptoms, at different intensities.
If a woman is experiencing intense symptoms, there are a number of solutions to alleviate them. For example, there are hormone treatments, which can only be prescribed by doctors as they can present health risks.
There are also more natural solutions, such as adopting a specific diet and/or taking food supplements (calcium, vitamin D, etc.). Sport is also recommended. Meditation and prayer can help reduce stress and restore normal sleep.
As a general rule, when in doubt about what’s happening to your body, the best thing to do is to consult a doctor or midwife, who will be able to analyse and explain the symptoms you are experiencing.
Take good care of yourself and your body!
Sources : La Ménopause par ELSAN, Ménopause et périménopause par ameli.fr & le podcast de la Red School “How to know when you’re in menopause (Alexandra et Sjanie)