Menopause is when your period stops completely and is a phase of life that happens to all women. While the majority of ladies will cruise through menopause without much difficulty, some ladies will experience some uncomfortable changes during this transition period. However, with the right understanding and medical help, menopause can be less overwhelming for these ladies. Dr James Lee from Astra Women’s Specialist shares more on menopause, including some tips on how to manage this stage of life.
1. When Will I Get Menopause?
Most ladies will start experiencing menopause from the ages of 50 to 54. Another way to determine if menopause has started is the cessation of your period. If it has been 1 year or more since your last period, that is a sign that your menopause has started.
2. What are the Symptoms of Menopause in Women?
- Sleepless nights due to night sweats
- Mood swings and depressing thoughts
- Hot flushes
- Vaginal dryness
- Low sex drive
- Low energy
3. How can I Cope with Menopause?
It helps tremendously if you understand that you are not alone in going through this difficult phase. All women will go through menopause at some point in their life. Having a strong support system made up of your friends and family members will give you the necessary emotional support to help you get through this period of life.
You can also make some changes to your lifestyle, for example:
- Have a balanced diet and reduce your sugar intake
- Exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes
- Try and get sufficient rest
- Do not smoke
- Reduce caffeine and alcohol consumption
For those women who need additional help, there are treatment options from a gynaecologist such as hormonal therapy. Discuss with your gynaecologist first as they can suggest what can be done to alleviate menopausal symptoms with or without medication.
4. How Will Menopause Impact My Sex Life?
Your sex life might be impacted significantly if you suffer from a couple of the menopause symptoms mentioned earlier. Vaginal dryness will make sexual intercourse painful while low sex drive might mean you do not even want to have sex. If this is a big concern for you, discuss with your gynae as there are options that can help reduce the impact on your sex life and even normalise or improve it as much as possible.
5. What are Some Tips for Managing Menopause?
Overall, having menopause can be a challenging phase of life. Being prepared for it with the right support and knowing that your gynae will be there to help you along the way is vital. Having a positive outlook on the changes certainly, help too! This way, you will be able to age gracefully and healthily as you walk towards your golden years.
