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7 Things Every Woman Should Know About Menopause
Menopause happens to every woman as they age. It is a process which all women go through, either before or after she stops menstruating and it also signifies that a woman can no longer reproduce. When we think about menopause, it is usually associated with symptoms such as hot flashes, erratic behaviour and weight gain.
Fun fact: Did you know that guys can have similar symptoms to menopause as well? They are termed as ‘male menopause’!
Here are 7 other things you should know about menopause to better prepare yourself (or the women in your life)!
1. The average age of menopause in Singapore is 49 years
Menopause can start from any age between 42 to 58, but the average age of menopause for women in Singapore is 49 years, while in western societies the average age is 51 years. However, if your final menstrual period is before the age of 40 years, it is regarded as premature menopause.
2. You only have menopause if you did not menstruate for one full year
Prior to menopause, some women may experience perimenopause. Perimenopause is the period where the body transition into menopause. During perimenopause, menstruation is irregular and blood flow may become lighter or heavier. It is also common for some women to skip perimenopause and enter into menopause. Menopause is only considered when menstruation has stopped for one full year! So if you experienced irregular periods, you may be experiencing perimenopause instead of menopause.
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3. Perimenopause usually lasts about 7 years but can last up to 14 years
The duration of the signs and symptoms of perimenopause such as insomnia, hot flushes, mood swings etc depends on each individual, but they can last from around 7 years to 14 years.
4. Menopause can affect the health of your bone
With the decrease of estrogen production, it will decrease the amount of calcium in your bones. This decreases the density of your bones, which can lead to osteoporosis. As calcium is greatly reduced, it is crucial to eat food that is rich in calcium such as dairy products and leafy greens. The food we eat daily is more than often not sufficient for the daily intake of calcium. Try calcium supplements to help give your calcium level an extra boost!
5. Smoking, treatments and other external factors can result in earlier menopause
How early does a woman enters into menopause is genetic. However, there are external factors which can affect the start of a woman’s menopause too. For example, chemotherapy can cause damage to the ovaries, inducing a woman to enter menopause earlier. The type of chemotherapy used and the duration are both factors which will determine how early a woman will go into menopause.
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6. You will experience both hair loss and hair growth
Your hair may be thinning, but don’t’ be surprised to find hair growing at unwanted places such as areas on your chin! As the production of these hormones – estrogen and progesterone drop, androgens (male hormones) increases. Androgens cause the thinning of hair by shrinking the hair follicles, but they can also cause hair to grow on the face for some women.
7. It’s normal to experience irrational fear.
Other than physical changes, a woman can also experience irrational fear that she does not have prior to menopause – such as the fear or falling over. Know that it’s common and it is important to speak to someone such as a friend of a doctor if negative thoughts persist.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, try menopause supplements specially formulated to help females undergo this transition period! What these menopause supplements do is to help increase your level of estrogen, maintaining your collagen level and calcium level. Maintaining your calcium level can also help to prevent osteoporosis!
