Menopause is a natural condition that triggers after 45 years of age in females in India. Menopause in simple language means stopping the menstrual cycle or periods. If a female does not get periods for 12 months she is said to have reached menopause. Menopause doesn’t happen all of a sudden it happens gradually over 6-8 years. The process of menopause starts with a decrease in the production of hormones called estrogen and progesterone. Both these hormones are produced in the ovary and are responsible for the fertility in females.
Most of the females face a lot of changes in their behaviour as well as body in the period leading up to Menopause. The most common are hot flashes i.e. face turning red and getting drenched in sweat in a 5-10 minute period. Apart from these, there may be situations like severe mood swings, depression, forgetting things, anxiety etc. These changes can be troublesome for the females. As per Dr Amita Shah, Head of Global Women’s Clinic, Gurgaon, ” Menopause is very natural but it certainly comes with lots of baggage like depression and mood swings. The best way to cope with it is knowledge and counselling. My every patient who is approaching menopause gets proper counselling which helps them handle the condition much better”.
During the year leading to Menopause, a female passes through various phases which vary from irregular menses to heavy menses to no menses at all. During this period females may shift between extreme high to sudden low. The incidence of depression doubles during this time. Women who have struggled in the past with depression or anxiety might also see an increase in symptoms. These 6-8 years are very critical in a woman’s life and she needs support from the family and the most from her husband. Dr Amita Shah says,” Mood swings and depression cannot be attributed 100% to hormonal changes. They can also happen due to lack of sleep or irregular sleep patterns which is very common with the growing age. When we counsel the patient we always call the woman with her husband so that the counseling can be done for both. Spouses also need to understand what a female is going through while approaching menopause.”
It is very important to understand that mood swings or depression during the menopausal period is temporary and can be taken care of through:
- 1. Medication for a brief period
- 2. Increasing exercises
- 3. Taking proper sleep
- 4. Meditation
- 5. Quitting smoking if habitual of
A woman can also opt for hormone replacement therapy to cope with the menopausal period. However, it increases the risk of developing breast cancer. This is the reason hormone replacement therapy is advised only in extreme conditions. Most of the time it is lifestyle management dovetailed with counseling sessions that work very well.
Dr Amita Shah is a leading gynaecologist in Gurgaon with vast experience in treating all major and minor female problems. She is the founder of Global Women’s Clinic, Palam Vihar, Gurgaon. For more information or an appointment with Dr Amita Shah please call +91- 9773957611.
What is Menopause?
Menopause marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles. When a woman hasn’t had a period for 12 consecutive months, she’s officially in menopause. This transition happens naturally as a woman ages, typically around her late 40s or early 50s. During menopause, the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen and progesterone, leading to the cessation of menstrual cycles. It’s a natural phase of life, but it can come with its own set of changes and challenges.
