For smooth menopause, regular exercise is key

From improving bone density to regulating oestrogen levels, being physically active is good for menopausal women

- Shrenik Avlani

Menopause is a period of transition for all women, but it is an unfortunate reality of modern life that there aren't many frank discussions or enough research about it to this day. As a result, many women are caught unaware and unprepared for the big changes that are about to hit them.

Menopause, which usually occurs between 45-55 years of age, marks the end of menstruation and is a period of significant hormonal shifts in a woman's life, says Dr. Garima Sawhney, senior gynaecologist and co-founder of Pristyn Care. "It's a tough, confusing, often depressing and confidence deflating period in the lives of many women. The irony is you know what's happening and why... but still don't understand it as it happens," says Kavitha Reddy, a 50-year-old homemaker and amateur marathoner from Pune.

Menopause signifies a natural decline in ovarian function which can cause various symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, vaginal dryness, reduced libido and irregular periods.