Managing menopause

FOR ALL THE conversations around menstrual health and hygiene that are slowly breaking past the taboos into public awareness, there is another women's health concern that is still largely labouring in obscurity and a lack of information - menopause. Experienced by women in their middle ages, menopause is a period of life that for them is extremely difficult, often painful and uncomfortable, and most importantly, unavoidable.

- SREYA DEB

Women aged 45-50 years will go through a few years of perimenopause, which lasts about 4-6 years, and is the period before menopause hits, after which the monthly menstrual cycle comes to an end for women. It is a trial by fire for most, to get past the phase of menopause and into a lifestyle where the monthly menstrual cycle is no longer a concern. Overall, menopause is a natural biological process, but the body's reduced hormone levels influence physical, emotional, and reproductive health, say doctors, causing a difference in quality of life, accompanying health issues, lowered immunity and more.

What does it feel like?

Although symptoms vary widely among women, some experience extreme symptoms while others go through mild ones, says Dr Manjari Chatterjee, consultant, obstetrician and gynaecologist, Calcutta Medical Research Institute, Kolkata. “Hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood swings, joint pains, vaginal dryness, and irregular periods,’ she lists out.