Ten things women need to know before menopause

Women's aging and menopause are inseparable, and because menopause brings many problems, many women are also uneasy about it. Experts from the Mayo Clinic in the United States suggest that before menopause, women should systematically understand relevant knowledge, which will help them better get through this transition period.

1. The age of menopause among women varies greatly, with the average age of menopause being approximately 51 or 52 years old.

Most women go through menopause in their early 50s, but some may go through menopause in their 30s, and some women may not go through menopause until they are 60.

2. Even if you still have your periods, you may experience some menopausal symptoms.

You may experience symptoms of menopause, usually a few years before menopause. This phase is called perimenopause and usually occurs a few years before menopause and the first year after menopause.

During perimenopause, women's hormone levels fluctuate greatly. Therefore, women may experience hot flashes and changes in their menstrual cycles during this period. The amount of menstrual flow may suddenly be much more than before, or it may be less than before; the menstrual cycle may become shorter or longer, or there may be no menstruation in some months. Although women in perimenopause have reduced fertility, they can still get pregnant.

3. Hot flashes may occur before menopause.

Although not every woman experiences hot flashes around the time of menopause, it is estimated that approximately 80%-85% of women experience hot flashes during perimenopause and postmenopause. The severity and frequency of hot flashes vary from person to person. Women with a higher body mass index (BMI) and those who experience menopause earlier have a higher frequency of hot flashes and night sweats.

Here are some simple ways to relieve this discomfort: Wear appropriate clothing thickness, avoid drinking alcohol and eating spicy foods, and eat soy foods or black sesame extract, which may help relieve symptoms.

4. If vaginal bleeding occurs after menopause, it should not be taken lightly.

During perimenopause, women experience irregular vaginal bleeding; however, after menopause, if you are not taking hormone therapy, vaginal bleeding is not normal. At this time, you should go to the hospital for examination to find out the cause of the bleeding.

5. After menopause, be alert to the rapid decrease in bone density.

Bone loss is most rapid in the first few years after menopause, and osteoporosis occurs when bone loss is faster than normal bone remodeling.

Keeping up with physical activity can help keep bones and muscles strong. In addition, to avoid osteoporosis, you should also supplement with calcium and vitamin D. Include enough dairy products and foods rich in calcium in your diet.

6. Urinary system diseases are more likely to occur after menopause.

A decrease in estrogen levels in the body can cause the urethra to become shorter and thinner, resulting in some urinary tract diseases, such as frequent and urgent urination; increased nocturia; enuresis when you urgently need to urinate, have sex, or reach orgasm; enuresis when you cough, laugh, sneeze, or lift heavy objects; and a burning sensation when you urinate.

If these problems are affecting your daily life, such as forcing you to cut back on exercise or social activities, it's best to see a doctor.

7. After menopause, it takes longer to reach orgasm.

After menopause, sexual desire decreases significantly because the skin and tissues in the vagina become thinner and drier, which makes sex painful and takes longer to orgasm. But generally speaking, women can still enjoy sex as much as they did when they were younger during perimenopause and postmenopause.

8. Women in the perimenopausal and postmenopausal period often have poor sleep at night.

This sleep disorder will become more and more serious as you age after menopause, for example, it is more difficult to fall asleep, it is difficult to fall asleep again after waking up, and you wake up earlier than usual. Especially at night, hot flashes and night sweats will make you feel uncomfortable and difficult to fall asleep again.

Not only that, persistent sleep disorders can make women more irritable and interfere with normal thinking and memory.

9. Menopausal symptoms usually do not require medication.

Because it is a natural process, it may only slightly affect your life and in most cases, you don’t need to take any medication to overcome it.

10. If a woman has menopause due to treatment of disease or surgery, the symptoms may become more severe. At this time, a doctor needs to intervene and provide professional treatment to relieve the various discomforts after menopause.