POST-MENOPAUSAL EXPERIENCE

As women are approaching the primetime of their lives, their agony and inconvenience begin. Menopause is in the later stage of being a woman when there is some changes in the bio-chemistry of the body once pregnancy stop. Most often it occurred the age of 50 or over. It was the end of their childbearing years.

Menopause is the natural changes of woman’s life. It is gradual process of change which begins 5 years before menopause. The woman’s body produces hormones (estrogen and progesterone). As she near the post-menopausal period, the production of hormone started to decline abnormally. Its reduction influence the menstrual period slowly until permanently stopped.

The most distressing effect of menopause is hot flashes. It was a sudden feeling of warmth in the upper part of the body or it may affect the whole part of the body. There is warmness in the face and redness on the chest, back, upper arms and shoulder portion. There’s perspiration that will occur.

As the body temperature readjust to the changes, it easily perspire and has cold clammy hands. Hot flashes showed several times in a day. The degree and duration of hot flashes depends on how the body will adapt to the changes. It may be severe or disappear partially or totally in few months or last several years.

Menopause brought lots of discomfort. They were vulnerable to urinary tract infection, urinary incontinence. The pressure on the bladder during laughing, coughing and other activities causes portion of the urine let during urination. The restriction happened during bladder stress.

In post-menopausal period, osteoporosis was common because of the decrease production of estrogen. The bones of older women can easily brittle or fracture as the bone mass slowly decreases its strength and durability. It was the reason of having porous bones. 

Fractures are common in the area in the wrists, spine, hips and forearms. Osteoporosis can’t be detected the early stage of losing calcium. There’s no symptom whatsoever is felt. As the seriousness of the condition progresses reaching the point untreatable, fractures will occur if the bones can’t handle with the pressure especially meeting accidents and breaking some bones.

Calcium is needed in the early stage of osteoporosis. The progression may delay or may stop and recovery may be possible slowing down further the bone loss. Taking vitamin D is important for calcium absorption. Those women that can afford resorted to estrogen replacement. But it has after effect of feeling headache, nausea, swollen breasts, weight gain and fluid retention.

Menopause brought discomfort but it is part of aging process many women have to pass. Many women in menopausal stage has mood swing, easily get tired, feeling nervous, excessive sweating, insomnia, headache, breathing problem, painful joints and muscles, irritable and don’t have enough patience if contrary to her expectation.

It is important for women to develop positive outlook in life. Menopause is normal part of aging. We can’t control aging. A woman should adjust to the changes that occurred in her life. The transition may be difficult but with positive attitudes he can pass the crisis in due time.

Menopausal women should maintain healthy life. To minimize the impact of the post-menopausal period, women should start keeping their bodies to stay healthy at all times. To aid from her body changes, she should maintain better nutrition, good diet and other nutritional requirement to keep her body acquires enough defenses against infections. A balanced diet may help to correct any nutritional deficiencies that will cause further stress during her menopausal period.