Post Menopause: The Changes In Women After Menopause

Posted on March 18, 2008 by tdrst in Womens Health

Menopause occurs 12 months after the last menstrual period. It may also occur after a woman has had a hysterectomy. The period leading up to that event is called Peri-menopause, and the period afterwards is called post menopause.

Post menopause can be a trying time for many women. The experience can bring rapid and dramatic biological changes due to the depletion on hormones, but their can be emotional consequences as well.

In some societies for example, the emphasis on youth may equate to feelings of diminished worth. In addition, because menopause means the end of the reproductive years some women may feel a sense of loss.

Other women may view this transitional time as being a positive experience. In some cultures, for example, Japan women seem to experience post menopause as a positive time. This may be due to the fact that maturity brings an element of respectability in the Japanese society. In addition, their diets which are low calorie, high nutrient may result in fewer symptoms and signs associated with the change of life.

There are many post menopausal treatments on the market that offer some relief for the symptoms of menopause. For example, short term hormone replacement might ease hot flashes, night sweats and osteoporosis.

There is some evidence that long term hormone replacement may pose health risks such as increased risk of breast cancer and heart attack. Other hormone replacement treatments such as the use of DHEA also offer some potential benefit to women who have reached post menopause.

Women who eat a healthy diet full of fresh vegetables, cold water fish and lean protein seem to have less problems post menopause then women who don’t. In addition, the introduction of exercise and stress reduction may also benefit these women. Post menopause may be a time of increased confidence and freedom for many women. It can also be a time that is problematic for some. Attitude and overall health may make a tremendous difference in how the experience of post menopause is weathered.

Post Menopause Changes In Women

The reason for an increased visceral fat (belly fat), in middle aged post menopausal women is not due to age but a change in hormonal balance that occurs after menopause, say researchers at the Rush University Medical Centre.
Imke Janson, said that of all the factors that they analyzed for probable causes for increase belly fat, levels of active testosterone was the one that was most closely linked to abdominal fat. 359 women in the peri-menopausal stage (42-60 years age group), were studied.

Fat in the abdominal cavity was measured using C.T. Scan. Blood tests were also done to assess the levels of testosterone and estradiol.
Statistics demonstrated that the biological availability of testosterone was the strongest decider of belly fat while levels of estradiol had little connection to it. Visceral fat, surrounding the internal organs around the waistline, is metabolically different from sub-cutaneous fat which is located below the skin.

Post menopause changes are associated with a set of symptoms and is not a disease condition, but a physiological event in the life of any female. It occurs primarily due to change in the hormonal profile of the female as she exits the age bearing period.  The changes experienced after menopause include:

  • Cessation of menstrual flow. In the initial stages, the menstrual flow becomes irregular and scanty with subsequent drying out of menstrual discharge.
  • Hot flushes and night sweats, sudden feeling of excessive heat in the upper part of the body and the face, which is accompanied with redness of the skin.
  • Insomnia or loss of sleep.
  • Decreased libido or reduced sexual desire.
  • Mental symptoms like irritability, depression and mood swings with fatigue, headache, and dizziness.

These above mentioned symptoms arise due to the fact the ovaries don’t produce the normal amount of estrogen.

Post Menopause Management

  • Diet is of prime importance. It is found that increasing the intake of proteins (pulses and legumes), calcium (milk and milk products and fish), Vitamin D (milk and eggs), Vitamin E (nuts and seeds), tends to help menopausal women cope with the pressures of fluctuating hormone cycles.
  • Concurrently, it is recommended that elimination of consumption of processed and refined foods also has a positive effect.
  • Calcium and vitamin supplements are recommended considering that menopausal women are more prone to bone conditions like Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis
  • Beetroot is highly beneficial to ease some of the distressing symptoms of menopause. Beet juice should be taken at least once a day
  • Carrot seeds have also been found to be of considerable value. 1 tsp of carrot seeds should be boiled in cow’s milk for 10 minutes and taken daily

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