MENOPAUSE
Menopause is a time a woman no longer produces hormones that would permit her to become pregnant. This is a very normal situation to women of 50 and above years of age.
Normally, the menopause period of a lady is between the age of 45-55 ; and that is why it is said that a woman started Menopause early if she is younger than 45 and late if she is older than 55.
Before Menopause, a lady starts having irregular menstruation because of the reduction of the progesterone hormone.
The woman’s menstrual periods start flowing very slowly and even take long in coming back.
Some signs of the approach of Menopause :
Feeling hot (67 %)
Alot of sweating (31 %)
Lack of sleep (26 %)
Depression : 38,5 %
The shrinking of the belly/uterus (20 %)
Weakness in strength (18, 5%)
Headache (11 %)
Change in nature of hair(6,5 %)
Loss of weight (7 %)
Change in bust size (5,5 %)
What causes menopause
With reference to many books, the Menopause period is caused by the following reasons :
Heredity : women of the same family get to menopause at the same age.
The climate and socio-economic conditions also affect this condition.
Menopause starts 18 months before if the woman smokes.
N.B : When people say that the time a girl starts her menstruation period, the number of children one has had and the use of family planning techniques affect teh time of menopause, it’s not true.
Causes :
Women tend to often fall sick during Menopause ; this is mostly because of the condition’s signs and also the fact that they are growing old.
In comparison to men, the percentage of heart disease rate in women is less, but yet again, it increases when they get to Menopause.
Women tend to have bone disease during their Menopause because, as an effect their bones get weaker.
80% of women say that their health changes during the first year, but the strongest effects come ten years after the loss of hormones.
Menopause and Cancer
It’s a general case in all countries that breast and Genital cancer is an issue with woman as they grow older and most especially those that are in their Menopause :
Breast cancer is common in women of ages 45-50 and 65-70. It’s very common in women who started their menstruation period early, in those who started their Menopause late and also in those who are big as a result of too much Oestrogen hormone.
Statistics show that 90% of Endometrial Cancer, 75% of Ovarian Cancer and 65% of Cervical Cancer are cases in women who are older than 50 years. Cancer du col has been such a case that every woman in her Menopause should be tested.
Effects of Menopause on the woman’s organ function:
The woman’s bladder shrinks and this makes her urinate more often than usual, (urinary incontinence).
Vaginal Atrophy ; the shrinking of the uterus.
In conclusion, we would like to tell women that are going through one or many of the mentioned above symptoms, but if you think that it is too much, then go consult with a doctor.
U. Parfait,
Reference :
1. Biologie de la ménopause. Eurobiologiste 1992 ; 26/n°197 : 17-54.