Menopause:get over it smoothly!

With age come nice things like wisdom and experience. But maturity can also have confusing effects on our bodies. Especially menopause, right ladies? How it manifests and, more importantly, how to regain control over our body naturally.

Menopause, what is it?

It is a physiological phenomenon that occurs in women between 45 and 55 years old, on average at 51 years old. Menopause results in the permanent cessation of menstruation and therefore the loss of fertility. It is gradual and does not happen overnight.

Before reaching menopause proper, women are in perimenopause. This happens when the reserve of ovarian follicles runs out below 1,000 eggs. The ovaries will then stop producing estrogens, hormones allowing the maturation of oocytes. This period can range from one to eight years, and the many hormonal changes that accompany it are often the cause of unpleasant side effects.

What are the side effects of menopause?

During menopause and perimenopause, many effects can be felt by women. On average, 80%[1] of women are prone to at least one symptom other than the cessation of menstruation.

The internal effects

Hot flashes :this is the most common symptom, they last a few minutes and can occur several times a day. They are due to the fluctuating level of estrogen which notably allows the body to maintain its constant temperature. These hot flashes can also cause insomnia and night sweats.
Genito-urinary disorders :the vagina, uterus and bladder are highly impacted by estrogen levels, so they may lack flexibility and tone, which can lead to incontinence, urinary tract infections and sexual disorders.
Risks of Osteoporosis: due to the lack of estrogen, the loss of bone tissue is accelerated, which can increase the risk of fractures.

Effects on appearance

Loss of skin elasticity :this organ is very sensitive to estrogen levels, skin aging will therefore be accelerated.
More brittle hair: they lose flexibility and their density decreases.
Weight gain: fat cells will increase in the abdomen due to the lack of estrogen.

Effects on mood

Mood swings: hormonal fluctuations will also affect mood and potentially cause fatigue, irritability, or even anxiety and heightened emotionality.
Disturbance of libido: the sex hormones being affected, it is common to observe a decrease in libido in women in perimenopause or menopause. They may also experience vaginal dryness.

The risk of pregnancy still exists

During perimenopause, pregnancy is still possible. We must therefore remain vigilant and continue to protect ourselves during sexual intercourse, in order to avoid any surprises.

How to combat the effects of menopause the natural way?

Even if few women accumulate all the side effects of menopause, they remain very unpleasant and 20 to 25% of them[2] believe that their quality of life is affected during menopause. If, for a long time, hormonal treatment was the norm, this is changing and only 8 to 10% of women[3] now take one. There are many existing natural solutions.

Plants

Sage:en infusion, it can fight against hot flashes.
Valerian: an infusion or a tablet in the evening, before going to bed, helps to sleep better.
St. John's Wort: in case of mood and anxiety disorders, in decoction or in tablets it can relieve women during their menopause.
Ginseng: during menopause, the libido tends to drop, consuming ginseng in capsules or decoction can help stimulate it.
Red Clover: to fight against weight gain, taking it in capsules is very effective, in particular it lowers cholesterol.

Exercise

In addition to allowing you to let off steam, physical activity helps fight against weight gain linked to menopause. It is also a good way to fight hot flashes, because sport helps regulate hormonal fluctuations. Prefer cardio, or gentle gyms such as yoga or taïchi.

Massages and alternative medicine

Perimenopause and menopause are periods of intense change that can be very stressful for women. Massages can then be very useful, as well as relaxing moments in the sauna or hammam to eliminate the toxins present in the body. It may also be recommended to take vitamins via dietary supplements. Alternative medicine, such as naturopathy, osteopathy, acupuncture and reflexology, can also be very effective.

Did you know?

Just like women, men experience hormonal changes akin to menopause. This is andropause. It occurs between the ages of 50 and 55 and is manifested by erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, fatigue or sleep disturbances.

A natural phenomenon, menopause can be quite disturbing. Many effects are experienced by women and the process takes a long time. Fortunately, there are many natural treatments available to relieve symptoms.

Source:

https://sante.lefigaro.fr/article/ce-qu-il-se-passe-dans-le-corps-pendant-la-menopause/

https://www.inserm.fr/information-en-sante/dossiers-information/menopause

https://www.santemagazine.fr/sante/menopause-et-andropause/menopause/6-choses-a-savoir-sur-la-menopause-425912

https://www.passeportsante.net/fr/Actualites/Dossiers/DossierComplexe.aspx?doc=plantes-soulager-troubles-menopause

https://www.santemagazine.fr/sante/menopause-et-andropause/menopause/quatre-traitements-naturels-des-bouffees-de-chaleur-171776

https://www.futura-sciences.com/sante/actualites/femme-menopause-5-solutions-naturelles-reduire-symptomes-69512/

https://www.marieclaire.fr/menopause-traitement-naturel, 1290184.asp

https://www.santemagazine.fr/sante/menopause-et-andropause/andropause/reconnaitre-les-symptomes-de-landropause-chez-lhomme-174652

[1] Inserm

[2] Inserm

[3] Inserm