From the survey results on the health status and health behaviors of Thai women aged 45 – 59 by the Health Promotion Division, Department of Health, in 2011, it was found that 48% of menopausal women have chronic diseases, with the top 3 being hypertension, diabetes, and bone and joint diseases. 28% are at high risk of menopause and 57% were found to have abdominal obesity.
Based on this information, Dr. Siri-on Sumalnop, a specialist in obstetrics, gynecology, and menopausal women at Phyathai 2 Hospital has advice regarding menopause, a condition that no woman wants to face. However, by the laws of nature, every woman must go through “menopause”. So what can we, as women, do to get through menopause well? Let’s understand menopause deeply to prepare for it better.
Why do women have to go through “menopause”
Menopause means a woman enters the stage of menstrual cessation, which begins between the ages of 45 – 55, commonly called middle age. This follows the natural law when the ovaries stop functioning, causing hormone levels to decrease and resulting in various symptoms. Women who have had their ovaries removed can also experience menopause immediately because there are no ovaries producing hormones.
The role of the ovaries… and “femininity”
Normally, every woman has ovaries on both sides of the uterus, left and right, which produce hormones that give us feminine characteristics such as soft skin, firm breasts, a well-rounded figure, menstruation, and strong bones. When the ovaries stop functioning, hormone deficiency occurs, menstruation ceases, and various physical and emotional changes happen, known as “menopausal symptoms.”
Warning signs of… approaching menopause
For each woman, menopause arrives at different ages, but it can be observed from irregular menstruation compared to before. This may start to be noticed after age 40. By age 45, menstrual irregularities become more obvious, sometimes occurring every 2 – 3 months because the ovaries produce less and less hormone until menopause is reached.
Changes occurring in the life of a “menopausal woman”
After the ovaries stop functioning, estrogen levels decrease, so menopausal women face many changes including hot flashes, night sweats and chills, vaginal dryness and thinning causing pain during intercourse, frequent urination and incontinence, difficulty sleeping, easy stress, unexplained depression, abdominal obesity, and skin sagging. Symptoms that may appear years after menopause include osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases.
These changes vary; some women experience severe symptoms, others mild, depending on their mental foundation, personality, environment, job responsibilities, and family issues.
Is menopause treatable?
Treatment for menopausal women varies according to each individual’s problems. Hormone replacement therapy may be given but is not necessary for everyone. There must be indications for hormone use and contraindications must be considered, along with behavioral adjustments, emotional control training, and stress management methods such as exercise, yoga, and meditation.
When we become menopausal ladies… how to take care
Dr. Siri-on Sumalnop, a specialist in obstetrics, gynecology, and menopausal women at Phyathai 2 Hospital reveals that menopausal women can cope easily by taking care of their health, eating a balanced diet with an emphasis on high-calcium foods such as milk, tofu, black sesame, small fish, and green leafy vegetables, or taking calcium supplements to prevent osteoporosis. Regular exercise should be done, choosing activities that are not too strenuous, balancing rest time, and practicing emotional control.
Annual health check-ups should include blood pressure, blood lipid levels, blood sugar levels, internal examinations to screen for cervical cancer, breast cancer screening, and bone density tests.
Hormone replacement therapy should be consulted with a gynecologist and not self-administered because indications and contraindications must be carefully considered for each menopausal woman, as the benefits and risks of hormone use vary.
If abnormalities are found, such as having no menstruation for many years and suddenly experiencing vaginal bleeding, one should promptly consult a gynecologist to find the cause.
How to prepare for menopause
Before reaching menopause, young women should maintain good physical health, practice emotional control, and regularly engage in stress-relieving activities. This will be an important foundation that allows us to enter menopause with stability both physically and mentally.
Dr. Siri-on Sumalnop
Specialist in Gynecology and Menopausal Women
Women’s Health Center, Phyathai 2 Hospital
