Understanding more about Menopause!

STARTED FEELING

HEAT FLUSHES

MOOD DISORDERS

SEXUAL DISCOMFORT

 BLOATED SENSATIONS

SO, Menopause is around.

Menopause is end of menstrual cycles and thus, fertility in a woman. It is a phase that every woman will go through and there is nothing that can or should be done to avoid this. Everything that started had to end and so does your menstrual cycles and productivity.

HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOU??

I will try to brief the physiology of menopause firstly.

Menopause is result of hormonal disproportion that develops with ageing. Symptoms of menopause develop due to rise and fall in OESTROGEN LEVELS, as well as OESTROGEN BEING OUT OF HARMONY WITH PROGESTERONE leading to MUCH MONTHLY INTERRUPTIONS.

With this hormonal imbalance, develops certain symptoms like:

1. PROGESTERONE DEFICIENCY makes a female Irritable, Agitated, Tired and get frequent anger outbursts.
2. HIGH OESTROGEN IN RELATION TO PROGESTERONE makes a female feel Heavy, Bloated, Develop Tender and Painful Breast or Headaches, Heartburn, Develop fibroids or Bleeding disorders.

Now, let us know about the physiology of these hormones

ESTROGEN EXISTS IN THREE FORMS

1. ESTRADIOL – Primary form of estrogen from menarche to menopause. It is synthesised from ovaries and PROMOTES DEPOSITION OF FATS AROUND HIPS AND THIGHS.
2. ESTRONE – Primary form of estrogen at menopause and is synthesised from fatty tissue, liver and adrenals at menopause.
3. ESTRIOL

During Menopause, there is transmission from ovarian production of estradiol to adrenal production of estrone leading to development of various physical and mental changes.

COMING TO PROGESTERONE

Progesterone is secreted from ovaries in 2^nd half of menstrual cycles and is precursor of estrogen in ovaries and of testosterone & adrenocorticosteroids. It turns fat into energy and is a natural diuretic.

HOW DOES ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE AFFECTS YOUR BODY

High Estrogen stimulates Serotonin production in body which leads to high Aldosterone secretion by adrenals. This affects kidney function leading to

1. Water retention
2. Salt imbalance

Leading to development of symptoms like:

1. Bloating
2. Swelling
3. Retention of fluids
4. Tender and painful breasts

PROGESTERONE plays very important functions like:

1. It stimulates bone growth
2. It is a natural diuretic and antidepressant.
3. It opposes some the effects of estrogen. For example, estrogen causes release of the stress hormone, cortisol, while progesterone neutralizes it; estrogen leads to water retention while progesterone is a diuretic. The ratio between the estrogen and progesterone is critical for the maintenance of homeostasis, or bio- chemical balance.

During menopause, progesterone drops down to very low which leads to development of symptoms like:

1. Osteoporosis
2. Mood disorders like irritability, agitation

Hopefully, you have understood the changes occurring in your body during menopause and their effects. But, certain things can be done to minimise the effects of this hormonal imbalance

1. Doing Sternous Exercises has been found to reduce the intensity and frequency of heat flushes because it decreases fat which upsets estrogen progesterone ratio.
2. Eating Dark Chocolates have also been found to improve mood disorders associated with menopause
3. Reducing Stress Levels – Stress adds to estrogen progesterone disproportion, aggravating your condition further
4. Optimal Nutrition – Optimal nutrition is achieved by making sure that you are consuming enough vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients.