CEBU, Philippines - The female body is the source of life. Women are the bearers of children and hold the power of reproduction. Because of this, it is perceived that the woman is most powerful when she is at the peak of her fertility.
But what becomes of the woman when she loses her power of reproduction? When she is unable to conceive? What will become of her when menopause happens?
All women fear its approach. No one can escape it. When it strikes, women become emotional wrecks. “I feel hopeless, helpless, useless,” says one housewife.
Menopause. It happens to all women. The when of it depends on genetics, says Dr. Mila Chan.
During Chong Hua Hospital’s lay forum on menopause concerns and sexual problems, many concerns were indeed expressed by women. This 30-something writer even asked when it will happen to her. Dr. Mila’s advice: “Ask your mother, your aunts and your lolas at what age they had their menopause. Most probably, that will be the age you’ll have yours.”
Menopause or just a bad day?
How does a woman know, exactly, if she is already experiencing menopause, or maybe just having a bad day, a bad week, a bad month? What is it? What are the signs? How should women deal with it?
Chong Hua Hospital pooled together a group of medical experts to answer these questions: Dr. Milagros Chan, Dr. Rebecca Gucor, Dr. Raymond Sulay; with Eric Julian Manalastas (a certified specialist in social psychology) and Stella Palomo Monteno of CCTN.
Menstruation - (a monthly period or flow) is a major stage of puberty in girls; it’s a physical sign that a girl is turning into a woman. Every month, the woman’s body prepares for pregnancy. If no pregnancy occurs, the uterus sheds its lining and the woman “has her period.”
Menopause - marks the end of a woman’s fertility. Dr. Gucor says that menopause is when the woman has missed periods for 12 straight months.
“Old” ovaries - At this stage, the woman will be experiencing unpredictable changes during which her ovaries (the glands which produce eggs and sex hormones) gradually cease to function and her body slowly gets used to lower hormone levels.
The changes are not sudden, but take place over a few years. They usually start when the woman is in her middle or late 30s until she reaches 50. Periods usually become irregular or infrequent. “I missed my period this month ‘coz I’m so stressed at work, “she might say to a friend. Little does she know that inevitable changes are already occurring inside her body that will lead to menopause.
She will complain of headaches, palpitations and excessive tiredness. Since she is usually at the peak of her career at this time, these symptoms may, again, be blamed to work-related stress.
Emotional changes, including irritability, depression and lack of concentration also affect the woman at this time. These emotions may be tied to emotional stresses, perhaps because at this time, her children have grown up and would rather be with their barkadas or off to college. The woman will feel left out. That’s what the housewife meant when she said, “I feel hopeless, helpless, useless.”
She will wake up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat. Hot flushes and night sweats are probably the worst symptoms of menopause. Dr. Chan described it as heat inside the body that starts from the abdomen and goes upwards resulting in a flushed face. When it occurs at night, this results to sleeplessness.
Dr. Chan said, “Since the woman can’t sleep because of night sweats and hot flushes, she becomes irritable and feels very tired during the day.”
Other signs and symptoms are:
*Vaginal dryness
*Pain during sexual intercourse
*Backache
*Muscle and joint pain
*Weight gain
*New facial hair
*Unusually dry skin
*Urinary incontinence
*Memory lapses
“No one should suffer in silence”
But the woman need not throw herself over the cliff when menopause happens. Talk to the doctor. There are several ways to overcome this. As Dr. Chan said, “No one should suffer in silence.”
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can be extremely effective for managing menopausal symptoms. HRT simply aims to replace the estrogen hormone that has been lost. Estrogen is important in keeping the woman fit and well. It contributes to the healthy condition of her skin and many other organs of the body and to her mental alertness.
But research has shown that there are risks with hormone therapy that need to be considered. The best option is to consult the doctor.
Sizzling H.O.T.
Eric Julian Manalastas, a certified specialist in social psychology from UP Diliman, has this advice: “Be a sizzling HOT mama,” he said.
H - Have a Happy mindset. Instead of feeling depressed, the woman should celebrate menopause.
“It’s freedom!” Dr. Chan piped in. “No more worries of becoming pregnant. You can have sex as much as you want. It’s a liberating experience.” No more cumbersome sanitary napkins, tampons or worries of “nalapsan”.
O - Open discourse. The woman should talk to her husband. Talk to her doctor. She should be aware and understand what’s going on in her body and how to best deal with it.
T - Take charge approach. Instead of feeling helpless, do something. Get information. Take medicine. Make lifestyle changes.
Menopause is simply a natural part of the woman’s life. Live it. Embrace menopause.