Is menopause a happier phase?

INTRODUCTION

Menopause is the complete cessation of the menstrual cycle for a year; it generally occurs during 45– 55 years age of women. 51 ± 3 years is the international menopausal age of a woman.^[1] Menopause is followed by several changes in females, namely physical, physiological, hormonal, and emotional.^[2] These menopausal changes may be categorized as most common: Hot flashes, flushes, night sweat and/or cold flashes, clammy feeling, loss of libido, aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons, crashing fatigue, irregular periods, shorter, lighter periods, heavier periods, flooding, phantom periods, shorter cycles, longer cycles, irritability, weight gain, irregular heartbeat, mood swings, sudden tear, hair loss or thinning, head, pubic, or whole body, increase in facial hair, increased tension in muscles, and depression and less common symptoms of menopause were as follows: Headache change – increase or decrease, gastrointestinal distress, indigestion, flatulence, gas pain, nausea, dryness of vagina, itchy, crawly skill, disturbing memory lapses, burning tongue, burning roof of mouth, bad taste in mouth, change in breath odor, anxiety, feeling ill at ease, trouble sleeping through the night (with or without night sweat), gum problems, increased bleeding, breast tenderness and dizziness, light-headiness, and episodes of loss of balance. Some rare menopausal symptoms are electric shock sensation under the skin and in the head, changes in body odor, increase in allergies, tingling in the extremities, incontinence, especially upon sneezing, laughing, urge incontinence, feelings of dread, apprehension, doom, difficulty concentrating, disorientation, mental confusion, exacerbation of existing conditions, and sudden bouts of bloat.^[3] Menopause is the most disturbing phase (which may last 5–10 years) of a woman and she suffers in silence. Menopause can be better managed under qualified medical guidance^[4] and it can be changed into the happiest phase of a woman’s life which does not happen due to the lack of awareness and absence of scientific guidance or advice.^[5]

This study was aimed at and planned to investigate the age of menopause (under local environmental and living conditions), its symptoms, and the possibility of turning into a happier phase under scientific guidance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study included women in the 46–60-year-old age group and written consent was taken from all the women before including them in our research study. The aims, objectives, and purpose of the study were clearly explained to participating women.

RESULTS

1. Age of the women in our study

   The age of the women in our study was 46–60 years old.

2. The age of menarche of our studied groups ranged from 13 to 15 years

   The mean age of menarche of our studied group ranged from 13 to 15 years. However, in some women, the onset of menarche was 9–11 and as late as 18.

3. Age of regular menstruation

   Age of regular menstruation ranged from 12 to 15 years, but in some cases, it was as early as 9 and as late as 18.

Menopausal symptoms

Most common menopausal symptoms of women

The most common symptoms (in order of occurrence) of menopause were as follows: Hot flashes, flushes, night sweat and/or cold flashes, clammy feeling, loss of libido, aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons, crashing fatigue, irregular periods, shorter, lighter periods, heavier periods, flooding, phantom periods, shorter cycles, longer cycles, irritability, weight gain, irregular heartbeat, mood swings, sudden tear, hair loss or thinning, head, pubic, or whole body, increase in facial hair, increased tension in muscles, and depression [Figure 1].

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Figure 1:

Most common menopausal symptoms of women (46–60 yrs).

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Less common symptoms of menopausal women

Less common symptoms of menopause were as follows: Headache change – increase or decrease, gastrointestinal distress, indigestion, flatulence, gas pain, nausea, dryness of vagina, itchy, crawly skill, disturbing memory lapses, burning tongue, burning roof of mouth, bad taste in mouth, change in breath odor, anxiety, feeling ill at ease, trouble sleeping through the night (with or without night sweat), gum problems, increased bleeding, breast tenderness and dizziness, light-headiness, and episodes of loss of balance [Figure 2].

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Figure 2:

Less common menopausal symptoms of women (46–60 yrs).

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Rare menopausal symptoms in women

Some rare menopausal symptoms were also evident in our study such as electric shock sensation under the skin and in the head, changes in body odor, increase in allergies, tingling in the extremities, incontinence, especially upon sneezing, laughing, urge incontinence, feelings of dread, apprehension, doom, difficulty concentrating, disorientation, mental confusion, exacerbation of existing conditions, and sudden bouts of bloat [Figure 3].

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Figure 3:

Rare menopausal symptoms of women (46–60 yrs).

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Menopausal management

Menopausal management-1

Our results show that 46% did not opt for medical consultation to manage the menopausal symptoms, while 29% women in our study had gone through a whole body check-up. This research also revealed that 25% women took the corrective treatment for better management of the menopause [Figure 4].

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Figure 4:

Percentage of menopausal women gone through medical consultation and taken subsequent treatment.

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Menopause management-2

Our study reveals that 39% of menopausal women did yoga, 44% incorporated physical exercise in their daily life, and 17% women did meditation in their routine. Some women of this study incorporated yoga, meditation, and physical all together in their lives [Figure 5].

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Figure 5:

Menopausal management with exercise, yoga, and meditation.

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Liberation from menopausal disturbances

1. This study shows that 33% menopausal women felt that the onset of menopause is the end of sexual life, whereas 52% women felt that menopause is not the end of their sexual life. They wish to continue their sexual life [Figure 6].

   

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   Figure 6:

   Is the menopausal phase the end of sexual life?

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2. 82% women felt liberated from menstruation, use of birth control methods and pregnancies which used to be very disturbing for women [Figure 7].

   

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   Figure 7:

   Is menopause liberation from menstruation, birth control methods, and pregnancies?

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3. This study revealed that 37% menopausal women did not enjoy the sexual activities, while 26% women enjoyed the sexual act [Figure 8].

   

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   Figure 8:

   Perception about sexual activities.

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4. 22% of these women also felt that sexual activities help in minimizing the menopausal symptoms/effects [Figure 9].

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Figure 9:

Do sexual activities help in minimizing the menopausal symptoms?

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DISCUSSION

Menopause is an essential phase of a woman’s life which causes the complete cessation of the menstrual cycle for a year.^[7] Woman generally suffers in silence and they do not seek medical advice or guidance is not available.^[8] In general, women are not knowledgeable enough to manage menopausal changes themselves to lead a normal life.^[9] This study included women in the age group from 46 to 60 years old. Most of these women were not aware of real menopausal symptoms at the beginning of this phase; later (after 3–4 years), these women got used to these changes. Their first feeling was that they were losing womanhood, and their husbands were also losing interest in them (as it was a major concern for them), besides other physical, physiological, hormonal, and emotional changes.^[10]

Our study reveals that the most common menopausal symptoms are hot flash, night sweat, loss of libido, aching, sore joints, crashing fatigue, irregular periods, irritability, weight gain, irregular heart-beat, mood swing, sudden tears, hair loss or thinning, increased tension in muscles, and depression which all are similar to menopausal women being studied by other researchers.^[11,12] Less common menopausal symptoms of our study were gastrointestinal distress, indigestion, flatulence, burning tongue, anxiety, trouble sleeping, gum problems, and breast tenderness which have been reported by other scientists.^[11-13]

Major concerns for a woman were losing womanhood, her partner losing interest in her, and carelessness for themselves and it has been reported by many researchers.^[14] Changes in reproductive organs (dryness of vagina, losing elasticity of vagina, infection, etc.) were related to a decline in estrogen level.^[5,10] Loss of libido and painful intercourse were also experienced by menopausal women which have been reported by other groups of scientists.^[14,15]

Regarding the role of their partner in managing the menopausal changes is very important; the majority of women did not discuss with their husbands or they did not try to understand their plight.

Incorporation of physical exercise, yoga, and meditation significantly improved the lives of menopausal women. A significant number of women felt that menopause is not the end of sexual life. When counseling was given to menopausal women, they developed the understanding that the menopausal phase can be a liberation from its disturbances and joyful.

CONCLUSION

Our study reveals that menopause and associated changes could be disturbing to women but our counseling and incorporation of yoga, meditation, and exercise in daily life of women could minimize menopausal symptoms and menopausal life could be joyful and it liberates women from menstruation, the use of birth control methods, and pregnancy provided they change their life style and mindset.