Menopause has always been feared by women. They often dreaded this so-called “mid-life change or experience”.
After menopause, women are not able to bear children or get pregnant anymore, which is seen by many as a loss of purpose and as a sign of growing old. Most women are afraid of menopause due to the confusing symptoms associated with it. Women usually perceive menopause as a problem rather than a change.
But menopause is not the end of a woman’s life, it is only the beginning of a new period in life. In this period a woman no longer has to undergo a monthly menstrual cycle or be afraid of getting pregnant. Women should understand that menopause is not a change to be afraid of. It needs to be welcomed.
The media confuse women with various, sometimes contradictory information about menopause, which only complicates this time in a woman’s life.
Women must remember that all women undergo menopause, so they are not alone. Due to the fact that contemporary culture places emphasis on youth, women are angry that are now considered old.
Instead of this, women should understand that they are now wise and mature. They must take control of their lives and bodies. They should realize that menopause is the beginning of many new possibilities for the body and mind.
During the menopause, women can educate themselves about this period; what risks there are, what side effects may occur and what will work for them. Women must also accept this change. They need to be engaged in every step of developing a health-care program for themselves, in order to achieve and maintain good physical and mental health.
What makes women even more worried is the fear that their sexual relationships will change. This is not true. Most women consider a new relationship after menopause as "the most emotionally and sexually satisfying."
HERE ARE SOME Do’s AND Don’t’s WHEN GOING THROUGH MENOPAUSE;
Do’s
* Do regard menopause as a normal stage of life.
* Do consider increasing outside interests.
* Do talk about your feelings with your partner.
* Do report abnormal bleeding to your physician.
* Do ask for help when experiencing troublesome symptoms.
* Do talk to your physician if you are not sure when your menopause is complete.
Don’ts
* Don’t let the change interfere with your life and sexual activities.
* Don’t be afraid to ask your physician about any worries you may have.
* Menopause is a wonderful time a woman’s life. Don’t be afraid of it!
* Menopause is feared by many women as the dreaded "Mid-life Change." The loss of fertility resulting from menopause is seen by some women as a loss of purpose in life and as a sign of aging. Other women have decided to welcome menopause as a time of life when they don’t have to worry about unexpected pregnancies anymore. Some women even take part in "croning" ceremonies that celebrate a woman’s arrival at that stage of life.
During menopause a woman’s ovaries stop producing estrogen and her menstruations stop. In most cases, there is a transition period called perimenopause, with the hormone fluctuations. During perimenopause, women may observe such symptoms as hot flashes, mood swings, irregular or no menstrual periods. Perimenopause may start as early as 35 or as late as 59.
The average age of menopause is 51.
Most women associate menopause with a number of problematic symptoms, rather than with a time to account of what to do and where to go for the rest of their lives.
What are some of your recommendations at menopause?
Lifestyle changes are the most important. Food and exercise are number one. We need to educate people on how to eat healthy diets.
Due to the fact that we currently live in a fat-phobic society, people have even ceased eating healthy fats like olive oil, seeds, nuts, or fish. All of these foods are relevant for health. It is not a matter of a non-fat diet, it is a matter of a healthy fat diet.
People should eat healthy breakfast and lunch, instead of waiting till lunchtime for a real meal. I teach women to realize that food is fuel and how to use it that way. Bagels and coffee for breakfast, then a salad for lunch is not fuel!
Many symptoms of menopause may be triggered by lack of enough food-fuel during the day. Simply increasing fat and protein consumption early in the day will often cause positive changes within 2 weeks.
Only when people see that they are able to make changes, they feel empowered. I like the analogy of a smoke alarm going off in the house-you don’t just turn the alarm off-you look for the fire and put it out.
