Menopause is truly a life-changing experience for women; they lose something that makes them distinctly female. While most of us may not actually enjoy the process of mensuration, it’s undeniably a big part of us. Some may view this loss as positive, but the flip side is we gain other things, like weight, hot flashes, brain fog, irritability, and other menopausal symptoms. It’s a tough phase that’s hard to explain to men, your children, or others who aren’t experiencing it; it can feel overwhelming, lonely and frustrating.
Here is an interesting fact, the term "hysteria" is derived from the Greek word for uterus, reflecting an outdated belief that women’s emotional and cognitive disturbances were linked to their reproductive organs. While this was a misjudgement, it wasn’t entirely unfounded. Thankfully, modern science can now help us understand and validate the physical, mental, and emotional shifts that occur during menopause.
So, what exactly is menopause, why does it happen, and is there anything we can do to make this rite of passage, a smooth one. Menopause is not an illness, but a phase every woman transitions through, after premenopause and perimenopause. It is officially defined by the absence of menstruation for 12 consecutive months. Although we are focusing primarily on menopause, it’s hard to ignore the other two phases given the interconnected nature of each phase, and our body. Our body is a wonderfully intelligent machine, the change in hormones is a natural process we need to respect. During this transition estrogen levels decrease, signalling the winding down of the reproductive functions As we age, the risks associated with childbirth increase, making the cessation of reproductive functions a sensible adaptation.
To get a clearer picture of what’s happening during menopause let’s understand the earlier phases of this journey:
ü Premenopause is the phase when women have regular periods and are able to conceive, assuming there are no fertility issues. This stage usually starts between the ages of 8 and 16 and can last anywhere from 30 to 35 years. It's the time when everything is running smoothly and predictably.
ü Perimenopause is the next phase, where things start to shift. During this stage, our ovarian reserves begin to dwindle, causing the levels of estrogen and progesterone to fluctuate wildly. This stage can last anywhere from a few months to about 10 years, with an average of around four years. These hormonal swings can make symptoms feel particularly intense, often blending into each other and making it tricky to pinpoint exactly which phase you're in.
Let’s talk about brain fog, a pesky symptom affecting around 62% of menopausal women. It feels like something is hijacking your brain; and in reality, the brain is readjusting and rewiring. With decreasing progesterone levels, sleep can become a real struggle. Falling asleep might be tough, and staying asleep can be even harder, leaving you feeling drained by morning. This exhaustion can make even the simplest daily tasks seem like mountains to climb, let alone finding the motivation to exercise or eat well. Metabolism shifts during menopause can lead to weight gain, making it feel like weight is the central issue of your universe. Here’s a surprising statistic: you can lose up to 55% more body fat simply by getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night. So, it’s no wonder that sleep troubles during menopause can feel like a major dilemma!
Beyond the physical changes, menopause can also bring significant emotional ups and downs. With the challenge of navigating these changes, often without enough support, it’s easy to feel isolated and overwhelmed. This emotional rollercoaster can lead to a rise in depression, and while antidepressants can be a lifesaver for many, they also come with their own set of side effects, including weight gain. It’s a tough cycle: weight gain can be both a symptom and a side effect of menopause, making it seem like everything is revolving around it.
Let’s dig a bit deeper into perimenopause, the phase where we start to notice that losing weight isn’t as straightforward as it used to be, the same healthy meal plans and weight loss diets aren’t cutting it anymore. By the time we hit menopause, our brains undergo changes too. Brain scans before and after menopause show a decrease in brain energy levels—about a 30% drop, or as some describe it, ‘the lights going out.’ This means our neurons still have access to glucose but aren’t burning it as efficiently as before.