72 November 2014 www.womanthismonth.com LIFESTYLE | wellbeing Embracing the Change by BEHNAZ SANJANA WTM lets you in on the must-know of menopause, an inevitable phase of a woman’s life, to help you or a loved one survive it better. Who hasn’t heard of the wrath and misery of a woman in menopause? The moodiness, the discomfort and those horrible hot flashes! No wonder someone said that a menopausal woman is a volcano threatening to erupt, except that sweat pours out instead of lava. Heed the experts to sail smoothly through these turbulent times. The change before the change – perimenopause Our expert: Dr Alka Gupta, obstetrician and gynaecologist at AMH “Perimenopause means ‘around menopause’ and describes symptoms caused by normal hormonal fluctuations. It is the period during which a woman’s body makes its natural transition towards permanent infertility,” says Dr Alka. The level of oestrogen – the main female hormone – rises and falls unevenly during perimenopause. Menstrual cycles may lengthen or shorten; ovulation may cease. The most common effects of menopause include irregular and/or heavy bleeding, insomnia, night sweats and/or hot flashes, worsening PMS, migraine, vaginal dryness and abdominal weight gain on the physical front. On the emotional front, changing hormones are linked to increased bouts of anxiety, depression, irritability and intense mood swings. Many women have experienced chest pain or palpitations from their hormonal imbalance. These symptoms differ for every woman, causing a lot of confusion, anxiety and frustration. “Essentially the symptoms are similar to menopause, except that in the premenopausal phase a lady can still get pregnant,” the expert points out. Sometimes, the effects of stress can be confused with perimenopause. For example, children leaving home, changes in relationships or careers, or the death or illness of parents can cause similar symptoms. On the other hand, genuine symptoms may be easy to brush off as PMS. A blood examination showing low oestrogen and progesterone levels and, as a result, a higher presence of FSH can be an indicator of whether a woman is in perimenopause, although this should not be the only measure for diagnosis. This transition begins several years before menopause. It usually starts in a woman’s forties, but can manifest in her thirties or even earlier.
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