Going through the change was always stigmatized for women as they got older, but menopause is just a natural way of life, and like a wrinkle, nothing to be afraid of. While this marks the end of regular menstrual cycles, menopause comes with physical and emotional symptoms that can interrupt your way of life. These menopause symptoms can stretch out for any given amount of time. We’ll take a look at why this may linger a bit longer for some women, as well as ways to curb these issues.
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Symptoms of Menopause
If you have gone a year without your period, this is when menopause is often diagnosed. Menopausal women have found that some symptoms develop before their onset, alerting to the oncoming change. This includes:
- Irregular periods
- Vaginal dryness
- Hot flashes
- Chills
- Night sweats
- Sleep problems
- Mood and hormone changes
These menopausal symptoms can vary among women. It’s all depending on estrogen levels and hormonal imbalances that can trigger greater severity or length. Skipping periods is the common and expected alarm for menopause and perimenopause. Headaches, hair loss, and weight gain are also commonly linked to its onset due to the effect of estrogen and lesser levels of the hormone. Naturally, declining hormone levels can also trigger these symptoms, as well as other prior ailments. Menopause symptoms have begun earlier for women who have undergone procedures to remove their ovaries or have undergone chemotherapy.
What could extend menopause?
Menopause symptoms on average last four years. After years of menopause, you may notice an ebb and flow of symptoms before ultimately entering the postmenopausal phase. Symptoms like hot flashes can run well past the onset of menopause, ranging in severity for the better part of a decade in a present study. The length of hot flashes is dependent on a litany of factors, including weight, the health of the human body, and bone formation. Researchers have found poor bone health and hormone imbalances to trigger early menopause for some women before 45.
In some cases, addressing symptoms and risk factors early on can curb how long they linger. For example, there’s managing vaginal dryness using over-the-counter moisturizers before the need for any prescription intervention. You can actually curb fatigue and sleep problems associated with menopause by avoiding napping during the day and making some dietary adjustments—this including avoiding alcohol, smoking, coffee, and caffeine. The use of bone broth and warm milk to aid sleep is recommended and is a clever way to boost bone metabolism. Be sure to consider foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin D, and antioxidants as well.
Common Treatments
Several treatments range from hormone replacement therapy to over-the-counter supplements designed to help curb the symptoms of menopause. One that has gained in popularity is the use of collagen. Collagen for menopause has been considered an alternative to hormone therapy that some women may rely on to add estrogen or progesterone to curb night sweats and hot flashes. Beyond its link to skin elasticity and avoiding sagging, collagen formation has also promoted stronger hair and nails. The amino acids in collagen are the building blocks of keratin, which stimulates hair and nail growth.
Type I and type III collagen products also help improve joint health through bone absorption of calcium and other vital nutrients. This increases the mineral density of bones. This is especially important for women dealing with complications like osteoporosis as they get older. Hyaluronic acid in such collagen-based products also helps reduce joint pain and inflammation associated with menopause. It’s important to use collagen or any products to treat menopause with the consultation of your primary care physician and/or OB-GYN, bringing up any side effects as well.
