Menopause
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Here is an attempt to bust popular myths regarding this phase of a woman’s life and provide valuable directions.
What do you see as menopause?
It is the end of regular menstrual periods followed by a complete cessation of menstruation. It occurs between the ages of 45 to 55. It may happen as early as 35 to 38 years these days or occur as late as 55 to 57 years.
What happens inside the body?
The ovaries or the female gonads are responsible for producing an egg every month that is essential for a woman to conceive. In addition, and the ovaries also secrete the female sex hormones.
During menopause, the ovaries gradually stop performing these functions. So, simply put, it is the end of the reproductive phase of a woman’s life. She can no longer conceive.
It is basically a change in the metabolism of the body. Just as a child grows into an adult and an adult into old age, this is a phase of growing up and changing. It is, by no means, a disease, or a problem. It is part of nature’s cycle of evolution.
What is the real purpose of this?
Apart from the practical purpose of ending the female reproductive phase, menopause serves a particularly important existential purpose for women. It is time to look inward and try to find her real identity, to reflect and introspect.
The actual purpose of being born as a human being is to realise your true identity. The female body assists every woman through these physical changes.
In the preceding eventful years, a woman may identify herself as a lady, a wife, a mother, a professional, etc. But during this phase, she has the opportunity to question these identities. With the right attitude and support, it is essentially the best part of life in terms of progress.
Why is menopause troublesome for some, but not all women?
In the olden days, menopause was never a big issue. It did not cause extremely disturbing physical and emotional symptoms. Even today, in some parts of the world and some races, it does not.
As mentioned earlier, it is a cycle of nature. The more you have been in tune with nature, the lesser the trouble you face. Women who have always used the days of periods for observing a ritual of silence and introspection along with giving the body well deserved rest, following the ayurvedic rules during a period, have little or no problems. However, when the body or subtle suggestions of the inner self are ignored for long, menopausal women could suffer during this transition.
What are the common complaints during menopause?
A change as significant as this, causes a variety of symptoms both physically and emotionally.
Physical symptoms:
- Irregular cycles with a variable flow which may sometimes occur too soon or sometimes late. There may sometimes be heavy flow and at times just spotting.
- Feeling abnormally hot or cold including night sweats
- Sleep disturbances
- Light to moderate body aches
- Loss of scalp hair
- Abnormal growth of facial hair
- Loss of libido
- Vaginal dryness is commonly seen, but at times increased white discharge happens too
- Painful intercourse
- Changes in skin
- Fatigue
- Digestive changes, etc.
Emotional symptoms:
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Decreased memory
If you are suffering from these disturbing symptoms, it is best and even essential to consult an ayurvedic doctor. While these are temporary complaints, there is no need to suffer when effective solutions are available, which will not only ease these but also show you the right path for the future.
What should be done during and after menopause?
Menopause, being only a natural change in the body, does not need many medicines. But, when it causes too much discomfort, supportive herbs and treatments are important.
The ovum or the female egg is the seventh and last dhatu in the body. It performs the function of overall health and wellbeing, too, in addition to reproduction. This dhatu is nourished during this transitory phase by Ayurvedic rasayan and vajikaran treatments.
Diet and lifestyle play an equally or even more significant role than medicines. Even if you have ignored health for many years, it is high time to get the correct information now.
Remember, taking calcium supplements does not mean being health conscious! Meet a qualified ayurvedic doctor to chart out a diet plan and lifestyle suitable for your body.
Why should Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) not even be considered?
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), as the name itself suggests, is the process of replacing hormones. Why would you do that?
Menopause is not a condition of deficiency by any means. It is a natural change in the body. If nature intended that hormones be maintained in the female body, why would menopause occur in the first place? What purpose do we have in going against this natural phenomenon by stuffing the body with artificial hormones? If this simple logic is not enough to put you off considering this form of treatment, then read along for its various side effects and lack of any real advantage to you.
Two of the common reasons to start HRT, according to doctors, is to prevent osteoporosis and heart disease in the post-menopausal period.
- To begin with, osteoporosis is likely, years after menopause, not immediately. Any patient on HRT is unable to continue treatment for more than three months, due to side effects like nausea, vomiting, bloating, headaches, weight gain, sore breasts, uterine cramps, etc.
- Secondly, there is no evidence to show HRT prevents calcium loss from bone. Even if it does, it only lasts as long as you continue the pills. All calcium is lost soon after discontinuing treatment. Estrogen is known to prevent cell death.
This is the logic provided for its use in osteoporosis prevention. This leads to abnormal growth of uterine cells, uterine hyperplasia – a precancerous condition of the uterus – simply because, the interference by providing artificial hormones.
About heart disease, studies clearly show that the risk of heart disease actually increases by HRT. It is just crony capitalism that drives manufacturing and prescription of such drugs.
What should ideally be done to prevent osteoporosis and heart disease?
Not only for these two issues, but the following changes are essential for overall good health after menopause.
Calcium is mainly lost from bones due to high protein non-vegetarian diets. Hence, the single most significant change needed to prevent bone damage is to turn vegetarian.
Coffee, tea, caffeine, alcohol, smoking, sugar, salt, diuretics, and antacids are other factors causing calcium loss. Strike these off your diet as much as possible. A proper, balanced diet, according to your prakruti and supportive ayurvedic medicines, is all that you need.
Ayurved says the one who wants to protect his heart, should stay away from factors causing sadness. The truth is, no outer situations can cause you sadness. Counselling and emotional stability, meditation are the tools that help you prevent this. Of course, this does not mean that heart disease is only caused by depression, but in the menopausal years, it is significant.
Do not let a natural phenomenon derail your physical or mental wellbeing. There is help available so that you can handle menopausal changes positively and enter the golden phase of your life confidently.
Speak to a lady ayurvedic doctor in Navi Mumbai or seek an appointment with a female ayurvedic gynaecologist in Mumbai by contacting us.