The years leading up to menopause and the process itself, can bring changes to the body as well as affect one’s mind and mental health. Understanding it paves the way for a healthier and more positive experience for women everywhere.
Menopause can cause more symptoms than hot flushes alone.
IN society, discussions surrounding menopause and ageing are often relegated to the sidelines, leaving many women unprepared for the physical, emotional and mental changes that accompany this natural life cycle.
Classed as perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause, the menopause experience is unique for every individual going through it. Understanding it paves the way for a healthier and more positive experience for women everywhere.
In conjunction with the International Women’s Day celebration this month, Sunway Medical Centre Velocity (SMCV) consultant obstetrician, gynaecologist and fertility specialist Dr Farah Leong Rahman and consultant psychiatrist Dr Ryan Tee Chun Keat shares the intricacies of menopause as well as shed light on the connection between women’s health and mental well-being.
Understanding menopause
Menopause is a natural biological process that marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years, characterised by the cessation of menstruation and the decline in the production of reproductive hormones, particularly oestrogen and progesterone by the ovaries. This transition typically occurs in women around the age of 45 to 55 as a natural part of the ageing process.
Pointing out that symptoms associated with menopause vary from person to person, Dr Leong says: “By definition, menopause occurs when a woman has stopped her period for at least 12 months.
“Vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats are some of the most common symptoms. Some women also complained of joint pain and tiredness.
“Genitourinary symptoms such as vaginal dryness leading to painful sex, low libido, vaginal irritation and urinary tract infections are also very common.”
These symptoms are caused due to the fluctuating levels of oestrogen and progesterone, which create imbalances in hormone levels.
Dr Leong advises those who are experiencing menopausal symptoms to not suffer in silence and to seek help as it can affect their quality of life.
She adds that with the onset of menopause, there is also an increased risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases.
Dr Leong mentions that the symptoms can occur a few years before one reaches menopause, and even once they have reached menopause, they may still have these symptoms. However, these symptoms can improve over time.
She advises those who are experiencing menopausal symptoms to not suffer in silence and to seek help as it can affect their quality of life.
“Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is offered to women who are suffering from menopausal symptoms.”
Highlighting that MHT is the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms and is generally safe, Dr Leong says it also aids in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis.
“MHT has been around for many years. When it first started, a lot of women were afraid of the risk of getting breast cancer, but in fact, the risk of breast cancer is very small.
“It is crucial for people to know that MHT is generally safe and the decision to take MHT should be tailored based on the women’s benefits and risks.”
Psychological factors
The years leading up to menopause and the process itself, can bring changes to the body as well as affect one’s mind and mental health.
Dr Tee states that several psychological factors can affect a woman’s mental health during menopause, including the impact on neurotransmitter changes in the brain.
He explains that a person’s mental and physical health are closely related to each other.
“Women will often present their physical symptoms to their doctor, but tend to overlook the mental or psychological aspect. The mind and body are connected, therefore if you have physical symptoms, you probably won’t be in a good place mentally either,” he says.
Dr Tee explains that a person’s mental health and physical health are closely related to each other.
He explains that neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, glutamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) play a role in the regulation of mood, sleep, anxiety, thinking, appetite, motivation and even pleasure.
However, these neurotransmitters are affected during the perimenopausal period by the lack of oestrogen and progesterone in the body, which explains some of the mood and cognitive symptoms that a woman experiences.
He believes that increasing awareness about the effects of menopause on a woman’s mind and body is important so that people who are experiencing perimenopausal symptoms are able to make sense of their condition.
Dr Tee also shares that other common psychiatric symptoms of menopause include frequent mood swings, irritability, low mood, increased anxiety and even depression. Medications and psychotherapy can be used to treat female patients who develop mental health conditions during this period.
“In psychotherapy and counselling, we try to provide emotional support to validate the patients’ feelings and experiences.
“Oftentimes, their complaints are brushed off or dismissed as a ‘normal part of every woman’s life’, and these remarks are not helpful.”
Noting that family plays a crucial role for women going through menopause to seek help and support, Dr Tee says: “We have to normalise the idea that it’s okay to talk to people about your problems – especially therapists or doctors – it doesn’t mean that you are crazy or flawed.”
This is why understanding the multifaceted nature of menopause is pivotal for empowering women to navigate this transitional phase. By fostering open dialogue and seeking support from healthcare professionals, women can embark on this journey with confidence and emerge stronger, both physically and mentally.
