One woman glides smoothly through menopause, the other sighs and sweats. What can you do against hot flashes, headaches and all the other discomforts of this new phase? Two experts provide useful tips that even your partner can get started with!
Menopause may not be a popular topic of conversation, but it is Mother Nature who decides it. Every woman experiences it around the age of fifty. Yet there are many misunderstandings about it. Did you know, for example, that menopause officially only lasts 24 hours, during the very last menstrual period? Of course, you don’t know this at the time, that day is determined once you have not had your period for a year. Menopause is part of ‘the menopause’, a period of several years that can be accompanied by moodiness, hot flashes, fatigue and other physical discomforts. After all, your body is looking for a new hormonal balance, and that leads to peaks and valleys of estrogen and progesterone in the blood.
Contrary to popular belief, this instability does not always resolve after the last menstrual period. “You may still have to deal with hot flashes for months afterward. That is very normal,” says Liesbeth Gijsel, science journalist and author of ‘Fuck the Menopause: What No One Tells You About Menopause’. “In my book I also pay attention to lesser-known complaints such as head, muscle and joint pain. These are often not recognized by doctors as menopausal, causing women to live with pain for years or to be misdiagnosed.”
You evolve from a fertile to a wise woman.
– Leen Steyaert, menopause consultant
Quit smoking
Menopause affects the entire body, says Leen Steyaert, specialized nurse, menopause consultant and author of several books about menopause such as ‘Menokilos’. “The skin loosens, the bones become more porous and the fat composition changes. Recent research even indicates that there is a link with dementia.”
Quite a sandwich, but don’t worry: a change in lifestyle will help you tackle many ailments. By exercising and doing yoga, for example. Or by quitting smoking. “That will reduce sweating a lot,” says Gijsel. “Some women also avoid spicy food, coffee, alcohol or sweets. Keep a diary in which you record what you eat and what you feel. This way you can identify which foods trigger complaints.”
Another tip is to reduce stress. “Live at a slower pace,” says Steyaert. “Women are much busier than before. They have a career and do the housework at the same time. That creates tension, especially when around the age of fifty you have to worry about caring for your grandchildren. Dare to ask for adjustments at work: such as different work clothes, a quiet room or extra rest breaks.”
If this does not help, you can try phytoestrogens. “These are estrogens that are found in plants such as hops,” says Gijsel. “They are sold as a dietary supplement and are said to help, although not much research has been done on this yet. They can be obtained without a prescription but there are risks involved, so discuss it with your GP first.”
Keep a diary in which you record what you eat and what you feel.
– Liesbeth Gijsel, author of ‘Fuck the menopause’
Hormone therapy
A more powerful remedy is hormone therapy. There are two types of these. Therapy with synthetic hormones, usually in pill form, can lead to an increased risk of thrombosis, embolism and breast cancer. The variant with bioidentical hormones is much safer and can be followed for a longer period of time. Complaints such as hot flashes are combated with estrogen and progesterone, which also protect against conditions such as osteoporosis.
“One of the most important tips is to talk about it with your housemates so that they can also take it into account,” says Steyaert. “You are evolving from a fertile to a wise woman. Put less emphasis on caring for others, dare to say no and choose for yourself.”
Gijsel agrees. “Pass on books or podcasts about menopause to your housemates. ‘Hotfliers’ by Elles de Bruyn and ‘Wildevrouw’ by Eva De Groote are recommended. This way they gain more insight and understanding. They can relieve you by taking over tasks from you. That’s already a lot.”
2024-03-06 00:42:30
#Suffering #menopause #tips #partner
