Menopause: Symptoms and the Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Menopause ko silence nahi, support chahiye. Menopause is a natural stage of life, yet many women go through it quietly, putting up with poor sleep, hot flushes and mood swings because they think it is just something to endure. This World Menopause Day guide explains the symptoms you may notice, the long-term health points that matter, the questions to take to your doctor, and when to see a menopause doctor in Mumbai.

What menopause actually is

Menopause is confirmed when you have gone twelve months in a row without a period. It usually happens in the late 40s or early 50s, though the timing varies from woman to woman. The years before it are called perimenopause. This is when hormone levels begin to swing and change, periods become irregular, and many women first notice symptoms. Perimenopause can last several years.

Menopause symptoms: what you may notice

Every woman's experience is different. Some have very few symptoms, and others find them disruptive. Common ones include:

• Periods that become irregular, heavier, lighter or further apart.
• Hot flushes and night sweats.
• Trouble sleeping, or waking often through the night.
• Mood changes, irritability, anxiety or feeling low.
• Difficulty concentrating, or forgetfulness sometimes called brain fog.
• Vaginal dryness, discomfort during sex or lower desire.
• Needing to pass urine more often, or urinary infections.
• Aches in the joints and muscles.
• Weight gain, especially around the middle, and changes in skin and hair.

These symptoms can also have other causes, such as thyroid problems or anaemia, which is one reason to see a doctor and not assume.

You don't have to suffer in silence

Many menopausal symptoms can be eased, and there are options for most of them. Feeling tired, low or unlike yourself is not a personal failing, and it is not something you must simply put up with. The first step is to talk about it, with your family and with a doctor.

Long-term health: bones and heart

Falling oestrogen affects more than hot flushes. After menopause, bones can lose density faster, which raises the risk of fractures later. The risk of heart disease also rises, and blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol can change. This is why menopause is a good time for a health check-up and a plan for the years ahead.

• Ask about checking your blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol and, if appropriate, bone health.
• Include weight-bearing activity, such as walking, and strength exercises that suit you.
• Get enough calcium and vitamin D through food, and take supplements only if your doctor advises them.
• Avoid smoking and limit alcohol.

Questions to ask your doctor

• Are my symptoms due to menopause, or could something else be involved?
• Which tests do I need, if any? Menopause is often recognised from your age and symptoms, and tests are used in some situations.
• What are my options for my symptoms, and what are the benefits and risks of each for me?
• How can I protect my bones and heart as I go through this stage?
• Which changes should I report straight away, and which are expected?
• What can I do myself about sleep, exercise, food and stress?

Treatment options in general

The right approach depends on your symptoms, your health and your preferences. Options can include lifestyle measures, treatments that do not use hormones, local treatment for vaginal dryness, and menopausal hormone therapy, which suits some women and not others. Your doctor weighs the benefits and risks for you, based on your age, your history and your family history. Please don't start, stop or change any hormone treatment on your own, and be cautious about supplements and "natural cures" that promise to fix everything.

Warning signs that need attention

• Any bleeding after twelve months without a period.
• Very heavy bleeding, or bleeding between periods that is new for you.
• Symptoms that are severely affecting your sleep, work or relationships.
• Feeling persistently low, anxious or hopeless.

Seek medical help immediately if you have chest pain, sudden breathlessness, very heavy bleeding, severe pain, or thoughts of harming yourself.

When to see a menopause doctor in Mumbai

Book a consultation if your symptoms are affecting your daily life, if you are unsure whether you are in perimenopause, or if you simply want a plan for your health from here on. You can read more about our approach to menopause care and preventive check-ups.

Apni bhi suno. If you are in Ghatkopar East or nearby, you can book a consultation online or call 081043 74386.

Disclaimer: This article is for general education and is not a substitute for personal medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk to your doctor about your own symptoms and health, and do not start, stop or change any medicine or hormone treatment without medical advice.