What Is Menopause?
When a woman has not had a menstrual cycle (period) for 12 months, she has reached menopause. It is said to be the end of menstruation permanently. Menopause is a climacteric period process marked by a decrease in ovarian activity, a decrease in fertility rate, and a variety of symptoms such as irregular menstrual periods. Most women reach menopause in their 40s or 50s. However, this varies from person to person. Numerous factors influence the age at which menopause begins.
What Is Perimenopause?
Perimenopause usually begins in a woman's forties. She may have irregular, heavier, or lighter menstrual cycles. It might take two to eight years to move from perimenopause to menopause. The amounts of hormones generated by the ovaries drop during perimenopause. A change in a woman's menstrual cycle is usually the first indication.
What Is Premature Menopause?
Premature Menopause- When a woman reaches her menopause in her mid-40s, it is considered to be premature menopause. Premature menopause can occur as a result of surgical removal of the ovaries, certain medical treatments, or disorders.
What Is Delayed Menopause?
A delayed or late-onset menopause is when a woman reaches menopause after age of 55 (an average menopausal age). Menopause occurs when a woman's menstruation ends permanently. By the age of 51 or 52, the majority of women have reached menopause. This is, however, an average, and ages vary. Some women experience delayed menopause (late-onset menopause) in their late 50s or 60s. The timing is greatly influenced by genetics, lifestyle, menstrual cycle patterns, and medications.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Delayed Menopause?
Menopause may be on the radar for women showing signs of perimenopause. The first signs are menstrual cycles that are lighter or heavier, skipped or irregular.
Other symptoms that appear as perimenopause progresses include-
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Dry vagina.
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Fatigue.
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Headaches.
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Insomnia (sleeplessness).
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Weight gain.
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Low libido (decreased sex drive).
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Night sweats.
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Hot flashes.
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Mood swings.
After menopause, insomnia (difficulty sleeping), hot flashes, and vaginal dryness can last for years.
What Are the Causes of Delayed Menopause?
The following causes influence the age at which a woman enters menopause-
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Alcohol Consumption- According to some studies, regular alcohol consumption is linked to delayed menopause. More research is needed into the effects of different types and doses of alcohol on the onset of menopause.
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Smoking- Smokers go through menopause a few years earlier than nonsmokers. The ovaries stop functioning and produce less estrogen as a result of particles in cigarette smoke. Women smoking more than 14 cigarettes per day are almost three years ahead of nonsmokers in reaching menopause.
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Birth Control Pills (Oral Contraceptives)- The use of oral contraceptives (birth control) has been linked to delayed menopause. It is unclear whether the delay is due to the ability of the pill to hide symptoms or whether the process is genuinely delayed. Some doctors believe that rather than causing the delay, the tablet makes the transition easier or less visible.
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Food- A variety of foods might influence menopausal onset. The following are some examples of how lifelong food habits may affect the onset of menopause-
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People who eat meat are more prone than vegetarians to have delayed menopause.
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Vitamin B6 and zinc supplementation may postpone the onset of menopause by six months.
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Carbohydrates like refined pasta and rice have been linked to an earlier onset of menopause.
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The consumption of oily fish and fresh legumes may postpone the start of menopause by 3.3 years.
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Menopause may be delayed if the diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, and protein.
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What Are the Risk Factors Associated with Delayed Menopause?
The following factors can be responsible for late-onset or delayed menopause in women-
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Mother's Menopause- Genetics has a role in the beginning or delaying menopause. This is especially important if the mother went through menopause naturally rather than as a result of surgery or sickness.
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Obesity- Women who are overweight or obese have a 50 % higher chance of late menopause than other women. Estrogen is produced and stored in fat tissue, which delays its depletion leading to delayed menopause.
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Pregnancy- A woman's timing and number of pregnancies may cause a delay at the beginning of menopause.
Pregnancy can alter the onset of menopause in the following ways,
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Having a first pregnancy or one of the children at a later age.
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Multiple pregnancies.
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The Pattern of Menstruation- Women who started menstruation late, had irregular periods for a long time, or have naturally high estrogen levels may have later menopause.
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Other Risk Factors-
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Gestational age.
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Use of alcohol or tobacco.
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Physical activities.
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Unilateral oophorectomy (surgical removal of one ovary).
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Serum lead levels.
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High consumption of polyunsaturated fats.
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Low socioeconomic status and level of education.
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What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Delayed Menopause?
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Advantages of Delayed Menopause-
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Delayed menopause and a longer reproductive lifespan may lead to a longer life expectancy.
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Women who wait until later to enter menopause have a lower risk of heart disease and stroke.
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Late-menopausal women are less likely to develop osteoporosis, have stronger bones, and have fewer bone fractures.
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Disadvantages of Delayed Menopause-
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Women with late-onset menopause are more likely to develop uterine and breast cancer.
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When Is It Recommended to Seek Help From Healthcare Providers in Case of Delayed Menopause?
It is important to seek medical help if a woman is experiencing menstrual periods in her late 50s or early 60s. The woman may be asked about her menstrual cycle and symptoms during the session. This will assist the doctor in determining whether or not she is in menopause. They may also test her blood for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which aids in the regulation of the menstrual cycle, or estradiol, the most common form of estrogen (primary sex hormone in women). As FSH levels change over time, these tests may need to be repeated. During perimenopause, FSH levels in the blood fluctuate initially, then drop after menopause.
Conclusion:
Although there is no set age when menopause should begin, most women enter it in their mid-40s to mid-50s. Early or premature menopause refers to menopause that happens before a woman reaches her mid-40s. Doctors call it late-onset menopause if a woman is 55 or older and has not reached her menopause yet.
