Menopause is not a disease. It corresponds to the cessation of ovarian function, thus the end of ovulation and the drying up of ovarian hormones (estrogen and progesterone).
It is often feared because of the physiological transformations it operates. Multiple disorders can appear but it is possible to stop them and find a balance in the long term.
What is menopause?
Menopause does not happen overnight. It occurs after a period of hormonal fluctuations that lasts four years on average: perimenopause . It is this stage that is the most uncomfortable, and not the menopause in itself.
The ovaries are still active, but they have jolts that disrupt the hormonal cycles and disrupt the body. The rules become irregular, sometimes abundant, sometimes minimal, sometimes downright invisible. All are pre-menopausal symptoms .
"We do not talk about menopause until the rules have not appeared for at least a year, " says Professor Patrick Lopes, gynecologist at the University Hospital of Nantes and president of the Gemvi (Study Group on menopause and hormonal aging) .
Menopause: at what age?
Menopause occurs around age 51 on average, but each woman's story is different. Some are menopausal around age 45, others, in the case of late menopause , after age 55.
A menopause is said to be early when it occurs before age 40. Only 4% of women are concerned. The causes are varied: removal of the ovaries, pelvic radiotherapy to treat cancer, malnutrition ...
"The age of puberty, the number of children, the use of a contraceptive or the follow-up of a medically assisted procreation treatment (LDC) have no influence on the age of arrival of the menopause, "says Dr. Florence Tremollières, head of the Menopause Center at Toulouse University Hospital.
In contrast, smoking plays a role. American researchers have shown that smoking is a menopause accelerator . According to their study published at the end of 2015, the ovaries stopped their activity 18 months earlier in large smokers (25 cigarettes / day) and 22 months earlier in those who smoked before the age of 15 years.
Signs of menopause and associated disorders
The hormonal deficiency caused by menopause is accompanied by physical disorders whose intensity varies according to women. Since the center of control of ovarian activity is located in the same region of the brain as the temperature control center, hot flashes and night sweats are common. Three out of four women suffer as early as 45 years old.
Estrogen deficiency also induces vaginal dryness, urinary problems (risk of leaks and increased infections), sleep disturbances , fatigue , lack of concentration , joint pain and a gradual decrease in bone density. This period may also be associated with some weight gain. Many women are then looking for slimming methods to lose weight at menopause.
When disorders affect the quality of life too much, talk to your GP or gynecologist. Menopause is not taboo. There are treatments that can relieve symptoms well and live serenely menopause.
