Menopause symptoms are especially tough for young female executives, new research shows.
Menopause is a natural biological process, not a medical illness. And today menopause doesn't mean the end of youth or of sexuality. Several generations ago, few women lived beyond menopause. Today, a woman may spend as much as half of her life after menopause.
Insomnia, night sweats and daytime hot flashes were reported as the most vexing menopause symptoms, and 56 per cent said they dealt with symptoms daily. Nearly eight out of 10 reported mental or emotional symptoms such as forgetfulness and irritability. About half of the women report such menopause symptoms as lack of sexual desire and painful intercourse due to vaginal dryness during menopause.
That is why the emotional well-being and romantic relationships are ranked as the two areas most affected by menopause symptoms, ahead of professional life, said Dr. James Simon, a gynecologist at George Washington University in Washington, who helped design the survey of the National Association of Female Executives sponsored by the maker of a menopause drug.
Plenty of earlier studies have examined how menopause symptoms affect women in general, said Simon, but "a generation ago, there weren't enough female executives to bother" doing a survey of that group.
He said menopause symptoms may be more prevalent because of the growing obesity problem.
"Fatter women are more likely to have hot flashes than thinner women," he explained.
Amy Niles, president of the National Women's Health Resource Center in Red Bank, N.J., said past educational campaigns about menopause have not targeted women in the workforce.
"I think we've made great improvements over the last few years in creating awareness that this is a significant issue" that women should discuss with their doctors, Niles said.
Dr. Lauren Streicher, a gynecologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago and author of The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy, which addresses menopause, said her lower-income, less-educated patients are more likely to accept the strains of menopause as just another big bump in life.
Her well-educated, professional patients are more likely to seek help and often complain about lack of sleep, which leaves them less motivated and less focused at work, she said. "This has an incredible impact on their ability to function in the corporate world."
Streicher said many women were confused and scared of hormone therapy after federal researchers reported in 2002 that estrogen-progestin pills sold as Prempro could increase risks for heart attacks, breast cancer and strokes. Many doctors still recommend short-term hormone treatment.
Fortunately, many of the menopause symptoms are temporary. Take these steps to help reduce or prevent menopause symptoms effects:
1) If you're experiencing hot flashes, get regular exercise, dress in layers and try to pinpoint what triggers your hot flashes. For many women, triggers may include hot beverages, spicy foods, alcohol, hot weather and even a warm room.
2) For vaginal dryness or discomfort with intercourse, use over-the-counter water-based vaginal lubricants (Astroglide, K-Y Jelly), moisturizers (Replens, Vagisil) or vaginal estrogen. Staying sexually active also helps to beat many menopause symptoms.
3) Optimize your sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, avoid caffeinated beverages and exercise right before bedtime. Practicing relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, guided imagery and progressive muscle relaxation, can be very helpful.
4) Pelvic floor muscle exercises, called Kegel exercises, can improve some forms of urinary incontinence, one of common menopause symptoms.
5) Eat a balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains and that limits saturated fats, oils and sugars. Aim for 1,500 milligrams of calcium and 400 to 800 international units of vitamin D a day.
6) Smoking increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and a range of other health problems. It may also increase hot flashes and bring on earlier menopause symptoms. It is never too late to benefit from stopping smoking.
7) Exercise regularly to beat many menopause symptoms. Get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days to protect against cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and other conditions associated with aging. More vigorous exercise for longer periods may provide further benefit and is particularly important if you are trying to lose weight. Exercise can also help reduce stress. Try a combination of weight-bearing aerobic activities — such as walking, jogging and dancing — and strength training exercises.
8) Prevent menopause symptoms by checking your health often with mammograms, Pap tests, lipid level testing and other screening tests.
Other news
