To warn of the impact of menopause on women’s lives, the WHO (World Health Organization) has designated October 18 as World Menopause Day. One in five women have experienced some form of public embarrassment due to menopausal symptoms, according to this year’s Global Hygiene and Health Survey. In addition, many say they feel less productive during this period.

Regular exercise can help relieve menopause symptoms — Photo: Pexels/Rodnae/Productions/Disclosure/ND

The survey, which is conducted every two years by a healthcare company, involved 15,000 people. Brazil ranks 5th in the list of countries most informed on this issue, behind only India, Colombia, Mexico and South Africa.

Also according to the study, 58% of women said they had knowledge on this issue, against 37% of men. However, Brazilians tend to avoid talking about menopause: 9% of respondents do not usually discuss this topic.

It is estimated that by 2025 more than one billion people will experience one of the phases associated with menopause. Although it is a natural part of life, it is still viewed with preconceptions related to fertility, sexuality and aging.

On average, participants began experiencing menopausal symptoms when they were 46 years old and had about five signs that they thought were associated with menopause.

Among those who felt something, 69% had hot flashes, 43% reported irregular periods and 40% reported irritability. Few people know, but experts say that there are more than 30 symptoms associated with menopause.

Today, women in their 50s are often at the peak of their professional careers. The survey showed that among those who were already in menopause, 80% were employed, but only 8% got the opportunity to take a vacation for a certain period.

Perception of symptoms

According to endocrinologist Marisa Lazaretti Castro of Escola Paulista de Medicina, Unifesp (Federal University of São Paulo), many women are still unaware of most menopausal and postmenopausal symptoms.

Symptoms include dryness of the mucous membranes, especially of the eyes and vagina, hair loss, mood swings, depression, and insomnia.

“It is important for women to know that, in the absence of contraindications, hormone replacement therapy can be carried out without fear,” he warns.

According to the doctor, hormone replacement therapy is very important because it not only helps prevent osteoporosis, but also helps to reduce symptoms that significantly affect a woman’s quality of life.

“The main contraindications for hormone replacement therapy are a history of breast cancer and a tendency to thrombosis. Of course, each woman must be evaluated individually,” she explains.

Menopause begins about five years before menopause, when the production of sex hormones begins to decline. Menopause is the name given to the date of the last menstrual period, which marks the end of a woman’s reproductive cycle.

Typically, this can happen between the ages of 45 and 55, varies greatly from woman to woman, and is not very predictable. During menopause, there is a decrease in estrogen levels, an important hormone for bones, and this is when osteoporosis can appear.

“The basis of prevention is regular exercise, a diet rich in nutrients, especially calcium, in addition to vitamin D, which is important for osteometabolism. Hormone replacement therapy also helps,” the doctor concludes.