Healthy Lifestyle

When she was 48, Elena Tan started to experience intermittent hot flushes throughout the day. She also started to perspire profusely.

So much so that in a day, Elena could easily change her clothes six times because they became drenched with perspiration.

It was frustrating and very uncomfortable, she recalled. Initially, she sought medical advice from an endocrinologist who ruled out thyroid, as women with hyperthyroid could also suffer from excessive perspiration.

She sought a second opinion, and this time round, the doctor confirmed that she was experiencing menopausal symptoms.

According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that by 2025, 1.1 billion women will be 50 years and above, and an unprecedented number of these women can expect to live for several decades after reaching menopause.

That is why there is an urgent need to dispel commonly held myths about menopause, and to provide accurate information to women so they can better understand the symptoms of menopause.

Today, World Menopause Day is recognised around the world. The aim is to remind all healthcare providers to educate women about menopause so they are in a better position to make a well-informed decision about their health.

Managing the transition

Women normally experience menopause between 45 and 55 years of age. In Singapore, menopause typically happens around the age of 51.

Around the time when a woman stops menstruating ? menopause is the last menses ? she may experience symptoms of hormonal changes in her body.

This is perimenopause or the transition period.

Postmenopause refers to the years after menopause is confirmed (12 months period free after the last menses).

Though these are natural phases of life, there seems to be a stigma that women will lose their fertility and femininity with the onset of menopause, said Dr Chua Yang, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist and director of A Clinic for Women.

But while most women manage the transition well without many symptoms, “for some women, the symptoms may be agonising”, said Dr Chua.

Like Elena.

The 57-year-old homemaker experienced hot flushes and excessive perspiration throughout the day. Elena could not consume hot soups or hot drinks, and whenever she became angry or sad, the perspiration increased.

“At one point, I felt like I was raining sweat from my forehead,” she said. Elena could also not remain in any place for a long time without a fan or an air-conditioner. “I had to install two fans in my kitchen, and four in my living room just so that I could remain in a cooling environment all the time,” she said.

But women should not have to suffer from the symptoms, particularly if these affect their lifestyles or relationships, said Dr Chua, as there are many options for relief from such ailments.

Treatments

There are currently many different options for managing menopause symptoms, such as lifestyle modifications, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and natural remedies. Dr Chua, for instance, actively encourages her patients to try various lifestyle modifications first.

For example, not consuming hot and spicy food, staying in cooler places or taking cool showers can help relieve the discomfort of hot flushes.

Meditating can also help to calm irritability. Regular exercises will help maintain good heart and bone health and they can also alleviate the mood, and by “sweating it out”, can help cool the body down as well.

While HRT is a known treatment option, it may not be suitable for all, although some will need to consider it to help them through a difficult transition.

The current opinion, based on recent studies, is that women could start HRT if they have moderate to severe menopause symptoms ? but only after detailed risk assessment by their doctors, said Dr Chua.

In Elena’s case, upon her doctor’s prescription, she took hormone tablets for three months.

But she did not take too well to the tablets, and asked to try another type of hormonal tablet. About six to seven months later, her perspiration improved “by 50 per cent and I only had to change clothes three to four times a day”, she said.

Another treatment option is the use of natural remedies that offer support for the management of menopausal symptoms.

One such botanical remedy is Nutrafem, a natural phytoestrogenic supplement that helps to manage mild symptoms and discomfort commonly associated with menopause.

Treatment options are many, so women do have help to manage their menopausal symptoms.