Menopause

HORMONAL TRANSITION

During menopause, the cyclical function of the ovaries, which produce the female body's hormones (estrogens and progestins), ceases. This marks the beginning of a time in a woman's life colloquially referred to as "the menopause." This expression paraphrases very well what happens during this time: It is a phase of hormonal change in the female body, similar to puberty or even pregnancy. Menopause is a phase in which the body changes and needs support.
 

THE END OF MENOPAUSE

The menopause is also completed at some point. It is not possible to predict exactly when this point in time will be reached for an individual woman. For most women, menopause begins around the age of 50 (+/- 2 years). The changeover phase is completed in the mid to late 50s. Not all women experience this transition phase as something negative and highly stressful, associated with complaints such as hot flashes or sleep disturbances. If this is the case, the transition phase can be eased and any discomfort that may occur can be eliminated.
 

INFLUENCE OF MENOPAUSE ON THE BODY

However, the estrogen deficiency that starts during menopause does not only result in discomfort that passes after a few years. It can also have a significant impact on other organ systems - such as skin and hair, bone metabolism, cardiovascular system or the brain. Osteoporosis in older and elderly women, for example, is often caused by this estrogen deficiency.

CAUSES OF MENOPAUSE

The causes of physical changes during menopause can be described as follows: Estrogen production by the ovaries is involved in a complicated hormonal regulatory mechanism controlled by the diencephalon, the pituitary gland (hypophysis), and the woman's ovaries (gonads).

After the ovaries have provided a fertilizable egg every month since the onset of sexual maturity, this ability expires with age. This time is reached earlier in one woman and later in another. The first, measurable sign of this change in hormone balance after age 40 is a decline in progesterone production due to delayed or absent ovulation. Later than progesterone production - around age 45 - estrogen production also declines.

Decrease in the production of the two most important female sex hormones with increasing age.

SELF-ACTIVITIES MENOPAUSE

THE WOMAN IS HERSELF

In addition to hormone replacement therapy with medication, you can also do a lot for yourself to keep yourself in good mental and physical condition. Do what you enjoy: pursue your hobbies, interests and inclinations and give your life content that satisfies and fills you. Rediscover the world for yourself - maybe now is the time!
 

NUTRITION

Your diet should be balanced. As you surely know, this means: lots of salad and vegetables and little fat, especially little animal fats. With regard to your bone metabolism, it certainly makes sense to add milk and dairy products to your diet now at the latest, as they contain calcium, which is urgently needed for bone metabolism. Here, too, you should make sure to choose low-fat dairy products.
 

EXERCISE

Apart from the fun of exercise, which makes everyday ailments fade into the background, regular gymnastics is important for maintaining physical well-being and mobility. Gymnastics improves blood circulation, stimulates the function of all important organs and is important for toned abdominal and pelvic muscles and their elasticity. It trains the muscles and stabilizes the bones. This applies to any age.