Menopause: Managing Symptoms in Your 40s and 50s
By Fehmida Hospital & Fertility Centre
Hot flushes, poor sleep and mood changes are common around menopause. Here is what is happening and what can help.
What menopause is
Menopause is confirmed when you have had no period for 12 months in a row. In India it most often happens in the late 40s or early 50s. The years leading up to it, called perimenopause, are when most symptoms begin, because hormone levels rise and fall unevenly.
Common symptoms
- Hot flushes and night sweats
- Irregular, heavier or lighter periods
- Poor sleep and tiredness
- Mood changes, anxiety or low mood
- Vaginal dryness and discomfort during intercourse
- Joint aches
What helps
- Regular exercise, including walking and strength training
- Cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and spicy food if they trigger flushes
- Layered, breathable clothing and a cool bedroom
- Calcium and vitamin D for bone health, as advised by your doctor
- Medical treatments, including hormone therapy where it is suitable for you
When to see a doctor
See your gynaecologist if symptoms affect your daily life, if periods become very heavy, or if you have any bleeding after your periods have stopped for a year. Bleeding after menopause always needs to be checked.
Read more: Menopause care · Abnormal uterine bleeding
This article is general information, not a diagnosis. Speak to a doctor about your own symptoms.
