UNDERSTANDING MENOPAUSE

by

Dr. Poonam Godbole

Menopause is a very natural phenomenon occurring in each woman's life. Menopause (meno is month and pausis is stoppage) actually means stopping of the menstrual cycle. Generally menopause occurs anywhere between 40 yrs to 55 yrs of age. When a woman does not get her periods for one year it is considered as menopause. It is called as natural menopause and should be dealt with as normally as possible. The term medical menopause is used for stopping of menses due to surgery such as hysterectomy or cancer treatments. Depending on every woman, menopause is very simple or complicated. It is a phase full of fluctuating hormones and mental changes and needs to be tackled in a proper manner.

The symptoms during this phase are varied. They can have hot flashes which may be mild or which may lead to constant sweating during day and night which becomes very much bothersome. Spotting is another usual symptom; some of them have minimal spotting whereas some women have heavy bleeding. Vaginal dryness and itching sets in and libido (loss of sexual desire) also occurs. Sleep disturbances occur. There are symptoms of joint pain and backache due to the lessening of calcium. Breast atrophy results. Some women may have fornication. Mood disturbance, irritability, depression, anxiety, fatigue, memory loss are also very common. All of the symptoms occur due to the changing hormonal levels.

The treatment for all these symptoms is very much available. Most of the doctors recommend hormone replacement therapy, anti-depressants, blood pressure medicines.

There are homoeopathic remedies which can handle menopause more naturally as hormone replacement therapy can have its own limitations and side effects. Sepia is a very good remedy for menopause. Other remedies like Lachesis, Cimicifuga, Sanguinaria, and Helonias are also very helpful. It is very important to consider the constitutional medicines in these cases as there are dramatic mental symptoms in women during this important phase of life. The remedies should be considered during the perimenopausal stage when actually the hormonal changes begin to make the uterus ready for the second phase of life. The more naturally menopause is treated, best results will be achieved and life will become more easy!!

Dr. Poonam Godbole

B.H.M.S.