As women slowly start progressing towards their fifties, they start approaching their menopausal years. Menopause usually starts anywhere between the age of 45 and 55. In some cases, it may start as early as 40, which is known as early Menopause. If a woman goes without her menses for 12 months consecutively, she has reached Menopause.
In the US alone, over a million women reach Menopause every year. And yet, many are still unprepared to handle this crucial, transitional phase in their lives. In certain cultures and communities, women go through unnecessary pressure because they are made to feel lesser because their childbearing years have come to an end.
And someone simply takes on additional pressure just because they are highly conditioned to believe that their purpose is over because they won’t be able to bear children anymore.
Dr. Karen Pike, who has dedicated her life to helping women go through Menopause with her website Simply Menopause, sheds light on some of the challenges that older women face at this time and talks about how taking care of one’s physical and mental health is absolutely vital around this time to overcome these challenges.
Interview with Dr. Karen Pike
Hello Dr. Pike! We are very happy to have you with us today. Thank you for your time and for sharing your expertise on this crucial topic. So, without further ado, let us dive into this topic.
Question: We all know that Menopause in itself can be very challenging. Do older women face even more health and mental problems during Menopause?
Dr. Pike: Thank you for having me. To answer your question, I must first say that almost all women will go through some common symptoms and face certain issues during Menopause. Some of the most common issues are hot flashes, vaginal dryness, irritability, skin rashes, insomnia, and mood swings.
However, one’s medical history also plays a part here. For example, if someone had struggled with keeping their calcium and Vitamin D levels stable throughout their lives, they will find that their calcium levels may plummet after Menopause.
This could lead to a deficiency, and since Menopause can bring about osteoporosis, the combined effects of menopause and calcium deficiency can increase the chances of bone issues to a great extent.
This is why I cannot emphasize enough the importance of keeping on top of your health checks during this period. In other words, any pre-existing condition that one may have may become worse at this time, and monitoring your health becomes vital.
Question: What kind of issues can one expect during Menopause as one ages?
Dr. Pike: To start with, there will be a visible difference in one’s skin and hair texture. As the estrogen levels in the body start to plummet, the skin will lose its elasticity, and hair will become brittle to an extent. In addition, the body gradually loses collagen naturally at this age, so that will take a toll as well.
That is why it is so important to take good care of yourself at this point. Invest in a regular skin and hair care routine to minimize the effects of Menopause as much as possible.
Besides, you may face other issues like mood swings and insomnia. To tackle these issues, you must meditate and include practices like yoga that help to calm your nervous system. Going to bed at the same time and going to bed early helps improve the circadian rhythm, which helps improve your sleep quality.
It is also natural to feel tired and exhausted all the time during the first stages of Menopause. Hence, it is important to maintain a nutritious diet at all times. Include lots of fruits and vegetables to make up for vitamins and minerals.
Include protein in your diet to increase your muscle mass. Consult a doctor and ask about the supplements you may need around this time, and do not skip them.
Taking care of your holistic health will help you manage the symptoms of Menopause in a much better way. You will not feel so much pressure, and you can take life as it comes.
Question: Do older women face more issues during Menopause?
Dr. Pike: It cannot be said for sure that older women will face more issues during Menopause. Many women who have hit Menopause at 53 or 55 have had it smoother than someone hitting Menopause at 49 or 50. This has got a lot to do with the helpful community that you have around you.
If you feel good and have a ing community, and you do the things you love to keep you busy and occupied, you will not feel the issues of Menopause so acutely. It would be wrong to take on more pressure just because you have hit Menopause at an older age.
Question: Can older women lead a regular, healthy life after Menopause?
Dr. Pike: Yes, absolutely! No matter at what age you hit Menopause, you can always lead a happy and fulfilling life. It is a very erroneous idea that women will face more problems as they age. That is true for people of both genders.
Your natural biology will slowly make certain things a bit more difficult for you, and that has nothing to do with Menopause. You will feel less energetic in your sixties than you did in your thirties! And yet, there are countless examples in modern times where women are living their best lives after they have reached Menopause.
The children are grown up, there are no more cramps to deal with, and you are financially stable at this stage of your life, so you can pretty much go on to do whatever you want. Letting go of limiting beliefs is one of the first things you should be doing as you near Menopause.
Question: What kind of physical changes does one see during Menopause? For example, many women say that their breasts grow larger. Is that true?
Dr. Pike: Yes, many women do have this question: why are my breasts getting bigger after 50? Well, it is not so much about the breasts getting larger by themselves. In fact, there are no fixed rules to this, and some women have to wear a smaller bra after Menopause.
But one of the predominant reasons why your breasts may become larger at 50 is because you may have gained weight in your upper body. Since the accumulation of body fat increases after Menopause in most cases, you may notice more fat accumulation in your breasts and hips after Menopause.
Wearing the right size of bra can offer you the you need at this point and help relieve shoulder and back pain that may happen due to increased breast size. Genetics also plays a part. So, if the other women in the family have gained weight after Menopause, you may do so as well.
Question: Are women at a greater risk of uterine and breast disorders after hitting Menopause?
Dr. Pike: Studies have shown that due to the rapid depletion of hormones after Menopause, issues like fibrosis and PCOD may increase in your late forties and fifties. You may also notice lumps in your breast. This is why it is so important to go for regular screenings and check-ups. They can help with the early detection of tumors in your ovaries, uterus, breasts, or cervix, and that will take away a lot of worries.
Final Thoughts
A big thank you to Dr. Karen Pike for shedding so much light on the various issues that women face during Menopause. It is always good to have some help, especially when you are going through the journey alone.
Hence, it is important to occupy yourself with the things you love to do and ensure you stay in a happy frame of mind. Being a part of a community will also help you know about and discuss any issues, and Dr. Karen Pike is always there to help you as well.
