Menopause Changes You Might Not Expect—and How to Support Your Health in Them
From bone loss to hot flashes, here’s what to expect in menopause—and how to thrive.
When we enter a new stage in life, or are diagnosed with a health condition, we often experience shifts we may not expect. Menopause is no different. Several health changes may happen in the body you likely aren’t expecting, but there are ways you can thrive during this stage, from screenings to ask your doctor about to herbal remedies that can ease symptoms. We spoke to experts about the menopause changes that can occur you may not be expecting and got tips on what you can do to best support your body during this time.
What is menopause and when does it start?
“Menopause is a moment in time,” says Gail King, MD, FACOG, a double board-certified ob-gyn and longevity medicine specialist. “Physiologically, menopause is when a woman’s ovaries quit responding to the pituitary signals the brain sends.” Bottom line: You’re in menopause when you’ve gone a full year without a period.
Surprising body changes during menopause
Before we cover steps that can make your menopause experience easier, let’s look at the health changes you may experience. In addition to the symptoms we’ve come to expect (hello hot flashes, memory issues, night sweats and moodiness), women experience a host of additional changes. Read on for hte most common:
Woman's World Answers
Oral health changes
Even if you’re diligent about brushing, flossing and seeing your dentist regularly, , research shows you could find yourself experiencing oral health changes while in menopause.
A study published in the Journal of Mid-life Health found that menopause is linked to everything from gum disease to burning mouth syndrome, dry mouth, altered taste and osteoporosis-related tooth and bone loss.
“Women have estrogen receptors all over the body, including the oral cavity,” says Dr. King. “Oral health changes that begin near menopause are directly related to the steep decline in estradiol. Without estrogen replacement therapy, a woman will lose up to 20% of her bone density in the first 5 years after menopause. This bone loss also affects the jaw bone and supporting structures of the teeth. Left untreated, tooth loss can occur.
“Additionally, the skin covering inside the mouth thins and the salivary glands produces less saliva,” notes Dr. King. “This results in a drier, more sensitive oral cavity, which can then lead to issues like dry mouth, burning mouth syndrome and even changes in taste perception.”
Dr. King recommends pursuing dental care to alleviate any oral health changes associated with menopause.
Other whole-body changes
- Insomnia “ Insomnia can be debilitating, whether it’s the inability to fall asleep or waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to go back to sleep,” says Dr. King.
Dr. King says the dip in hormones plays a role in insomnia during menopause, but insomnia doesn’t always improve when hormones are replaced, highlighting the need for further study on other possible causes.
- Rising cholesterol levels- “Estrogen is protective against heart disease and keeps women’s cholesterol levels low prior to menopause,” says Dr. King. “With chronically low levels of estrogen after menopause, a woman’s risk of heart disease slowly rises until it is equal to that of a man.”
- Loss of libido “Vaginal tissue undergoes predictable changes with lower estrogen,” says Dr. King. “The tissue thins. There is loss of moisture and elasticity, which results in painful intercourse. Declines in testosterone levels are [also] a major contributor to lack of libido and often lead to changes in orgasms as well.”
Natural remedies and lifestyle fixes for menopause symptoms
While the health shifts of menopause can feel overwhelming, Dr. King shares changes you can make to support your wellbeing:
- Consider hormones. “Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, can relieve classic menopausal symptoms but is not appropriate for all women,” says Dr. King, who recommends talking to your doctor about whether it can help you.
- Switch up your clothes. “Wearing layers that are easily put on and taken off can help with body temperature fluctuations,” she says.
- Try an herbal remedy. Many women find that herbal preparations such as black cohosh, ginseng and maca are helpful with these symptoms
In fact, a study published in Chinese Medicine found women who took 6.5mg of black cohosh daily for 8 weeks had an 86% improvement in the amount and severity of their hot flashes.
- Prioritize exercise. “Regular exercise benefits all aspects of postmenopausal life,” says Dr. King. “Maintaining muscle and bone mass is critical as we age. Improvements in heart disease risk and insomnia are noticeable with exercise, especially cardio.”
- Try a lubricant. “Vaginal discomfort is readily addressed by lubricants, laser and radiofrequency treatments,” says Dr. King.
Health screenings every woman should ask about after menopause
Your doctor may already recommend certain screenings after menopause, but knowing what to ask about can help you be proactive. Dr. King recommends asking for:
- Cancer screenings – “The number one risk factor for cancer is being over the age of 50, meaning that cancer screenings are essential,” says Dr. King. “Mammograms for breast cancer, colonoscopy or sologuard for colon cancer and pelvic exams for ovarian cancer detection should be done at the recommended screening intervals.”
- Bone density testing – “Bone density testing is particularly important in postmenopausal women given the rate of bone loss in the years following menopause Osteoporosis is a leading cause of disability as we age.,” says Dr. King.
- General wellness exams – “Eye exams, dental check ups and routine annual physicals should be part of your health and wellness plan,” says Dr. King.
While adjusting to the changes of menopause may seem daunting, being proactive is a powerful first step.
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.
