Menopause is the period in a woman's life when ovarian function declines and
sex hormone production decreases.
This physical change can lead to a multitude of both physical and psychological
symptoms, which many people don't even connect to or have any idea that it is
symptoms of the same thing - being in menopause.
Therefore, we do not know at the individual level how to handle these changes and
the understanding of those around them can often be low, probably due to a lack of
knowledge but perhaps also due to lack of interest.
Women feel that they neither recognize their body nor their head and this can
last for many years, and can be likened to going through puberty in reverse,
but for a considerably longer period than puberty.
When does menopause begin?
Menopause usually begins, contrary to popular belief, in your 40s.
and it starts with the hormone progesterone dropping and then dropping
levels of estrogen. Menopause is then a process that can last between five
to fifteen years and as much as 10 percent of women have problems and various
symptoms that persist throughout life.
And does it matter that much?
If you consider that the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone are involved in
almost every function in the body and is connected to other hormones and
neurotransmitters, it is perhaps easier to understand that the symptoms can be both
very numerous in number and also very varied.
Examples of symptoms that may occur during menopause
Virtually all of our body functions, and our other hormones and
neurotransmitters, are affected by the decreasing estrogen.
Because the image of menopause in many women is that you might get
hot flashes and then menstruation stops and that this is what you can expect
reality can be something of a shock, where you might even experience a
Personality change without understanding why.
Below are a number of common symptoms that a woman in menopause may experience:
different scope:
• Increased urinary tract infections/urinary incontinence
• Heel spur
• Poor balance
• Worry
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Sleep difficulties
• Fatigue and a feeling of exhaustion
• Mood swings
• Concentration problems
• Back/joint/muscle problems
• Sudden weight gain
• Brain fog and memory problems
• Dry skin and mucous membranes
• Hair loss
• Changed vision
• Fragile skin
• Problems regulating body temperature (hot flashes/sweating)
It may feel like depressing reading, but the positive thing is that we can actually do it ourselves.
influence almost all of these symptoms in a positive direction with a well-adapted diet,
exercise, stress reduction and hormone therapy. But this requires knowledge and a
desire for change!
Is it a women's issue or why is it important?
Menopause can be a huge problem for women on an individual level with all the
symptoms described above, but it can also, which may be unknown to
many, be a major economic problem at the societal level.
According to data from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, women aged 40-60 are the most
the sick leave group in Sweden, where 50-year-olds stand out the most.
There may of course be a number of explanations behind these figures, but what is clear is that
that a woman's hormonal changes play a major role in, among other things,
stress sensitivity.
Women aged 50-59 are the group with the most sick leave in Sweden, with
stress-related diagnosis, twice as high as the male counterpart.
The proportion of people on sick leave also continues to increase and is now twice as large.
as their corresponding male age group.
Almost 80% of all women experience a deterioration in their mental well-being during
menopause and 50% feel depressed at some point.
Menopause lasts for approximately 5-15 years and 10% of all women have symptoms.
remain for life.
