Chemotherapy and Menopause

Menopause is one of the most defining times in a woman's life. Some women are afraid, while others are looking forward to menopause. For some women who are afraid of menopause because it will make them feel unattractive, lonely, useless and helpless. They also grieve because they are infertile and young again. For others, the arrival of menopause actually makes them have new opportunities in life physically, emotionally, sexually and spirit. They are even enthusiastic because they are "detached" from the obligation to give birth and pre-menstrual syndrome. Anyway, menopause can give women all kinds of feelings. From tense and uncomfortable to relieved and "let go".

What does menopause itself mean? Menopause is, "a time in middle age when a woman gets her last menstrual period". Or in other words, "where a woman doesn't get her period anymore". Menopause occurs when the ovaries stop "releasing" eggs. Often menopause occurs gradually. But sometimes it also happens all at once.

Perimenopause is a gradual period that makes changes towards menopause. It is during these periods that a woman experiences changes in her body, feelings and hormones. This process can occur slowly over years. Climacteric is another word for the time in which a woman passes from reproductive to non-reproductive years. During perimenopause, the estrogen produced by the ovaries tends to slow down. Hormone levels fluctuate (go up and down) which causes changes just like what happens to someone when they enter adolescence. But for many women, the changes that come with menopause are more intense than with puberty. The time after menopause occurs is called postmenopause.

The types of menopause that need attention are, surgical menopause (menopause related to treatment). Surgical menopause occurs when the ovaries are moved or damaged, for example due to chemotherapy. In this case, menopause will occur immediately without the appearance of perimenopause. Another is the stress of menopause. Occurs when a woman in her late 30s or older does not get her period for a long time. This can be caused by stress, chemotherapy, grief, bulimia, anemia or overexertion.

What are the signs that a woman is going through menopause? When menopause will come, menstrual periods will usually become irregular, occur close together or far apart. For example, in May, the menstrual schedule is on the 7th. Then at the end of the month in the same month menstruation comes again (for example, the 26th). But in June menstruation comes even at the end of the month, for example on June 29th. Other features are:

• Joints ache
• Hard to concentrate
• Headache
• Night sweats
• Experiencing common conditions that usually arise during PMS
• Changes in sexual appetite
• Sweat a lot
• Insomnia, often waking up too early
• Mood swings
• Vagina feels dry
• Urinate frequently

Between one woman and another woman has different characteristics. Some have only one feature. But there are also those who have all of the above characteristics.

A woman's experience during menopause can also be affected by changes that occur in her life, such as: children who have left home; changes in social affairs, domestic and personal relationships; changes in identity & body image; divorce or due to widowhood; pension; tense with aging and death; loss of friends, loved ones and financial problems; increased responsibility due to old age; tensions resulting from loss of independence, inadequacy and feelings of loneliness.

Source: famili.org
Read also Early Menopause