What Is Menopause? The Changes and Symptoms Black Women Should Know About
If you’re like many women, you have mixed feelings about menopause.
The one thing everyone seems to know about this significant phase in a woman’s life is that it signals the end of your reproductive years and menstruation — but the reality is there’s a lot more to know so you can maintain your health and well-being during the transition.
What Do I Need To Know About Menopause?
Menopause is a natural process that occurs when the ovaries stop producing eggs, usually between the ages of 45 and 55.
The average age for menopause onset is 51. However, some women may experience early menopause due to factors like certain medical conditions, genetics, or procedures such as hysterectomy.
Natural menopause leads to hormonal changes that lead to a decline in estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen levels help regulate your menstrual cycles, maintain bone density, and support your heart health. It also triggers a variety of changes in your body that can result in a wide range of symptoms, such as night sweats, vaginal dryness, and other symptoms that will vary from person to person.
Menopause has three stages: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. During perimenopause, your ovaries gradually reduce the estrogen they produce, causing irregular periods and the onset of symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and mood swings.
Once you’ve gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, you are considered to have reached menopause. Postmenopausal women in the final stage may continue to experience some symptoms, but their bodies have adjusted to lower hormone levels.
What Are the Symptoms of Menopause?
There’s a wide variety of symptoms associated with menopause, but here are some of the most common:
- Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: Among the most recognized signs of menopause, these vasomotor symptoms are known for creating feelings of heat and sweating, often disrupting sleep.
- Mood Changes: Fluctuations of your hormones can lead to irritability, depression, and even mood swings.
- Vaginal Dryness: Reductions in estrogen levels can make your vaginal tissues thinner and less lubricated, potentially leading to discomfort during sexual intercourse.
- Sleep Problems: Many women in the stages of menopause experience sleep problems such as insomnia, a symptom that is often worsened by night sweats and anxiety.
- Metabolism Changes and Weight Gain: Gaining weight around the abdomen is common during menopause, partly caused by changes in metabolism.
- Bone Density Loss: Declining estrogen levels can result in a decrease in bone density, increasing your risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
Understanding what menopause is will help you recognize the symptoms and how they impact your daily life. This is critical, as the North American Menopause Society stresses the importance of awareness and early intervention in helping women manage symptoms effectively and maintain a good quality of life.
Are There Increased Risks for Black Women During and After Menopause?
Menopause is a universal experience for women, but there’s evidence to suggest Black women experience menopause earlier and have more severe symptoms. This means you may experience symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and mood changes for a longer period of time.
Your experiences may also be influenced by health conditions that are experienced at higher rates in the Black community, such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. It’s important to understand the unique challenges you may face during your menopausal transition.
If you’re struggling to access culturally competent women’s health care, you may deal with delayed diagnosis or inadequate treatment. Despite experiencing more severe vasomotor symptoms, Black women are less likely to be prescribed hormone therapy (HT) to manage symptoms.
You may also have an increased risk of certain health conditions. Reduced estrogen levels can raise your risk of osteoporosis, despite Black women generally having higher bone density before menopause.
If you have preexisting conditions such as high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol levels, you are more likely to experience heart disease. It’s also important to maintain regular health screenings to manage your increased risk of breast cancer during and after menopause.
How To Manage Menopause Symptoms
Though menopause is a natural part of aging, it’s important to manage the symptoms and health risks you face. Lifestyle changes can give you a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, helping you reduce your risk of osteoporosis.
Regular physical activity supports your heart health and manages weight gain. Stress reduction techniques can also help relieve mood swings and anxiety.
If you have more severe hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness, menopause hormone therapy may be an option. Your healthcare provider can help you decide if it’s a good option based on your medical history and risks. You may also consider antidepressants or vaginal creams to manage specific symptoms. And, of course, consult a gynecologist.
Menopause Is a Milestone
You’ll experience a wide range of physical and emotional changes as you go through the stages of menopause. Understanding what menopause is, and what symptoms you should look out for, can empower you to take charge of your health during the transition.
Using a combination of lifestyle changes, vitamins and supplements tailored to your needs as a Black woman, and medical treatments can help you reduce the impact of the changes and maintain your quality of life.
Sources:
Menopause | Office on Women’s Health
Sleep and Sleep Disorders in the Menopausal Transition | National Institute of Health
The North American Menopause Society | The North American Menopause Society
Ethnic Differences in Hormone Replacement Prescribing Patterns | nih.gov