MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS, HEALTH EFFECTS, AND WAYS TO MANAGE SYMPTOMS

This article provides a comprehensive, evidence-based analysis of menopause, a critical biological transition in women’s lives marked by the cessation of menstrual cycles due to ovarian follicular depletion and declining estrogen and progesterone levels. It explores the multifaceted symptoms of menopause, including vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats), mood disturbances, cognitive complaints, and genitourinary syndrome, which affect 75-85% of women to varying degrees. The long-term health implications, such as increased risks of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and shifts in cancer risk profiles, are examined in detail, emphasizing estrogen’s protective roles. Management strategies are thoroughly discussed, encompassing hormone replacement therapy (HRT), non-hormonal pharmacological options (e.g., SSRIs, gabapentin), lifestyle interventions (exercise, diet, smoking cessation), and psychological support (CBT, mindfulness).