Menopause and Andropause

“I awoke one frigid, December night in a blistering sweat,” said Dr. Charlotte Loppie, sharing her personal story of menopause and midlife in Our Bodies, Ourselves: Menopause by OurBodiesOurselves.org. “Quite suddenly it seemed like some internal register had jacked up the temperature in my pajama top. I quickly removed the offending garment and lay there feeling an odd sense of elation. I had arrived—my first hot flash.”

“The journey … was not always as serene and joyful as I previously had imagined,” continued Dr. Loppie. “The lack of sleep almost did me in and the loss of control left me feeling quite weary.”

What is menopause?

Menopause is the permanent cessation of menses and is defined as the end of the last menstrual period. This is according to an article by Dr. Wee Horng Yen, Consultant and Director of Women's Wellness Centre at KK Women's and Children's Hospital at HealthXchange.com.sg. The word ‘menopause’ literally means the ‘end of monthly cycles’ from the Greek words ‘pausis’ (cessation) and the word root men from "mensis" meaning (month).

Menopause can be expected to start in the age range of 42 to 58, and the average age of menopause in western societies is 51 years whereas in Singapore it is 49 years, according to Dr. Wee.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

Depending on genetics, lifestyle, diet, stress, general health and cultural perspective will influence when and how dramatically a woman experience menopause symptoms. Some symptoms like vaginal dryness and urinary symptoms may persist into postmenopause, but most diminish and disappear within two to three years, according to Dr. Wee.

What happens in the body during menopause?

Hormonal changes occur during menopause, and these changes cause the cycle to become irregular in the perimenopausal years or the period leading to, during, and after menopause. The cycle can be shortened, appearing as a two-week cycle, or the flow during periods may become heavy, according to an article at HealthXchange.com.sg.

Sometimes the period may be missed for a few months, followed by a very heavy period. This happens due to skipped ovulation or the release of the egg from the ovary during the middle of the cycle. Once the period has stopped for 12 months, menopause is said to have occurred.

How does menopause affect a woman mentally?

Psychological symptoms are frequently reported around the time of menopause and these symptoms include depression, loss of memory, irritability, poor concentration, tiredness and loss of confidence, according to Dr. Wee in another article at HealthXchange.com.sg. Sleep disturbances and insomnia are not unusual because of night sweats and hot flushes.

Changes in domestic arrangements and feelings of loss of youth and femininity may be expected. A combination of physical and psychological influences can also result in a complete loss of libido, decreased sexual satisfaction, and avoidance of intercourse.

How to cope with menopause?

Although intervention is often not necessary, it is a good time for women to begin taking stock of their health. All perimenopausal and postmenopausal women should see the doctor annually for a full physical exam, which should include breast checkup, mammogram, pelvic exam and Pap smear test, as advised in an article at HealthXchange.com.sg. Risk of heart disease and colon cancer should also be assessed. Lifestyle changes, such as avoiding foods that can trigger hot flushes, can be helpful for coping with mild hot flushes and other symptoms.

In cases of severe and bothersome symptoms, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be prescribed. This can be in the form of tablets, patches, gels, vaginal pessaries or cream. It may consist of estrogen only or a combination of estrogen and progesterone to help regulate the condition of inner lining of the uterus.

There are other medications that can be used for specific symptoms like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for depression and clonidine for hot flushes.

What about andropause?

Andropause or male menopause is sometimes also called ‘manopause.’ Unlike the severe and sudden oestrogen decline of women during menopause, the male hormone or testosterone drops gradually as men age. According to an article contributed by Changi General, Department of Urology at HealthXchange.com.sg, when the testosterone falls below certain levels, the men will suffer the symptoms of low testosterone or andropause. Such deterioration frequently goes unnoticed by men as the process of their condition is more drawn out.

What are the symptoms of andropause?

Irritability, fatigue, depression, reduced libido are said to be hallmark signs of andropause, as described in an article by DiscoveryHealth.com writers at HowStuffWorks.com.

A low level of testosterone may lead to impotence and a decreased sexual drive for men between the ages of 40 and 70. The man may also experience a lack of motivation to work and be unable to remember things as well as before. The waist or belly may also begin to grow as a result of more fat deposits. With strength dips, muscles softening, and bone mass decreases, a condition called osteoporosis puts him at a higher risk for bone fracture. This is according to the article by Changi General Hospital at HealthXchange.com.sg.

How can andropause be treated?

Andropause is a natural process and a man can help himself by developing a healthy lifestyle in order to delay its onset, as advised in the article by Changi General Hospital. He should have a well-balanced diet with limits on sugar, fat and salt. He should not smoke and drink excessively. Regular exercise will also help.

Various methods of hormone replacement are available, if required. One of the most popular is taking testosterone capsules. Another popular method is by injection. Other forms of replacement may include gels and patches. The length of time required for replacement varies. Medication can continue as long as the man finds it helps improve his symptoms.

Coping with the Menopause

by NHS Choices

 

Andropause Male Menopause

by VideoJug.com

 

For professional help with hormonal related treatments, please consult a family physician or an endocrinologist.

Aging: The Pains and Aches

It is not uncommon to have to deal with certain ailments as we age. Some of such ailments include joint pain, fading eyesight, weak bones, and memory glitches. By understanding the changes in the body and learning how to adapt to a healthy lifestyle, managing unwelcome aches and pains to continue to live happily is possible, according to an article at EverydayHealth.com.

Common Aches and Pains

The wear and tear of the body is the biggest culprit causing pain to senior citizens, said Dr Tan Kian Hian, director of Singapore General Hospital's Pain Management Centre, in an article by The Straits Times. The article which is reproduced at the HealthXchange.com.sg states that about four in five of the centre's older patients suffer from degenerative pain, mainly from arthritis or joint damage.

Arthritic Knee

The most common form of arthritis among the elderly is osteoarthritis. As a result of progressive degeneration of cartilage lining, when the bones rub against one another, pain and swelling occur. Such pain can arise after prolonged standing or walking or when carrying something heavy, said Dr James Low, a senior consultant and the head of the Department of Geriatric Medicine at Alexandra Hospital in The Straits Times article. The pain, which may be sharp or dull, can be accompanied by swelling, stiffness and crepitus or the crackling sound in the knee. In severe cases, the pain can come even when the person is resting, said Dr Low.

Frozen Shoulder, Slipped Disc

Another common condition of older adults is the frozen shoulder, characterized by a dull ache and stiffness. According to The Straits Times article, frozen shoulder occurs when the joint becomes inflamed, scarred or shrinks. Everyday activities like combing one’s hair or putting on a T-shirt can be difficult for those with this ailment.

Carrying too much weight and having a back injury can also lead to the faster degeneration of the spinal discs which act as cushioning for the vertebral bones. Commonly known as slipped disc, this condition may press onto the surrounding spinal nerves, causing a sharp pain radiating from the lower back all the way to the feet.

Injuries and Nerve

Risk from sports injuries and nerve pain are other aging pains mentioned in The Straits Times article. People active in sports may be more prone to aches and pains later in life if they have had injuries.

Nerve pain caused by shingles is a type of pain that commonly afflicts the elderly. Anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles. The virus which causes chicken pox in a young person can lurk in the body and cause painful shingles rash when the person is older. This pain, often described as stinging or stabbing, can last for weeks and months even after the rashes have subsided. People above 50 years of age are more susceptible to nerve pain when their immune system weakens.

Guidelines for Pain Management

No matter how old we are or what is our ailment, we need to heed guidelines when we feel pain. This is the advice from an article by Lisa Zamosky at WebMD.com. These guidelines include:

• Dealing with pain head on. Denying pain is never a good idea.
• Getting treatment. Acute pain—the kind that comes on suddenly—should be treated as quickly as possible to prevent it from becoming a chronic pain condition or pain that lasts longer than three months.
• Checking on vitamin D. Vitamin D helps prevent micro factures and alleviating pain that stems from fractures associated with osteoporosis. Ask the doctor to check vitamin D levels to ensure no deficiency.
• Avoiding obesity. Extra pounds put tremendous strain on the body and increase the chance of experiencing chronic joint and lower back pain.
• Getting enough sleep. A lack of sleep can worsen pain and contribute to muscle tightness and depression. If not sleeping well, check with the doctor for any sleep disorder and find out what can be done to get a good night's rest.
• Watching out for depression. Chronic pain is frequently accompanied by depression, making it more difficult to deal with physical pain, which often goes unrecognized. When in chronic pain, let the doctor know how’s the emotional state of mind as well.

Steps to Healthy Aging

Some tips on healthy aging by Diana Rodriguez in her article at EverydayHealth.com:

• Stay physically active with regular exercise.
• Stay socially active with friends and family and within your community.
• Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet—dump the junk food in favor of fiber-rich, low-fat, and low-cholesterol eating.
• Don't neglect self: Regular check-ups with the doctor, dentist, and optometrist are very important.
• Take all medications as directed by the doctor.
• Limit alcohol consumption and cut out smoking.
• Get the sleep the body needs.
• Tend to emotional health as well and reap the rewards of long life in enjoying each and every day and by savoring good health and happiness.

Tips for Healthy Aging

by BeWellDoc.com


For professional help with prevention and treatment of older adults, please consult a geriatrician.