More and more women, including celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Naomi Watts and Michelle Obama got candid about their experience with menopause. Apparently, there is a potential solution to help ease the symptoms.
What Did Celebrities Say About Menopause
Women do not usually talk about menopause. However, this issue has slowly gotten its due after several celebrities come forward to share their experience.
Naomi Watts, Gwyneth Paltrow, Oprah Winfrey and former first lady Michelle Obama have all spoken about their menopause experience, The Manila Times reported.
Watts, 54, said she had outrun tsunamis and came face to face with King Kong in her career as an actor. However, nothing had prepared her for early menopause. The actress said she observed physiological changes when she was just 36.
Paltrow, for her part, has sold Madame Ovary, a supplement cocktail of herbs, vitamins and phytonutrients to smoothen the menopausal transition.
Winfrey, a TV host and American author, shared that she experienced heart palpitations. The 64-year-old media mogul said it was so severe that she thought she would die every single night.
The talk show queen said she visited five different doctors and none of them suggested that it was among the symptoms of menopause. Thus, she was calling for more public discussion about the condition to warn other women about it, so they would know what to expect. Also, they aim to make doctors more aware of it for better care.
ALSO READ : How to Deal With Symptoms of Menopause?
What is Menopause?
According to National Institute on Aging, menopause is not a disease or disorder but a normal part of aging for women. At this stage, a woman goes through a lot of transitions, including physical ones.
Menopause is a point in 12 months after a woman's last period, leading up to that point. According to Mayo Clinic, menopausal symptoms include irregular periods, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, chills, night sweats, sleep problems, and mood changes. Others also experience weight gain, slow metabolism, thinning of hair, drying of skin and loss of breast fullness.
However, the signs and symptoms may vary among women. Most will experience irregular periods before menopause. Skipping periods during perimenopause is common. Others missed their period for a month or several months. Periods also tend to be shorter cycles. However, despite irregular periods, pregnancy is possible.
Hormone Replacement Therapy as Menopause Medicine
Among the potential solution for menopause is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). According to Manila Times, it replaces the estrogen that the body stops making as she ages, addressing the key symptoms, including hot flashes and protecting against osteoporosis.
According to NHS, HRT relieves menopause symptoms and replaces hormones that are at a lower level as one approaches menopause. However, there are some cons. It can reportedly increase one's risk of breast cancer.
However, HRT's benefits outweigh its risks. It's best if one speaks to general practitioner (GP) for any concerns about HRT.
Check out more news and information on Menopause on Science Times.
