Let's Talk About Menopause 1: "Menopause" is a Period of Physical Change, Not Aging

When I returned to Japan in the spring, I had this conversation with a childhood friend of the same age whom I always hang out with.

Me: "I think I'm going through menopause lately."

Friend: "Huh, why do you think that?"

Me: "I'm hot! (laughs)" (My friend knows well that I'm sensitive to heat and sweat easily.)

Friend: "(You're) just normal (laughs)."

Me: "And my periods have changed a lot over the last two or three years."

Friend: "That's normal."

Me: "Wait, is it?"

Friend: "It's normal, right? Wait, is it not?"

It seems I realized that my understanding of menopause and hers did not match!

In your late 30s to early 40s, a time when menopause is still (depending on the person) away, hormonal and physical changes begin to occur gradually.

Since this is natural, it might be "normal" in that sense.

However, listening to the voice of your body and mind, such as "discomfort" or "changes" in your physical and mental state, is very important.

Why? Because this period of change (= around menopause) is a very important time for women's health.

Just because change is normal,

if there is anyone who is somehow resigned to "ignoring," "enduring," or thinking that physical or mental discomfort is "nothing to pay attention to," I would like to talk about "menopause" with them, and of course with those, especially in their 40s and beyond, who are not.

I would like to talk about "menopause".

Since the topic is too big, I plan to write about it in several parts.

What is menopause?

It is said that.

Menopause is sometimes translated as "Menopause" in English, but

strictly speaking, Menopause refers to "the cessation of menstruation" and "post-menopause," and

Perimenopause refers to the period when changes occur before menopause.

The meaning of Menopause is "End of monthly cycle"

so Menopause is strictly speaking a little different from "Kounenki" (the Japanese term for the menopausal period).

In the East, it refers to a time of renewal (Kou = renew), a period when physical changes appear.

Whether we focus on the change of menstruation or the changes in the body as a whole,

I sometimes wonder if it's a difference between East and West.

Personally, I like the term "time of renewal."

What is menopause?

The average age is said to be around 50-51, but it occurs for different people around 45-55 years old.

In rare cases, if menopause occurs before age 40, it is called "premature menopause (premature ovarian insufficiency)."

Also, regardless of age, there is menopause caused by ovariectomy.

As an aside,

Menopause before age 40-45 is considered "Early Menopause (I couldn't find a Japanese term for this)." It's just a slightly early menopause.

It is not abnormal, but because female hormones like estrogen affect future health,

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is sometimes used for early menopause, even if there are no symptoms.

The mechanism of menopause

Menopause refers to"a sequence of physical changes"

which can be described by changes in female hormones.

According to Dr. Jerilynn Prior,

This leads to

• Early perimenopause: Menstrual cycles are normal, but the body begins to show gradual changes

• Early stage of perimenopause: Menstrual cycles begin to become irregular, getting shorter or longer

• Late stage of perimenopause: Menstrual cycles begin to have gaps of 60 days or more.

• Menopause: 12 months after the final menstrual period

• Postmenopause: The body gradually adjusts to low levels of estrogen

(Reference: Lara Briden, "Hormone Repair Manual")

I feel like only estrogen gets all the attention, but

progesterone is important too!

If you want to know more, please read this as well.

The diverse nature of "menopause"

The tricky part is that

not everyone fits into the textbooks like the one mentioned above, which is the nature of "menopause"in terms of

• when it starts

• and its duration

• Symptoms

vary from person to person, and

some people have no symptoms (or very mild ones)as well.

Menopause is as diverse as the number of people who experience it.

Because of that, I feel that many people suffer from unnecessary discomfort.

The onset of menopause

In Japan, it is generally said to beginabout five years before menopausebut

Dr. Jerilynn Prior, an endocrinologist famous for her research on female hormones and menopause, has reported thatmany of the women in her study complained of menopausal symptoms even when they had no irregularities in their menstrual cyclesand

is what is said.

In the book "Hormone Repair Manual" bynaturopathic doctor Lara Briden, who is famous for treating female hormones and women's health issues, it is also written that the onset of menopause varies by person, ranging from "2 to 12 years before menopause."

Since menopause is defined as having gone "12 months without a period," you can see how difficult it is to determine exactly when it begins.

Basically, for those who have no or mild menopausal symptoms, when it started may not be that much of an issue, but

depending on the person, some may have been feeling unwell due to menopause for over five years, yet are told by their doctors, "It's too early for you to be in menopause," and are left to suffer from their discomfort and symptoms for a long time.

Of course, it might be menopause, or it might not be.

However, I think it is important forthose in their late 30s to 40s who feel that their physical or mental health is not in good shape to consider "menopause"and have a proper conversation with their doctor.

Menopause is a second puberty

One thing I like about Dr. Lara Briden's message is

"Menopause is not aging"

It is explained that even if it occurs alongside aging, it is not caused by aging.

Rather, it should be thought of as menopause being a "second puberty."

It seems to be the opposite phenomenon of the hormonal changes that occurred during puberty in your teens.

This period of fluctuation is said to last up to about 10 years, but

it is not eternal like puberty

In other words, it is said that it is important to know that most menopause symptoms are temporary

is a key point.

Summary of this session

• Menopause is a time when the body is renewed and a period of change

• Menopause is defined as 12 consecutive months without a period after age 40

• Menopause generally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 (some people are earlier or later)

• The start and duration of menopause vary by individual

• Menopause usually begins about 5 years before the final period, but this is not always the case (some people have shorter or longer periods)

• Menopause is a physical change caused by sequential hormonal changes

• Menopause is a second puberty

• Menopause is not aging

• Most menopause symptoms are temporary

• Symptoms vary by individual

In conclusion

"Menopause" has a strong negative image, doesn't it?

However, obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Chiho Takao stated that "40% of women do not feel symptoms of menopause (or they are mild)."

I feel like less than 10% of the people around me don't feel symptoms, so that's very different from my impression, but since people only complain when there is a problem, that may of course be the case.

How lucky to have no symptoms, haha.

However, as I also felt from conversations with friends,

I think the perception of "menopause" varies greatly from person to person.

So, I've become a bit skeptical, wondering if there are people who have symptoms but are just pretending they don't to get through it.

I also feel frustrated by environments and situations where one cannot say they are in "menopause."

I wrote this article because I don't want anyone to have to endure unnecessary suffering anymore.

For those who are anxious, and those who are currently suffering from poor health,

We got this!!

It's okay, we can get through this!!

There is still more I want to write,

but this time,

I wrote about what menopause is, once again.