Why is there a change in the timing of menstruation and menopause?

 Why is there a change in the timing of menstruation and menopause?

In the past, girls would start menstruating after reaching adolescence. But now this age has decreased to 9-10 years. That is, girls have started their menstrual cycle before reaching puberty. Recently, the age of menstruation has decreased, as has the age of menopause.

The first menstruation of many women is also determined based on their family background. The age at which their mothers and grandmothers had their first menstruation can also be measured based on the age at which the women of that household had their menstruation, which is one of the genetic factors, says Dr. Jagriti Khanal, a gynecologist and obstetrician.

‘Recently, the age of menstruation has decreased in many people, one of the reasons for this is the changing lifestyle. Earlier girls used to be physically active, which is why their menstruation used to be a little late,’ says Dr. Khanal, ‘Nowadays, the lifestyle has become very inactive. Recently, menstrual problems have also been increasing due to obesity.’

Today’s children are also under various stresses, including studies. Khanal also says that such a problem is being seen due to thyroid disorders and climate change. New research has shown that teenagers in the United States are starting to menstruate at an earlier age. Polluted air is considered responsible for that.

Reasons for early menopause

The cessation of menstruation in women under the age of 40 is called early menopause. Menopause usually begins at the age of 45 to 50. But some women experience menopause early, i.e. between 40 and 45 or even before 40. There are many causes of early menopause, says Dr. Khanal.

'Nature has given women a certain number of eggs at birth. As they grow older, the eggs are used up in menstrual cycles and menopause occurs when the eggs run out. 'Just like women who menstruate before the age of 12 are more likely to stop menstruating between the ages of 40 and 44.'

If the mother has early menopause, the daughter will also have early menopause. Apart from this, there are some autoimmune conditions or autoimmune syndromes, which are more common in women, due to which menstruation stops prematurely, said Khanal.

Dr. Jagriti Khanal

“If the uterus is removed at a young age or if you are undergoing cancer treatment and chemotherapy, menstruation can also stop prematurely. Another cause of premenopause is smoking. Many women who smoke also go through menopause early,” she says.

Many women experience various health problems when their periods stop. Dr. Khanal says that complete knowledge about this can help reduce the anxiety and burden related to the problem.

Symptoms that appear when menstruation stops

After menstruation stops, a woman’s body experiences a lack of ‘estrogen’ and ‘progesterone’ hormones, which leads to various physical changes. Dr. Khanal, a gynecologist and obstetrician, explains that symptoms such as insomnia, sweating, and extreme cold and heat are caused by hormone deficiency.

‘These hormones also absorb calcium in the body. Due to this, problems such as back, waist and joint pain are seen due to weakening of the bones and joints,’ he says, ‘Sometimes problems may also appear in the heart.’

Emotional changes occur due to hormone deficiency. This can lead to mood swings, anger over small things, and irritability, Khanal said.

Ways to reduce symptoms

If various changes and problems occur in the body due to hormone deficiency after menstruation stops, then its treatment is through hormonal replacement, says Dr. Khanal. ‘The deficient hormone is increased in the body by giving it medicine or a gel applied to the vagina,’ he says. ‘The hormonal medicine given externally should be used as per the doctor’s advice. Doing this will reduce the changes and problems in the body caused by hormones.