of symptoms . Women are more susceptible to UTIs during menopause due to the hormonal changes and declining levels of oestrogen resulting in Skin thinning - making it easier for bacteria to grow . Also , Reduced or changes in the vaginal flora variety make it is easier for ‘ bad bacteria ’ to colonize the system . Lastly , sex , which can drive ‘ bad bacteria ’ into the urethra and bladder .
To prevent UTIs during menopause practice good toilet hygiene - wipe yourself from the front to the back . Go to the loo when you need to , don ’ t hold your pee in for ages . Pee after sex - this helps get rid of any bacteria and keep hydrated .
Changes in sex drive ( libido )
Menopausal and postmenopausal women can experience decreases in both libido , orgasm , and frequency of coitus - most commonly because of physiologic changes due to menopause , less commonly due to depression or marital discord . It is interesting to note that some women may experience an increase in libido , which can be attributed to the testosterone levels not being countered by estrogen , whose levels have drastically fallen .
Tinnitus ( ringing or buzzing in the ears )
Some women find tinnitus starts or gets
worse when they enter perimenopause or are menopausal . Tinnitus is a complex condition involving many different parts of the auditory pathways and can be exacerbated by psychological events such as mood disorders , depression and stress which can happen due to perimenopause .
Vaginal dryness and pain
A hallmark sign of the genitourinary syndrome of menopause , also known as atrophic vaginitis or vaginal atrophy . With this condition , vaginal tissues become thinner and more easily irritated - resulting from the natural decline in your body ' s estrogen levels during menopause .
Weight gain
At menopause , many women experience weight gain , particularly around the abdomen . Contributors to weight gain at menopause include declining oestrogen levels , age-related loss of muscle tissue and lifestyle factors such as diet and lack of exercise .
Breast changes
Pain , lumpiness , sagging or change in size and shape . The breast pain is normally due to fluid retention in the breasts prior to menstruation and as cycles are irregular at this time the pain is unpredictable . Due to loss of fibrous glandular tissue of the be ducts and an increase in fatty tissue of the breasts they tend to sag or change shape and lumps are more easily felt . Any lump that is felt should be reported to your health care provider though majority are benign breast changes . Wearing a well-fitting bra and doing toning exercises especially with weights may help improve these symptoms , but in some women additional medication is required .
Menopause can also increase your risk of developing certain other problems , such as weak bones ( osteoporosis ), joint stiffness , aches and pains and cardiac disease with or without palpitations ( awareness of the heartbeat ). As we could spend endless hours discussing menopause , I would like to give this article a pause . I hope it has helped educate someone and more importantly helped them make up their minds to get assistance . There is a lot of help available and once someone understands what the real issue is they are in a better condition to take control .
Once again Merry Christmas and an even more prosperous New Year !
Dr . Maureen Owiti is a practicing Obstetrician Gynaecologist and fertility consultant based in Nairobi . You can commune with her on this or related matters via email at : Drmaureenowiti @ gmail . com .