LIFESTYLE NEWS - While Menopause Awareness Month may be behind us, the world population of menopausal and postmenopausal women is still projected to increase to 1.2 billion by 2030.
According to Dr Ledivia Strauss of RevitaHealth in Paarl, menopause, a natural life stage marking the end of a woman’s reproductive years, affects over 47 million women worldwide each year.
Most women experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, caused by the loss of ovarian follicular function and a decline in circulating blood estrogen levels.
Strauss said perimenopause is the transitional phase, often starting in a woman’s 40s, when estrogen levels gradually drop, and symptoms may include irregular periods. Menopause is the point when periods stop completely and estrogen production is very low.
Post-menopause is the stage after menopause, lasting for the rest of a woman’s life, when most symptoms ease, but risks including osteoporosis and heart disease may increase.
Strauss said although menopause is an inevitable and pivotal stage in every woman’s life, it has for too long been overlooked and not been discussed enough.
“Many women still enter menopause knowing more about puberty and pregnancy than about this transition. The silence around menopause in medical training and in society has created a knowledge gap, both for patients and for healthcare providers,” she said.
About 80% of women around the world experience menopausal symptoms that can significantly impact their daily lives, yet less than 20% of eligible women use hormone replacement therapy (HRT). In South Africa, the usage is estimated to be under 10%.
Strauss said when taken at the right type and dosage, it can relieve menopause and perimenopause symptoms and offers important long-term health benefits, like lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease and helping to prevent or reverse bone loss.
She added that she is also passionate about lifestyle choices being powerful tools for supporting health during menopause.
This includes regular strength training, a balanced diet rich in protein, fibre and whole foods, quality sleep, stress management and limiting alcohol and avoiding smoking.
“Small, consistent habits often create the most significant long-term benefits,” Strauss said.
“Knowledge is your power. Don’t accept feeling anxious, sleepless nights, exhaustion or loss of joy as your ‘new normal’. There are safe, effective treatments, from HRT to lifestyle strategies, that can help you thrive in midlife and beyond. Speak up, ask questions and remember that you deserve to feel strong, vibrant and fully alive in every season of your life.”
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