It is a topic that scares most women. But menopause is an inevitable phase many enlightened women have come to accept and enjoy. Besides the disappearance of the monthly menstrual cycle, gynecologists say knowing the symptoms and being ready for menopause can reduce depression and bolster an appreciation of this phase of life where sexual intimacy peaks without fears of an unwanted pregnancy.
So what are these symptoms? Nigerian women are said to experience hot flashes, insomnia and depression the most during this phase. Other red flags include irritability, night sweats and muscle pains. This scrap of information was gleaned from 126 gynecologists from six geo-political health zones in Nigeria. It was also published in PubMed, an online biomedical literature with millions of research citations.
While gynecologists had only assurances and pints of drugs for the women, researches have shown that indeed African women have harsh menopausal symptoms compared to their sisters from other races. A study involving 436 women between the ages of 35 and 47 examined the severity of menopausal symptoms in the women. The participants were divided into two groups comprising 218 African American and 218 Caucasians.
The result published in the Journal of the North American Menopause Society asserts that, “African-American women…reported a significantly more physiological symptoms of menopause including hot flashes, dizziness, poor coordination and/or clumsiness, urine leakage, and vaginal dryness compared to the white women…’’
Whatever your challenge as you fly into the next phase of life, experts say do not be afraid to seek medical or psychological help. A change in lifestyle, community support or increased knowledge on menopause might just be the adrenaline you need.
