There is also a positive side to menopause: these are its strengths

For many different reasons , which we won't go into here, the life expectancy of Spanish women (and also of Spanish men) is on the rise. Althoughwe have not yet reached the pre-pandemic expectations, women in our country have a life expectancy of around 86 years, which places us among the top countries worldwide, only behind or on par with countries like Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, and Singapore.

This enviable longevity means , among other things, that women live through menopause for about 37 or 38 years. "Considering current life expectancy and that menopause usually occurs around 50 or 51 years of age , a woman can expect to experience this process and the potential symptoms or complications it entails for around 40 years," estimates Dr. Juan José Vidal Peláez, Head of the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of the Women's Unit at the Ruber International Hospital.

Menopause does not have to be a worse stage than the previous ones, but different.

An unappealing outlook

Menopause is usually seen in the fifties, but "the first symptoms generally appear at age 45, during what we call premenopause . From that point on, symptoms increase until periods stop, which usually happens at age 50 or 51," notes the doctor, who reminds us that "perimenopause encompasses everything that happens from the onset of the first symptoms until the end of periods and the five years afterward. We're talking about an age range that usually runs from 45 to 55, in most cases."

Now, more important than the years that menopause lasts is knowing the symptoms that are associated with it, or, in other words, knowing what the quality of life of women will be, since, to a greater or lesser extent, they will experience " hot flashes, insomnia, decreased sexual desire, vaginal dryness, discomfort during intercourse, emotional changes , depressive tendencies and osteoporosis," summarizes the doctor.

A certainly discouraging outlook, one that many women accept, since "they consider these symptoms to be part of their own nature," Vidal points out. The expert believes that this attitude is more prevalent among women in less developed countries , while "in Western countries, they tend to go to the gynecologist when the first symptoms appear."

Focus on the positive

Beyond women's interest in learning about what they are experiencing and what awaits them, the question is whether the content of that information is as negative as it appears.

During this period, the hormonal ups and downs that cause mood swings disappear.

And it doesn't seem easy to see light at the end of a tunnel as dark as the one painted by so many ailments, discomforts, and illnesses . However, without downplaying any of them, it's worth mentioning certain positive aspects in the areas of physical and mental health. These are three aspects highlighted by gynecologist Vidal Peláez :

• Since periods are annoying, uncomfortable, and sometimes even painful, many women view their disappearance as a true wonder.
• You can have sex without fear of getting pregnant.
• It is possible to do more days of physical exercise without limiting menstrual discomfort.

Above these three positive points , the doctor emphasizes the idea that the “important thing is for the woman to be aware that she is beginning a new stage in her life that does not have to be worse than the previous ones, but different, and that she can enjoy life, family and friends, which in many cases is accompanied by the birth of a grandchild, which is always a cause for joy.”

End of hormonal ups and downs

In addition to the benefits mentioned by the doctor, the Menopause Institute highlights some additional aspects, including the beginning of a period with a more stable mood.

During this period, the hormonal ups and downs that cause sudden mood swings disappear. This doesn't necessarily mean a serene and happy period begins, but it does mean that once menopause is over, when hormones stop rising and falling, the emotional disturbances related to hormonal ups and downs subside noticeably.