When you hear the word menopause is looming in our minds is the women who had not experienced longer periods due to the influence of age. And because it was old then and it seemed natural when these women complain about health problems, such as “a senile …. Oh naturally because older; porous bone. … It’s like a disease of the elderly; easily diarrhea & hard to hold urine … . if the old would normally do like a baby anymore. What is less recognized is that this is actually caused by one thing, the reduction in levels of the hormone estrogen in a woman’s body after menopause. As discussed in menopausal memorial day world that fell on October 18 later in the Hotel Sahid Jaya, Thursday, October 14, 2009 yesterday with the theme ‘Life is Sweet in Early Menopause‘.

It is estimated that there are> 5 million Indonesian women who had entered menopause per year (data from BPS, 2008) where approximately 68% of them experienced symptoms of the climacteric (menopausal complaints) but only 62% of those who ignore these symptoms. Menopause itself is defined as a period after 12 months without menstruation (amenorrhoea). Menopause usually occurs at the age of 50 years and over. At this time the body has some biological changes that cause a sharp decline in ovarian function (ovarian) of which is decreased production of sex hormones, especially estrogen significantly. Declining levels of estrogen in the body greatly affects quality of life of women, although symptoms can vary in every woman.

Hormonal changes result in the emergence of this body symptoms such as joint pain & pain in his back, drying of the vagina (so ill during sexual intercourse), difficult to hold urine, mood disorders & high emotions so stressful, but it decreased estrogen levels also cause trend of increased blood pressure, weight gain & increased cholesterol levels. In the long-term decline in complaints due to estrogen levels can cause osteoporosis, coronary heart disease, Alzheimer type dementia, stroke, colon cancer, tooth loss & cataracts.

For most women these complaints, especially that intersect with everyday life can have negative impacts on the quality of life & self-confidence. For that we need appropriate treatment of menopausal deal. Currently the most effective medications to treat the symptoms of menopause & well as the prevention of osteoporosis is the estrogen hormone-based therapies that aim to replace the decline in estrogen that occurs at menopause. And for menopausal women who still have a uterus (womb) then the combined therapy with progestogen.

In addition it is important to remember that our lifestyles are affecting youth menopausal symptoms will be felt later. Here are some tips to stay healthy when entering menopause later, namely:

1. no smoking (if they try to quit smoking),
2. do not drink alcohol,
3. frequent exercise regularly,
4. eating healthy foods (especially those derived from soya beans as a source of phytoestrogens) &
5. enough sunlight.

Finally we can say that menopause is a natural thing that will happen to every woman. His arrival is not scary as long as we can sensibly event of complaints, visit the doctor to get treatment.