How to find out if you are in menopause

Menopause is a natural stage in every woman’s life and comes with a series of changes that the body goes through as we get older. It may set in sooner or later, depending on each person’s genetics, but also on other factors that can impact female fertility early on. How to find out if you’re in menopause is a topic you probably discuss often with your girlfriends.

Find out with Barza what to do if you suspect you are already experiencing the changes that menopause brings.

What is menopause and when does it occur

Menopause is a natural and normal physiological process for any woman, which is manifested by the cessation of menstrual cycles. As a result of ageing, the body shuts down the genital tract and it stops producing eggs.

Menopause sets in gradually, usually between the ages of 40 and 55, and occurs about a year after your last period.

Factors that can hasten the onset of menopause

• an unhealthy lifestyle (smoking);
• removal of the uterus;
• surgical removal of the ovaries.

Symptoms of menopause

Menopause is not a disease or a disorder, but it does cause a number of physical and emotional changes. In most cases, the discomfort consists of:

• menstrual dysregulation;
• hot flushes (intense, suffocating sensations of heat) or chills;
• palpitations;
• increased sweating;
• weight gain;
• migraines and dizziness;
• pain during intimate contact (vaginal dryness);
• nervousness;
• depression;
• insomnia.

Hormonal changes can also accentuate the development of, or favour the development of, conditions such as hypertension, osteoporosis, nervous system disorders (neurosis) or susceptibility to vaginal and urinary infections.

To ease the discomfort caused by menopause, you can turn to various treatments if necessary. However, these require a visit to the doctor, as they need to be personalised to each body’s conditions.

How to find out quickly and comfortably if you are menopausal

If you’re experiencing a number of symptoms that make you wonder, there’s a test that can guide you. Menopause can be detected in just a few minutes with the Barza Menopause Test, a rapid test that determines the presence of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) in the urine.

This product is a medical, in vitro diagnostic device that detects perimenopause or menopause. It’s over 99% accurate and can be done at home, simply and easily, at any time of the day.

Tips for basic menopausal care

At menopause, skin needs gentle care to deeply moisturise and restore firmness and health. In case of excessive sweating associated with perimenopause, you can use Multi Care’s Comfort range of wet wipes, designed specifically for those times when you feel the need to freshen up but don’t have the privacy of your own bathroom.

Other tricks for maintaining hygiene:

• Choose low pH cleansers without harsh ingredients;
• make sure that when you bathe, the water temperature is not extremely high (this avoids drying and irritating the skin).