Women, mostly aged 40 and above, may be eager to know about menopause, as it marks the end of a female’s reproductive years. They may wonder if menopause increases weight, affects libido, triggers health conditions, or affects health in general. 

According to Dr Kenneth Ruzindana, a consultant at University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK), a woman can’t get pregnant while in menopause, because after menopause, women no longer produce eggs. However, pregnancy is possible if using a donor egg.  

He says that menopause is the time a woman stops having monthly periods. Her ovaries stop releasing eggs and stop making the hormones known as progesterone and oestrogen. Menopause usually occurs between ages 45 and 55. The average age is usually 51.

Dr Ruzindana says that most women start wondering about menopause when their menstrual cycle starts changing. The period may be more, or less than usual, for instance, every five to six weeks instead of four. Bleeding may last for fewer days than before, or skip one or more periods, and one may have symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and depression, he adds.

"During a hot flash, you will likely feel your body temperature rise. Hot flashes affect the top half of your body, and your skin may even turn red in colour or become blotchy. This rush of heat could lead to sweating, heart palpitations, and feelings of dizziness. After the hot flash, you may feel cold. Hot flashes may come on daily or even multiple times a day. You may experience them over the course of a year or even several years,” states Healthline.

To help with hot flashes, Dr Iba Mayele, an obstetrician-gynaecologist at Clinic Galien- Kimironko, says to stay away from spicy foods, caffeine, or alcohol and smoking. "Use a fan to cool down. Alternatively, you can talk to your doctor about medications that may help reduce your hot flash symptoms.”

Dr Ruzindana says that if a woman hasn’t had a period for a full year, and it is within that range, or the age group mentioned above, it is safe to say that she is in menopause.

He also says that menopause can impact a woman’s health, physically and psychologically. This is primarily due to the depletion of the hormone known as oestrogen in the body.

"In addition to hot flashes, the sweat and tiredness, vaginal dryness, some women experience emotional and psychological symptoms like anxiety, irritability, poor concentration, and even at times low self-esteem, which in most cases can be mistaken for depression,” Dr Ruzindana says.

Healthline states that as women go through menopause, they might notice that their libido, or sex drive, is changing. Some women may experience an increase in libido, while others experience a decrease. Not all women go through this libido decrease, though it is very common. In most cases, a lower libido during menopause is due to decreased hormone levels. These decreased hormone levels can lead to vaginal dryness and tightness, which can cause pain during sex.

When it comes to menopause, Dr Mayele explains that changes in a woman’s hormone levels may be the cause of weight gain, but also, there is no doubt that weight gain could also be due to age.

To beat the weight, he urges eating a well-balanced diet that includes increasing calcium and reducing sugar intake, exercising for strength, and sparing about 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise, or 75 minutes a week of more intense exercise, like running.

For symptoms, Dr Mayele says every woman manages them differently as what works for others may not work for you, which is why you ought to talk to your doctor if you have any questions about menopause. By doing so, you will find the perfect means to manage them.

Everyday Health highlights that women often think breast cancer is their biggest threat, but the most significant danger they face after menopause is actually heart disease. Nearly a third of women develop cardiovascular disease, and the rate of heart attacks in women begins increasing roughly a decade after menopause.

"After menopause, a decrease in oestrogen levels can cause the vaginal tissue to become thinner and drier. This can make it easier for bacteria to flourish, which could eventually lead to a urinary tract infection (UTI).”

A study published in May 2017 in the Journal of Clinical Medicine Research reports that women are four times more likely than men to develop osteoporosis, a disease in which bones become thin and weak and fracture more easily.