What should I know about the effects of menopause on my health?
Menopause brings about certain physiological changes in women due to cessation of ovarian function thereby leading sudden changes in female hormones, namely oestrogens and progestogens. Unusual episodes of sweating associated with a sensation of heat and flushing (so called hot flushes) trouble some women for durations varying from months to years. Women tend to develop osteoporosis (weakening of the bones) in postmenopausal period that can be prevented by routine calcium and vitamin D supplementation and physical exercise. Cardio-protective effect of female hormones is lost at menopause thereby bringing women at the same cardiovascular risk as men if they have other risk factors.