Received a letter: My mother is 55 years old and a housewife. She had been menopausal for a long time, and my dad and I thought she couldn't get pregnant again. But recently, she often feels nausea and vomiting, and her emotions are also very sensitive, which makes us very worried, and my father suspects that this may be something wrong with her body recently, so he took my mother to the hospital.
After the doctor's examination, my mother was pregnant, and our family was very surprised and shocked, because my mother has been menopausal for a long time, how can she be pregnant again?
Doctor's reply: Menopause is a stage of a woman's menstrual cycle, which usually occurs between the ages of 45-55. Before menopause, a woman's ovaries gradually stop ovulating and the follicles in the ovaries gradually decrease. The arrival of menopause marks a gradual decline in a woman's fertility.
Menopause can be divided into two stages: perimenopause and menopause. Perimenopause refers to the stage in which ovarian function gradually decreases but has not stopped, usually between the ages of 45 and 50. During perimenopause, women have irregular menstrual cycles, sometimes with long intervals or intermittent bleeding.
With further reduction in ovarian function, women enter menopause. During menopause, ovulation stops the ovaries and menstruation stops completely in women. In general, menopause in women lasts from a few years to ten years, and the exact duration varies from individual to individual.
Although menopause is a normal physiological phenomenon for women, it may also have some effects on women's physical health and life. For example, postmenopausal women will gradually decline in bone density and are prone to osteoporosis; Women also have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease; Women may experience menopausal syndrome such as hot flashes, insomnia, etc.
The number of eggs in the ovaries during menopause is extremely limited, and ovulation hardly occurs again, so the fertility of postmenopausal women is generally considered to be over. However, although very rare, it is rare that it is still possible for postmenopausal women to become pregnant. There are two main aspects involved: egg reserve and ovulation events.
Egg reserve: A woman has formed all her eggs during the embryonic development stage, and as she ages, the number of eggs gradually decreases and the quality decreases. After menopause, egg reserve is already very limited, so the chances of pregnancy are extremely low. However, individuals vary widely, and some women may retain some eggs after menopause, and although the number is very small, there is still the possibility of pregnancy.
Ovulatory events: In menopausal women, the ovaries stop ovulating, but sometimes ovulatory events can still occur, although very rare. In this case, the woman may ovulate within a certain window of time after menopause, giving her a chance to conceive. This phenomenon is called "postmenopausal ovulation" or "menopausal ovulation."
Although the incidence of ovulation after menopause is low, once ovulation occurs, women have the possibility of becoming pregnant. In this case, a woman may become pregnant unexpectedly without significant menstrual cycle and ovulation symptoms. Since it is impossible to predict when this ovulation event will occur, women still need to use appropriate contraception after menopause if they do not want to get pregnant.
During menopause, women need to take steps to adapt and alleviate the discomfort of menopause. Here are some tips for dealing with menopause in women:
Maintain an active lifestyle: A healthy lifestyle is important to relieve menopausal symptoms and promote good health. Women should maintain moderate physical activity, such as walking, running, yoga, etc., to help improve cardiovascular health, maintain bone density and control weight. At the same time, a balanced diet is also key, choose foods rich in protein, fiber and vitamins, and reduce sugar and saturated fat intake.
Coping with symptoms: Menopause is often accompanied by a series of symptoms, such as hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, etc. There are steps women can take to cope with these symptoms. For example, wearing light clothing and keeping a cool environment can reduce the discomfort of hot flashes; Establishing regular sleep habits and bedtime relaxation techniques can help improve insomnia; Communicating with friends and family, participating in support groups, etc. can ease mood swings.
Focus on bone health: As women age, their bone density gradually decreases and they are prone to osteoporosis. After menopause, women should pay attention to bone health, get enough calcium and vitamin D in the diet, and obtain vitamin D through sun exposure is also an important means. In addition, proper bodyweight training and gravity-loaded exercises such as walking, skipping rope, weight lifting, etc., can help strengthen bone strength and density. Women can consult a doctor or professional dietitian to develop a bone health plan that works for them.
Seeking support and care: Menopause is a process of physical and mental adjustment for women, so it is important to seek support and care. Women can share their feelings and confusion with friends and family and find psychological support. Joining a menopausal support group or seeking professional counseling can also help women cope with mood swings and self-adjust.
Female menopause is a process that varies greatly from individual to individual, and each woman may face different challenges and symptoms, menopause is a new stage in life that women can actively embrace this process and live each day in a healthier and more fulfilling way.