Prachi Jaiswal was only 37 when her doctor diagnosed her with premature menopause. Head of media strategy in a well known digital agency, Jaiswal had been juggling a busy career with parenting a 4 year old. Menopause was the last thing on her mind. “My husband and I were even thinking about a second baby, now that our daughter is 4. Life has thrown a total curveball at me!” Jaiswal told us when we met her for coffee earlier this week. Premature menopause in Indian women seems to be a silent battle that is fought alone. With little known about the topic and not too much research easily available, very few women are aware of what is happening to them.
In Jaiswal’s case, a visit to the dermatologist to treat pigmentation was what led to her diagnosis. “I was seeing a dermatologist to treat a sudden increase in pigmentation on my face. When I didn’t see too much improvement after over a year of treatment, I decided to get a second opinion. The second dermatologist I went to had been highly recommended by a close friend and I’m so glad I saw her. She was the one who first suggested that I may be experiencing premature menopause. My gynaecologist later confirmed the same. I had been experiencing tiredness, dry skin, an increase in headaches…but honestly I had no clue it could be menopause! My periods had been irregular occasionally but I wrote it off to work stress and travel” shares Jaiswal.
A study conducted by the Indian Menopause Society shows that the average age of menopause in Indian women is 46.2 years, much lesser than the global average age of 51 years. What’s more, there are an increasing number of Indian women who are experiencing menopause even earlier. A study by the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) says that 4% Indian women experience menopause between 29- 34 years. This figure goes up to 8% for women between 35-39 years. This data is concerning because premature menopause exposes women to a host of health problems. Experiencing premature menopause, or even early menopause reduces oestrogen levels which can increase the risk for osteoporosis and heart disease, among other health concerns.
What is the difference between premature menopause and early menopause?
Premature menopause and early menopause are both conditions when a woman experiences menopause at an age earlier than is typically expected. The difference between the two is the age at which it happens. Premature menopause is when a woman experiences menopause before the age of 40 years. Early menopause takes place between the ages of 40 and 45 years. Both premature and early menopause expose women to a higher risk of serious health issues. Apart from heart disease and osteoporosis, women also face an increased risk of more severe menopause symptoms and conditions like depression.
What is causing premature and early menopause in Indian women?
So why are an increasing number of Indian women experiencing this hormonal roller coaster? Genetics has a role to play, of course. Several studies show that if your mother experienced early menopause, chances are higher that you may experience it too. The extent of heredity remains uncertain however. And lifestyle changes can help avert this to a very large extent. Which brings us to the other big reason why Indian women are seeing an increase in early menopause: lifestyle. Erratic work hours fuelled by endless cups of coffee and stress, an increase in processed food and our mostly sedentary lifestyle have a big role to play. Add smoking into the mix and you have the perfect recipe for hormonal disaster.
Other reasons for experiencing an early or premature menopause include surgery, chemotherapy or radiation treatments for cancer. Certain health conditions and autoimmune diseases can also cause early or premature menopause.
So what can we do?
It may not always be possible to control when you will start menopause, especially if you’ve had surgery or some health condition. Your genes and family history do have a role to play as well. However there are factors within your control than can influence your hormones and they are largely lifestyle related.
Experts recommend eating a diet rich in fruits and high quality proteins. Incorporate foods that are rich in calcium as well as Vitamin D. Research has shown that eating oily fish and fresh legumes can delay menopause by several years. Try and moderate your intake of carbohydrates such as rice and pasta. Avoid highly processed foods and foods high in polyunsaturated fat.
If you’re a smoker, seriously consider quitting. There is a significant correlation between smoking and early onset of menopause. Exercising regularly is one of the best ways to prevent early or premature menopause. Regular exercise helps regulate your hormones and maintain a healthy body weight. Adequate sun exposure has also been known to help delay early onset of menopause. So a jog in the park on a sunny morning may be just what the doctor ordered!
Apart from eating healthy and exercising regularly, you also need to be mindful of the toxins you may be exposing yourself to on a regular basis. Toxins may lurk in your shampoo, your lipstick or even your microwaveable lunch container. Research shows that early menopause may be caused by environmental chemicals known as endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors are found in plastics and phthalates commonly used in household goods, cosmetics and even food containers. Try and limit your exposure to these toxins as much as you can. Also, remember to get enough sleep, stay well rested and manage your stress levels.
“When my doctor diagnosed me with premature menopause, I felt like my world had collapsed” says Prachi Jaiswal with a rueful smile. “I remember the doctor saying ‘Ab kuch nahi ho sakta. Train platform se nikal chuki hai’. I was so depressed, but my family and friends supported me. And I found joy in my little daughter. Eventually I even found a support group for women like me. This group connected me to other networks and resources. I realized that getting a diagnosis like mine does not mean the end of the world. Maybe you can’t control when menopause will happen and you can’t turn back time. But you can move on. And with advances in medical science there is hope even for people like me. My husband and I are considering IVF, or even adoption. Life has started looking up again!”