World Menopause Day is observed annually to raise awareness about the impact the condition has on the lives of women around the world during their menopause years.
Despite affecting about half of the world's population, menopause isn’t talked about as much as it should be. Observing the day is also an opportunity to encourage further medical research on the condition. This day also aims to break the barrier as many cultures around the world still considere it to be taboo to talk about menopause and menstruation in general.
World Menopause Day History:
Earliest known references to menopause have been very scarce. Aristotle referred to age at menopause being 40 years. A French physician coined the term menopause in 1821. Medical interest in menopause increased considerably by the mid 19th century. In 1930s people started describing it as a deficiency disease. Consequently, various replenishment therapies were advocated eg. testicular juice, crushed ovaries of animals, etc.
In 1970s medicalization of menopause was completed. Menopausal symptoms were ascribed to estrogen deficiency and estrogen (hormone) replacement therapy was exhorted as the ultimate liberation of middle aged women. Synthetic estrogen was developed in 1938. Medical industry (Pharmaceuticals) entered the scenario of menopause in a big way and dominated the center stage. In 1970s International Menopause Society(IMS) was established.
First International Congress on Menopause was also organized in Paris, France in 1976. Various countries have formed national societies on menopause. Symptomatology of menopause differs in different ares of the world e.g In West - hot flush, in Japan shoulder pain and in India low vision are the hallmarks of menopause. HRT use rate is high in West while it is low or negligible in countries like India.
World Menopause Day was established in 1984 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Menopause Society (IMS) with the intention of spreading awareness about this condition that affects women as they age. And since then it has been celebrated annually as an very important awareness campaign regarding menopause across the world.
World Menopause Day Significance:
Menopause, also known as the climacteric, is the time in women's lives when menstrual periods stop permanently, and they are no longer able to bear children. Menopause usually occurs between the age of 47 and 54. Medical professionals often define menopause as having occurred when a woman has not had any menstrual bleeding for a year. It may also be defined by a decrease in hormone production by the ovaries.
Menopause is usually a natural change. It can occur earlier in those who smoke tobacco. Other causes include surgery that removes both ovaries or some types of chemotherapy. At the physiological level, menopause happens because of a decrease in the ovaries production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. While typically not needed, a diagnosis of menopause can be confirmed by measuring hormone levels in the blood or urine.
Common symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, and sleep disturbances. All of these symptoms can result in an increase in anxiety and depression. After menopause, women are more at risk of developing conditions like heart disease and osteoporosis. Most treatments for menopause focus on symptomatic relief as it's a normal part of aging, and, as such, is not a curable condition.
The condition has not been studied as much as it should be and is not discussed openly. Having a World Menopause Day was seen as a solution to these problems by encouraging conversation and research on menopause and its effects. It also aims to bring awareness regarding it to the other men population who might not think it as that important or are unaware about it. This day also aims to break the social taboo regarding it by spreading the correct information about it.
World Menopause Day Theme:
The theme of World Menopause Day 2022 chosen by IMS is "Brain Fog and Memory Difficulties in Menopause."
Research and studies shows that women’s memory does in fact change at menopause, so these complaints are real and it's not just in your imagination. Brain fog is normal and common at midlife. These bothersome problems can affect your quality of life. However, they are usually quite mild and will improve post menopause.
Menopause brain fog is a group of symptoms that happens around the time of the menopause, including difficulty remembering words and numbers, disruptions in daily life (misplacing items like keys), trouble concentrating (absent mindedness, losing a train of thought, being more easily distracted), difficulty switching between tasks, forgetting the reason for doing something (like why you came into a room), and forgetting appointments and events.
Most Searched FAQs on World Menopause Day:
1. When is World Menopause Day observed?
World Menopause Day is annually observed on 18th October.
2. When do women experience menopause?
Menopause affects women around the time that they reach 40 to 58 years of age.
3. What is the theme of World Menopause Day 2022?
The theme of World Menopause Day 2022 is "Brain Fog and Memory Difficulties in Menopause."
