Menopause symptoms and health impacts for women

Menopause is a natural physiological process occurring when ovarian activity declines, leading to a significant reduction in estrogen levels. Medical experts note that 60% to 80% of women experience difficult symptoms during this transition, including hot flashes, palpitations, anxiety, and interrupted sleep.

Beyond common symptoms like sweating, menopause can cause a wide range of physical and psychological issues. These include memory decline, insomnia, fatigue, osteoporosis, cardiovascular risks, urinary incontinence, and vaginal dryness. Such changes can lead to mood swings, anxiety, and depression, which are sometimes misinterpreted by others as personality changes.

At the Hanoi Center for Gender Medicine, clinicians observe that many women suffer in silence for years before seeking help. Diagnosis often involves identifying a continuous period of at least 12 months without menstruation and testing for low estrogen. Hormone replacement therapy is one method used to alleviate these disruptive symptoms.