“Bummer, it’s time to talk about hot flashes, not compresses.”

Listen, on the day when we, like old ladies, are parked in the house, we will be put in a diaper, and you in compress“My friend Rose said this to a third woman who has been desperately suffering from menopause for many years. Mission impossible. Soon to be 54 years old, with a beer in hand, the conversation between women revolves around Boxthorn for the hot flashes and that sad leaf of lettuce that settles on your waist, never to leave – not to mention the sticking power of potato chips – continues to have some lucky person, one who sees himself walking into a pensioner’s home as a promise of eternal youth, his punctual date with menstruation. ¿lucky? “I’m sick and tired.”

How is she, Lola Bonilla, The heroine of the report almost simultaneously changed her grandchildren’s diaper and her own pad. It’s a never-ending rule and a menopause that doesn’t come no matter how long you wait for it, like Godot, because “this stage is a pain,” says Lola. The one that when lengthens You live more alone than the last of the Mohicans. “Who cares if you’re hurt if none of your friends remember the topic; how annoying a girl is, always the same. When it’s time to think about hot flashes, you’re there with your ovarian pain, your premenstrual acne, and your dog’s mood.” it’s changing, but for the worse,” jokes Rosa.

Fighting late menopause

It’s unusual; This is actually a very rare occurrence. late menopause,

what occurs after age 55 affects only 2-3% of women, and this percentage rises to 32% when age 51. So, although rare, “it is quite concerning,” he says. gynecologist Luciana Bergamaschi, medical director of Máxima, a center specialized in menopause that has just opened its doors in Barcelona. “Women associate these menstrual bleeding with abnormalities and think that something is wrong,” she adds. He recalls that a patient in his 60s was suffering from menstruation in his office. “We worked with her a lot to ensure that her cycles were regular and she had controlled bleeding. When we achieved this, he made his transition, very happy,” he notes. Because crossing the 50 limit by changing pads will not be a pathology, but it will be a pain.

“I was Fed up with, all my life with this topic. It came to me ruler just turned 11, so I always thought he would leave as soon as he arrived. That’s what he’s supposed to do, right? Say goodbye to the hassle of bleeding, pain, fatigue, mood swings… forgetting to pack. squeezes and tampons because I’m getting my period. irregular“I’ve never been able to calculate when I’ll be let down, with one exception – the holidays, because putting on a bathing suit and running to get a tampon are the same thing, anytime, anywhere,” she says. . Lola Bonilla. “But nothing, there was no way. One day I asked two of my cousins, “What is this, what’s going on here?” I don’t know why I ask: one had her period until she was 58. and the other changed pads until the 60s.”

It’s in your genes

Family issue. ” menopause Delay may be a response to various factors, including genetics. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet and regular exercise also plays a role,” explains the doctor. Marta Sanchez Deheza,

Specialist in the field of gynecology and obstetrics. Even if you are overweight, because adipose tissue can produce estrogen, which prolongs this period in those women who gave birth to children at an older age and in those who have had more pregnancies. And this has both positive and negative consequences. firstly, they have a lower risk of suffering osteoporosis and fractures, since estrogens play a very important role in bone health. Also lower risk of cardiovascular disease due to protective effect hormones on the heart and blood vessels,” he adds. Negative symptoms include “hot flashes, sweats night shifts, mood swings and sleep disturbances, which can be more intense and lasting,” says the doctor. Sanchez-Deheza. Menopause not only comes later, but also with greater force.

“When all my friends have already forgotten about ruler, I constantly changed the pads. Even more than before, because when I was young I hardly got dirty, menstruation It was a small thing, just three days and that’s it. But then it was the other way around: I had to change clothes at any time. As if that wasn’t enough, I will have iron on the floor, I thought, that’s why I’m so tired. Continuing to menstruate for so many years is a burden,” says Lola.

The alarm clock is ringing

Her gynecologist confirms Lola’s exhaustion. Julie James specializes in regenerative gynecology and sexologist Hospital San Rafael in Madrid. “When a woman continues to menstruate at 55, she should go to the doctor for a thorough examination of the cervix, endometrium, uterus, ovaries… and some profiles also need to be drawn up. hormone to rule out a problem that may be causing this bleeding,” the expert recommends. menstruation This can cause anemia, which leads to fatigue, which in turn can cause fatigue and headaches, and may even cause symptoms of depression. They are also patients who may have a higher risk of breast cancer.” alarmsIt’s no longer about dealing with premenstrual acne like a teenager, or even not crying at the sports section of the news when your hormones are feeling that way. “Just being at higher risk doesn’t mean they’ll get it,” reassures Dr. James.

Whether there is a symptom or a condition that suggests that a woman will reach menopause so late? “There are so many factors that can influence a patient to stop menstruating that it is almost impossible to predict when it will happen,” he replies. Julie James. In this case, the only thing left to do is to try to relieve the symptoms when this untouched stage is as disturbing as or more than in the early years. “It helps to eat foods rich in phytoestrogens, such as soy, flaxseed, sesame and chickpeas. Also include calcium and vitamin D in your diet, which are essential for bone health; dairy products, oily fish and green leafy vegetables, not forgetting antioxidants. foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables. And avoid spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol, which can trigger hot flashes,” the doctor recommends. Martha Sanchez Deheza.

¿Tides?, but aren’t we talking about having your period almost until you change it to a diaper? More alarms. “I had my period until February, and in March, without warning, the first hot flashes appeared and insomnia

terrible: I opened my eye at three in the morning and could not fall back to sleep. “Everything is like this, day after day.”

Big hopes

A great ally, as in almost everything, is exercise. “Performing this exercise regularly preserves bones, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and improves mood and sleep quality,” he explains. Martha Sanchez Deheza, which points to “yoga, meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy to manage stress and mood swings.”

Julie James Aim for strength training exercises to develop strength. muscle mass and control both “hot flashes and the sweating, fatigue and weakness that accompany this stage. It is important to follow your diet and maintain the correct previous weight, because during menopause metabolism It is slowing down and tending to increase.” It is also important not to suffer in silence due to other symptoms that affect the genitourinary area or decreased libido, which is common. “Currently, there are hormonal treatments that we call ‘replacement therapy’. ‘. We can use estrogenprogesterone and even testosterone, something very fashionable, although somewhat controversial; However, with it we get a very good therapeutic response,” says James. testosterone imposes.