Mood swings in 30s?

Ladies approaching their 30s now have to pause for a moment and worry about early menopause.
If you thought that this defining phase of a woman's life could come only between the age of 45 and 50, a recent research indicates that even women in the 30s can experience the problem.
According to the nationwide study, the problem is most prevalent among women in Andhra Pradesh. The study, conducted by Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) in collaboration with National Family Health Survey (NFHS), has found out that 31.4 per cent of the 9000 married women aged between 19 and 49, across India, have experienced premature menopause.
According to it, some women encounter menopause as early as 29 - the earliest menopause in the world!

While the percentage of young menopausal women is the highest in Andhra Pradesh at 31.4 per cent, Bihar (21.7 per cent) and Karnataka (20.2 per cent) are no better. Kerala (11.6 per cent) is a tad better while West Bengal (12.8 per cent) and Rajasthan (13.1 per cent) are just a rung lower.
Overall, the percentage of women hit by premature menopause is marginally lower in urban areas (16.1 per cent) as against rural (18.3 per cent).

This has made the medical fraternity in the state sit up and take notice. "The health of Indian women has always been much lower than their counterparts in other developed and developing countries. But skewed menstrual pattern among them has confirmed our worst qualms concerning women's health," says gynaecologist Dr Sharmila Naidu.

She elaborates the difference between pre-menopause and early menopause. "Premature menopause occurs before 40. If it happens naturally - that is, if you haven't undergone any surgery, radiation treatment or chemotherapy that lead to menopause - it is then more commonly referred to as premature ovarian failure (POF).
While in early menopause, you experience menopause before the average age of normal menopause - when you're still in your 20s or 30s. You experience a total cessation of menopause at an early age.

As the physical condition of a woman can determine the onset of menopause, doctors concur that the health of women in AP needs more attention.
"It's surprising that even urban women are neglecting their health. Many among them don't take proper nutrition and are always under stress. The changing dynamics of the Indian family, the increased stress upon women to be financially independent and the whittling down of the familial support structure all have put tremendous physical, emotional and mental strain on our women. This contributes to abnormal menopause," says Dr Shailaja, gynaecologist at Osmania Medical College.

Singer Pratichi Mohapatra agrees with the research, "I have come across many educated women, in senior leadership positions who don't have healthy eating habits; they just binge on junk food and pay less attention to nutrition. Especially, ladies from nuclear family suffer more than those from joint families, as in joint families , at least there are people to care of them."

Dr T S Syamala of ISEC says, "Factors like childbirth can affect one's menopause status. Women who marry and have children late have lesser reason to worry as they experience a delayed onset of menopause. Also, women using oral contraceptives have lesser chances of early menopause."

Dr M Sivakami, who was a part of the study team, says, "Dropping hormone levels during menopause can affect a woman's libido, and decreasing estrogen levels increase blood pressure. This will result in hot flushes, mood swings and below-par sex life."

According to Dr Sharmila, the long-term effects include aching lower-back, cardiovascular problems, joint pain, brittle bones and osteoporosis. "Food high in fibre and protein can work wonders,
source:timesofindia.indiatimes.com