There is an urgent need to create more awareness about menopause to ensure the physical, emotional and mental well-being of women in Nigeria.
This was the submission of a media personalty, Mrs Oluwatoyin Ohio-Alegbe at a symposium tagged “Men, Women and Menopause” at Oregun Area of Lagos.
Menopause occurs when a woman stops menstruating, most often between age 45 and 55. The diagnosis is made when the woman hasn’t had her period for 12 months in a row. The transition from being premenopausal to post-menopausal can last up to 10 years. The lead-up to “the change” is called perimenopause; the after time is post-menopause
Mrs Ohio-Alegbe who noted that many Nigerian women have been made to feel ashamed and embarrassed about the fact that they are going through menopause, which is one of the normal stages in the life of women, pointed out that when family members are aware of both the emotional and physical problems associated with menopause, they can help watch for symptoms, encourage and support the women to cope.
Explaining that in the course of her couple intimacy programme on Radio Nigeria’s Bond 92.9 FM, “Labalaba Oro” she found out that menopause had caused rifts and wrecked havocs in homes as women passing through the phase suddenly lacks the drive for sexual intimacy, experience crankiness, depression, strange sweats among other symptoms , stated that researches have shown that when menopause is openly discussed, the less stress menopausal women pass through.
She said: “It is very important that this awareness is out there and when the woman is diagnosed to be in menopause, she should communicate and not keep it to herself so that when any of the symptoms is showing her pepper, they can understand with and be there for her”
Ohio-Alegbe who said she had taken up menopause advocacy through her programme on Radio stated that Doctors are always on ground to educate listeners and prescribed beneficial vitamin supplements to ease some of the menopausal symptoms
She said it was important to dispel myths and misconceptions about menopause which many Nigerians have associated with bad omens and misfortunes.
“Menopause is not an illness, neither is it a spell or a bad omen. It is also not true that if a man meets a menopausal woman, his fortune will diminish or even disappear.
The plan is to explore different events and programmes where the target audience activate these conversations in all its ramifications. A doctor is always on hand to facilitate these sessions with me, to expertly answer questions” she said.