How Does a Woman’s Body Change After Forty?

From the age of forty onwards, women’s bodies begin to undergo specific changes that require them to take certain measures to avoid possible effects on their health. But, how does a woman’s body change after forty?

At forty, women begin to approach the end of their fertile life, and this entails a series of changes in their bodies that deserve to be taken into consideration to alleviate the effects produced in them.

Less Fertile

From the age of 40 onwards, the chances of achieving a healthy pregnancy are increasingly lower. From a physiological point of view, women over 40, even from 35 years of age, see their fertility diminished simply by the exhaustion of the oocyte reserve.

Also, there are added risks such as hypertension, diabetes, fetal malformations, abortions. That is why medical societies recommend that pregnancy should take place before this time.

Estrogen Reduction

Regardless of gestational desire, women continue to lead extraordinarily active lives in the areas of work, personal life, and sex and must be even more careful with their bodies.

Why? Because hormones have started to decrease, especially in terms of estrogen production. This causes body fat to reorganize, predominantly in the buttocks, legs and also increases the risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease. 

Also, muscle mass and tone are diminished, increasing the flaccidity of tissues, whether legs, arms, abdomen, pelvic floor.

For this reason, it is highly recommended to practice regular exercises at a moderate intensity. Among others, there are Kegel exercises to improve the pelvic floor, hypopressive gymnastics, Pilates method exercises, or healthy back.

More Fragile Bones

From this age onwards and more so from the age of 45, and conditioned by the decrease in estrogen, the body begins to lose bone mass, so it is vital to maintain a proper diet, avoid smoking and try to exercise regularly, which will prevent this loss in the future and especially after the arrival of the menopause.

Between the ages of 45-50, the first hot flushes, irritability, sudden changes in mood, difficulty in sleeping, decreased sexual desire, and vaginal dryness may appear.

As a consequence of perimenopause, although it is a normal physiological process, it is still uncomfortable for women, and sometimes it is necessary to resort to some therapies:

Vaginal moisturizers with hyaluronic acid are widely used to restore the elasticity of the tissues.

Natural estrogens such as isoflavones help to combat hot flashes and irritability.

And other dietary supplements with L-tryptophan or Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, which improve sleep quality and mood swings.

And Then There’s Menopause

During the 50s, physical and psychological changes occur that one must learn to cope with and accept. Menopause appears lack of menstruation during 12 months, with the permanent end of the follicular function.

At this time, the physical changes are a direct consequence of it. The redistribution of fat continues, the muscle mass and tone, the elasticity of all tissues, and skin decrease even more.

You must pay attention to the bones that suffer more significant deterioration, and osteoarthritis may appear in the joints. Pubic hair, armpit hair, and other hair begin to disappear, and there is a tendency for weight gain.

The Role of the Gynecologist

At this time in a woman’s life, the gynecologist is probably the specialist who will know best how to treat her. He or she will explain to her that all these physical changes are produced by hormones, that everything is within normal limits, and that, therefore, she is not suffering from an illness.

As far as possible, he will accompany you in this moment of change and will try to alleviate the symptoms with all the tools at his disposal.