Menopause is a natural event that normally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.
It is defined as having had 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period.
It is sometimes called, "the change of life and is characterized in stages - early menopause, perimenopause and post menopause.
It is more likely to occur at a slightly earlier age in women who smoke, have never been pregnant, or live at high altitudes.
It is neither an illness nor a disease, it is only another natural phase in a woman's life we often picture it as a time of decline; a time when a woman and those near her, notice physical and emotional changes.
It is a natural process that occurs because of a decrease in the function of the ovaries, which also control oestrogen production.
Symptoms Symptoms of the menopause can include hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings, declining libido, osteoporosis, ageing skin, lack of energy, joint pains, weight gain, headaches and changes in hair quality.
Symptoms of perimenopause can begin as early as age 35, although most women become aware of them much later.
Symptoms tend to last or get worse the first year or more after it.
Symptoms can be perceived as physical problems, emotional disturbances, or problems associated with sexual functioning.
HRT It is known to increase the density of breast tissue, which makes it harder for the X-rays used in mammography to penetrate the breast.
HRT comes in the form of tablets, patches or gels and always contains oestrogen (either in a natural or synthetic form), and often aprogestogen as well.
It is extremely good for relieving menopausal symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats and vaginal dryness.
It can also help prevent osteoporosis, colon cancer, macular degeneration (vision loss caused by aging) and may delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
HRT is not recommended for women with liver disease, cardiovascular disease, vaginal bleeding, or a history of uterine or breast cancer.
Weight Weight gain, specifically a thickening in your middle, is another sign of changing hormones.
Weight gain during menopause has been conclusively linked to an increased breast cancer risk.
While a number of books and doctors claim that menopause has nothing to do with weight gain, that weight gain occurs in menopausal women because they're older and their metabolism is slowing down, other studies indicate that hormone levels are tied to weight gain and redistribution of fat.
Sex Sex becomes uncomfortable, you may be more prone to infections, your vagina is frequently itchy and easily irritated, and, on the emotional side, you may feel older.
It is worth pointing out that moisturizers and lubricants are different products for different issues: some women feel unpleasantly dry all of the time apart from during sex, and they may do better with moisturizers all of the time.
Second, it will not snuff out your femininity and sexuality.
Around the time of menopause you may find that your feelings about sex have changed.
Or, you could feel freer and sexier after.
As well as the loss of the ability to bear children, women can suffer other unpleasant symptoms as the supply of sex hormones stops.
In addition women can suffer a reduced sex drive, and there is an increased risk of brittle bone disease, as hormones offer natural protection.
Menstrual Menstrual irregularity is most common in the mid forties as you approach menopause.
Menstrual irregularities - Many peri-menopause women find that their menstrual cycle and/or flow changes.
The break-up in the pattern of the menstrual cycles not only causes the levels of most of the reproductive hormones to drop over time, but also causes the reproductive hormones to fall out of phase with one another, which often leads to extreme and unpredictable fluctuations in the levels, which itself can cause numerous different symptoms such as hot flashes, etc, in most women.
Sexual Sexual symptoms may result from increasing dryness and thinning of the vaginal wall, leading to pain or discomfort during intercourse.
Everyone experiences peaks and valleys in sexual desire, an ebb and flow in libido that could be caused by any of a variety of factors.
And, of course, there's a difference between sexual drive and sexual function.
Your vagina also loses its ability to produce as much lubrication (wetness) during sexual arousal.
Ironically, some women discover a renewed or even redoubled libido after the menopause, and sometimes report that their husbands can no longer keep up with their sexual demands.
Uterus For medical reasons, the uterus is sometimes surgically removed (hysterectomy) in a younger woman, and after this her periods will cease permanently and the woman will technically be infertile, but as long as her ovaries (or one ovary) are, or is, still functioning, the woman will not be in menopause.
This is because, even without the uterus, ovulation, and the release of the sequence of reproductive hormones that are an essential part of the reproductive cycles, will continue until the time of it is reached.
As mentioned above, removal of the uterus, hysterectomy, does not itself cause menopause, although pelvic surgery can sometimes precipitate it somewhat earlier, perhaps because of a compromised blood supply to the ovaries.
Hormonal Hormonal changes cause the physical symptoms of menopause, but mistaken beliefs about the menopausal transition are partly to blame for the emotional ones.
Hormonal fluctuation may not be responsible for all irregular bleeding during this period; therefore, pelvic pathology (e.
g.
, uterine fibroids, uterine polyps, endometrial hyperplasia, endometrial cancer), which becomes more prevalent during this time, must be excluded by endometrial sampling, such as endometrial biopsy (EMB) or dilatation and curettage (D&C).
The Grandmother hypothesis considers that the menopause may have been selected for in human evolution, because later life infertility could actually have conferred an evolutionary advantage by allowing older women to spend more time helping with the survival of their existing children and grandchildren.
In fact it can usefully be compared to "puberty in reverse", and the psychological challenges and adjustments which take place over this time span can be compared to adolescence.
It is defined as having had 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period.
It is sometimes called, "the change of life and is characterized in stages - early menopause, perimenopause and post menopause.
It is more likely to occur at a slightly earlier age in women who smoke, have never been pregnant, or live at high altitudes.
It is neither an illness nor a disease, it is only another natural phase in a woman's life we often picture it as a time of decline; a time when a woman and those near her, notice physical and emotional changes.
It is a natural process that occurs because of a decrease in the function of the ovaries, which also control oestrogen production.
Symptoms Symptoms of the menopause can include hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings, declining libido, osteoporosis, ageing skin, lack of energy, joint pains, weight gain, headaches and changes in hair quality.
Symptoms of perimenopause can begin as early as age 35, although most women become aware of them much later.
Symptoms tend to last or get worse the first year or more after it.
Symptoms can be perceived as physical problems, emotional disturbances, or problems associated with sexual functioning.
HRT It is known to increase the density of breast tissue, which makes it harder for the X-rays used in mammography to penetrate the breast.
HRT comes in the form of tablets, patches or gels and always contains oestrogen (either in a natural or synthetic form), and often aprogestogen as well.
It is extremely good for relieving menopausal symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats and vaginal dryness.
It can also help prevent osteoporosis, colon cancer, macular degeneration (vision loss caused by aging) and may delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
HRT is not recommended for women with liver disease, cardiovascular disease, vaginal bleeding, or a history of uterine or breast cancer.
Weight Weight gain, specifically a thickening in your middle, is another sign of changing hormones.
Weight gain during menopause has been conclusively linked to an increased breast cancer risk.
While a number of books and doctors claim that menopause has nothing to do with weight gain, that weight gain occurs in menopausal women because they're older and their metabolism is slowing down, other studies indicate that hormone levels are tied to weight gain and redistribution of fat.
Sex Sex becomes uncomfortable, you may be more prone to infections, your vagina is frequently itchy and easily irritated, and, on the emotional side, you may feel older.
It is worth pointing out that moisturizers and lubricants are different products for different issues: some women feel unpleasantly dry all of the time apart from during sex, and they may do better with moisturizers all of the time.
Second, it will not snuff out your femininity and sexuality.
Around the time of menopause you may find that your feelings about sex have changed.
Or, you could feel freer and sexier after.
As well as the loss of the ability to bear children, women can suffer other unpleasant symptoms as the supply of sex hormones stops.
In addition women can suffer a reduced sex drive, and there is an increased risk of brittle bone disease, as hormones offer natural protection.
Menstrual Menstrual irregularity is most common in the mid forties as you approach menopause.
Menstrual irregularities - Many peri-menopause women find that their menstrual cycle and/or flow changes.
The break-up in the pattern of the menstrual cycles not only causes the levels of most of the reproductive hormones to drop over time, but also causes the reproductive hormones to fall out of phase with one another, which often leads to extreme and unpredictable fluctuations in the levels, which itself can cause numerous different symptoms such as hot flashes, etc, in most women.
Sexual Sexual symptoms may result from increasing dryness and thinning of the vaginal wall, leading to pain or discomfort during intercourse.
Everyone experiences peaks and valleys in sexual desire, an ebb and flow in libido that could be caused by any of a variety of factors.
And, of course, there's a difference between sexual drive and sexual function.
Your vagina also loses its ability to produce as much lubrication (wetness) during sexual arousal.
Ironically, some women discover a renewed or even redoubled libido after the menopause, and sometimes report that their husbands can no longer keep up with their sexual demands.
Uterus For medical reasons, the uterus is sometimes surgically removed (hysterectomy) in a younger woman, and after this her periods will cease permanently and the woman will technically be infertile, but as long as her ovaries (or one ovary) are, or is, still functioning, the woman will not be in menopause.
This is because, even without the uterus, ovulation, and the release of the sequence of reproductive hormones that are an essential part of the reproductive cycles, will continue until the time of it is reached.
As mentioned above, removal of the uterus, hysterectomy, does not itself cause menopause, although pelvic surgery can sometimes precipitate it somewhat earlier, perhaps because of a compromised blood supply to the ovaries.
Hormonal Hormonal changes cause the physical symptoms of menopause, but mistaken beliefs about the menopausal transition are partly to blame for the emotional ones.
Hormonal fluctuation may not be responsible for all irregular bleeding during this period; therefore, pelvic pathology (e.
g.
, uterine fibroids, uterine polyps, endometrial hyperplasia, endometrial cancer), which becomes more prevalent during this time, must be excluded by endometrial sampling, such as endometrial biopsy (EMB) or dilatation and curettage (D&C).
The Grandmother hypothesis considers that the menopause may have been selected for in human evolution, because later life infertility could actually have conferred an evolutionary advantage by allowing older women to spend more time helping with the survival of their existing children and grandchildren.
In fact it can usefully be compared to "puberty in reverse", and the psychological challenges and adjustments which take place over this time span can be compared to adolescence.