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Menopause means the end
of menstruation. More specifically, it's the last minute of
your final period. But the changes that lead up to menopause,
and the settling down after, usually span several years. The
medical term for this time is the climacteric, but traditionally
most of us know it as the "change of life." Your ovaries
are your body's main producers of the female hormone estrogen.
As you approach menopause they gradually stop work and the level
of this hormone drops dramatically. Your periods stop and it's
no longer possible, in the usual way, to get pregnant.
Also See Understanding Menopause.
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When
does it happen? |
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Menopause may occur as early as 35, or as
late as 60. There are no hard and fast rules. But most women
will stop menstruating in their mid forties to early fifties.
A few women simply stop having periods, but this is rare. Most
women start to get signs of menopause many months before it
actually happens.
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How
will I recognize it? |
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| The first sign is often a change in your menstrual
cycle. Your periods may become irregular or less frequent, or
they may become longer or shorter. Usually the menstrual flow
lessens, but very often a light period will be followed by a
heavy one, or you may even get "flooding." Sometimes
there is a gap of months between the last few periods. You may
think they have stopped--then be surprised by another. During
this time it is possible to become pregnant so, to be safe,
do not abandon contraception until you have not had a period
for at least two years. |
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What
other symptoms are there? |
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| Estrogen not only regulates reproduction but
it also affects your body temperature, mood and bones and ligaments.
So hormone changes at menopause can have wide-ranging effects
such as fatigue, night sweats and mood swings. |
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Hot
Flashes |
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| These usually start a few months before menopause
and end a year or two after it. You may get just one hot flash
a day, or several an hour. Each one feels as though you have
been plunged into a sauna for a few minutes. When they happen
at night you may wake up bathed in sweat. Flashes may be accompanied
by dizziness, nausea and heart palpitations. These may scare
you, but they are simply the natural response to a sudden rise
in body temperature.
Wearing loose clothing and avoiding synthetic fabrics, which
trap perspiration, may help you feel more comfortable. It's
also a good idea to keep your rooms well ventilated, especially
your bedroom at night.
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Pins
and Needles |
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| Are also common, and so is a peculiar feeling
"crawling" under the skin called fornication. Pains
in the joints and muscles are also reported during menopause,
and some women get swollen hands, ankles and feet. Regular exercise
will help keep you more flexible and your muscles strong. |
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Depression,
Irritability and Mood Swings |
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| In menopausal women used to be dismissed as
a psychological reaction to getting older. Now researchers believe
that fluctuating hormone levels directly affect the part of
the brain that controls moods and feelings. Relaxation exercises
like yoga, progressive relaxation exercise and meditation may
make it easier to cope but if the feelings get really bad, talk
to your doctor. |
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Sex
Problems |
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| There is no reason for your sex life to decline
after menopause. The fall in estrogen may cause the inside of
your vagina to become dry, making sexual intercourse painful.
But lubricating gels purchased over the counter or estrogen
creams and hormone replacement therapy prescribed by your doctor
may restore moisture and elasticity. |
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Osteoporosis |
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After menopause, lack of estrogen allows calcium
to leave your bones, and in time this may make the bones brittle
and fragile, a condition called osteoporosis. You can help to
avoid this by exercising regularly with weight bearing exercises
( weight training, walking, etc.), and eating calcium-rich foods
like spinach, broccoli, cheese, sardines and peanuts, and drinking
skim milk. Or you can talk to your doctor about taking calcium
supplements or going on hormone replacement therapy.
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Emotions |
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| Because menopause marks the end of your child-bearing
years, you may expect it to be a time of sadness. But there
is another way of looking at it. If you have had a family, the
ties of child-rearing will be behind you. You may at last be
free to do what you want to do, and often the maturity signaled
by menopause brings greater confidence. When the hormonal changes
have settled, you may experience a surge of new energy. And
once you are free from worrying about contraception, you might
discover a new relaxation and satisfaction in your sex life.
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HRT |
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Hormonal Replacement Therapy effectively treats
most menopausal symptoms. It will also help to keep your skin
and hair looking good and, more importantly, it will give some
protection against osteoporosis, heart disease and strokes.
HRT does have its drawbacks though. Some women experience belatedness,
sore breasts and cramps. And prolonged use can increase the
risk --very slightly- of breast cancer. For this reason, it
is important that your doctor be consulted before you make a
decision on whether or not you should use HRT.
Some doctors start prescribing HRT at the first signs of menopause.
This may be up to a couple of years before menstruation actually
stops. Others prefer to wait until periods have ceased altogether.
HRT usually means that you continue to experience a monthly
blood loss, although a few types of HRT will prevent bleeding.
Blood flow is usually less than a normal period.
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Information
on this site is provided for informational purposes and is
not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own
physician or other medical professional. You should not use
the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating
a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication.
You should read carefully all product packaging. If you have
or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact
your health care provider.
Information
and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been
evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not
intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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