Menopause

Overview

Menopause marks a very important point in the lifetime of a woman. Menopause begins with the cessation of menstruation (periods), which of course means that the woman's reproductive life has come to an end. Some women may find menopause very difficult to deal with and may encounter some psychological problems.

In most women the menopause starts at around the age of fifty years, but there are exceptions with some people experiencing the onset much earlier or later than this average age. Early menopause will also arise if a woman has some gynecological problems leading to a total hysterectomy. Although ovulation may have stopped, some women will carry on with their menstrual cycle for a while until they approach menopause. This explains why many women will not become pregnant even when their reproductive cycle appears to be normal. As the time passes and menopause approaches, the periods may well become irregular and then eventually stop altogether.

Symptoms

One of the most notable symptoms of the menopause is hot flushes (flashes). The face becomes bright red and the color extends down onto the neck with the woman experiencing an extreme rise in skin temperature. They can last for several minutes and is really unpleasant. Other symptoms that may be experienced are irritability, an increase in body weight, severe sweating at night, headaches and insomnia. These symptoms vary in intensity between different women. Some women will have no difficulty in menopause while others may suffer to such an extent that normal life is affected. Reduced estrogen levels causes lot of changes in the vagina. Natural secretions reduce in the vagina leading to vaginal dryness and pubic hair starts to thin.

Causes/Risk Factors

Menopause occurs due to a complex series of hormonal changes. The process leading to osteoporosis can operate silently for decades. Women may not be aware of their osteoporosis until they have a painful fracture. The symptoms are then related to the location and severity of the fractures that lead to other risks.

Types

There are 12 types of menopause. They include:

• Ideal Menopause
• Low Testosterone
• High Testosterone
• Low Estrogen
• Low Estrogen, Low Testosterone
• Low Estrogen, High Testosterone
• Low Progesterone
• Low Progesterone, Low Testosterone
• Low Progesterone, High Testosterone
• Low Estrogen, Low Progesterone
• Low Estrogen, Low Progesterone, Low Testosterone
• Low Estrogen, Low Progesterone, High Testosterone

Tests/Diagnosis

To determine if a woman is premenopausal, a health care practitioner may check the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level through a blood test.

Treatment

Menopause is a normal part of life and is not a disease that requires treatment. However, treatment of associated symptoms is possible if these become substantial or severe. Menopausal women should always ensure that they take a complete balanced diet. To reduce the risk of osteoporosis, which causes the bones to become porous and brittle, calcium intake is essential. HRT, or hormone replacement therapy, effectively replaces the diminishing hormones, postponing the menopausal effects.