What is it?
Menopause is the stage in your life when your ovaries stop working. Having released an egg each month since you reached puberty, they now cease to do so. At the same time, they also stop producing both estrogen and progesterone. It is the drop in the level of these hormones in your bloodstream that gives rise to the symptoms of menopause. As a result of these changes, you stop having periods and can no longer conceive.
Menopause usually happens gradually. A few years before, perhaps as early as your 40s, you may notice that your periods become irregular and bleeding is heavier. This stage is called perimenopause and usually lasts about four years.
Some women can go through menopause without experiencing any problems at all, while others suffer from one or more symptoms, such as hot flushes, night sweats, and insomnia. Hot flushes are often worse during the perimenopausal stage, but then, within two years of their last menstrual period, many women notice a significant improvement and experience fewer hot flushes.
About 20 per cent of women never experience hot flushes, but if you have had a sudden menopause – for instance, after having your ovaries removed – your symptoms may be more severe. Few women get every menopausal symptom, but certain risk factors, such as smoking and being overweight, can make your symptoms worse.
Once you have gone for a full year without having a period, you are said to be "menopausal", or "postmenopausal". Until this time you should continue to use your chosen method of contraception. If you have gone for a year without a period, but then start bleeding again, you should see your doctor. It's important to make sure there is nothing abnormal happening in your uterus that is causing you to bleed.
Although some women have menopausal symptoms much earlier than others, the average age of menopause is about 51. Most women have reached menopause by the age of 59.
There are some exceptions:
• If your ovaries are removed surgically you will have an instantaneous menopause
• If you have chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment, your periods usually stop, but they normally start again after finishing treatment
• If you smoke you are more likely to go through menopause about one to two years earlier than nonsmokers
• About 1 per cent of women will go through menopause before the age of 40. If you think that you may be experiencing an early menopause you should visit your doctor for advice.
After menopause, lower levels of estrogen and progesterone in your body may increase the likelihood of some long-term health problems. These include:
• Osteoporosis, or bone thinning
• Heart disease
• Stroke
If you are suffering from any unexplained symptoms or feel concerned about these health problems, then talk to your doctor.
Page 1 of 5 - On page 2 find out what to do if you have symptoms.
Excerpted from Women's Health For Life, copyright 2009 Donnica Moore, MD and DK Publishing. Used by permission of DK Publishing.All Rights Reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher.
