Question:
When does menopause really begin?
Answer:
A woman reaches menopause when a year has passed since her last period.
Menopause,
like many of the changes in a woman’s body through her lifetime, is caused by
changes in hormone levels.
Menopausal
transition, called perimenopause, is the time when a
woman’s body is close to menopause. Periods may become irregular. A woman may
start to feel hot flashes and night sweats. Perimenopause
usually begins about two to four years before the last menstrual period. It
ends when menopause begins.
Postmenopause follows menopause
and lasts the remainder of a woman’s life. Pregnancy is no longer possible.
There may be symptoms such as vaginal dryness long after menopause.
The
process of reproductive aging begins around age 40. Declining levels of the
hormones estrogen and progesterone change a woman’s periods. These hormones
maintain the health of the vagina and uterus, and regulate the menstrual cycles
The
most common symptoms of menopause are:
•
Period changes. Many women become irregular. Flow levels get heavier or
lighter. There may be spotting between periods.
•
Hot flashes. These are sudden rushes of heat that can last seconds or minutes.
Perspiring and shivering can follow. Flashes can be trivial or strong enough to
wake a woman with night sweats.
•
Vaginal and bladder problems. The genital area can get drier and thinner.
Infections can become more common. Other problems can make it hard to hold
urine.
•
Difficulties with sex. Vaginal dryness can make intercourse painful.
•
Sleep problems. Some women find they may not fall asleep easily or may wake too
early. They’re sleep is disturbed by trips to the bathroom. Hot flashes awaken
them.
•
Body changes. Loss of bone tissue can weaken bones and cause osteoporosis, a
disease in which the bones become extremely porous and more fragile. With age,
waists thicken, muscle mass is lost, fat tissue may increase, skin may get
thinner.
Heart
disease is a major threat for older women. In fact, heart disease is the major
cause of death in women, killing more women than lung or breast cancer.
A
doctor treating menopause might suggest taking estrogen and progesterone, known
as hormone replacement therapy. HRT may relieve hot flashes and reduce loss of
bone. However, it increases the risk for heart disease, stroke and breast
cancer. It appears to decrease the risk of colon cancer.
Phytoestrogens are estrogen-like
substances found in soy, wild yams, and herbs such as black cohosh
and dong quai; they may relieve some symptoms of
menopause. The government does not regulate phytoestrogens.
Scientists are studying some of these plant estrogens to find out whether they
are effective and safe to use.
Be
sure to tell your doctor if you decide to eat more foods with phytoestrogens. Any food or over-the-counter product that
you use for its drug-like effects could interact with prescribed drugs, or
could even cause an overdose.
If
you have a question, please write to fred@healthygeezer.com
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© 2008 by Fred Cicetti