Menopause is defined as the time in a woman’s life, usually between age 45 and 55 years, when the ovaries stop producing eggs (ovulating) and menstrual periods end. After menopause, a woman can no longer get pregnant.
Menopause does not happen suddenly; most women experience several years of changes in their menstrual periods before they stop completely. Declining levels of estrogen can result in:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Mood changes
- Sleep problems
- Vaginal dryness
A woman is said to have completed menopause once she has gone a full year without having a period.
The Stages of Menopause
The months of years before menopause are called perimenopause. During this time, the ovaries begin to run out of eggs and produce fewer hormones. This can lead to symptoms such as hot flashes and changes in your menstrual cycle. Twelve months after your last period, you’ve reached menopause. Beyond this point, you are postmenopausal.
Perimenopause: When changes begin
Perimenopause is when your estrogen levels starts to decrease. Common symptoms include:
- Changes in the menstrual cycle; periods may be closer together or further apart. Bleed may also be heavier or lighter than usual.
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats; trouble sleeping
- Mood swings
- Changes in sex drive
- Breast tenderness
- Bloating
Coping with Perimenopause: Handling flashes and flushes
A low level of estrogen can cause blood to rush to your skin’s surface. This makes your skin temp. rise (called a hot flash) and your face look red (flushed). If you have hot flashes while sleeping, you may sweat a lot (night sweats). Try these tips for relief:
- Wear cotton clothes
- Dress in layers
- Use cotton sheets
- Run a fan or open a window
- Avoid caffeine and spicy foods at night
- Talk with your doctor before using medications, vitamins, or herbs to control symptoms.
Limiting Mood Swings
If you’re having a rough day or week, keep these tips in mind:
- Exercise often
- Eat a balanced diet
- Use your time and energy wisely. Save some for yourself. Learn when to say no.
- Lift your spirits by doing things you enjoy.
- Ask your doctor or healthcare provider about medications to help lessen moodiness.
Finding Support
- Share concerns with your family. Talk about ways they can help you limit stress.
- Talk with other women your age.
- If you often feel depressed, get help. Depression can be treated
Post Menopause: After Your Periods End
Your estrogen level is now very low. You no longer ovulate and your periods have stopped. Your symptoms may include:
- Changes in the texture of your skin & hair
- Vaginal dryness
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats; trouble sleeping
- Moods swings
- Changes in your sex drive
Staying Healthy After Menopause
Symptoms may start to lessen, over time you may have some effects of estrogen loss. During post-menopause, the major health risks include bone loss (osteoporosis) and heart disease. The good news is, you can do a lot to reduce your risks:
-Can reduce your risk of bone problems with frequent exercise. Weight-bearing activities, such as walking and using weights, help the muscles. Getting enough calcium and Vitamin D helps, too.
-After menopause the risk of heart disease increases due to the decrease in estrogen
--Exercise
--Stop smoking
--Healthy low fat/cholesterol diet
- Help control tissue changes
-Reduced estrogen can cause body tissues to thin. Thinning in the urinary tract may lead to bladder infections. You may also have an urgent need to urinate. Thinning of the vagina may cause dryness and painful sex. In some cases, tissues holding the uterus in place may weaken. This can cause the uterus to drop or bulge into the vagina. There are ways to address these problems
-Kegel exercises
-Vaginal dryness can be helped with water-based lubricants and estrogen creams
-To help prevent wrinkles, use sunscreen and do not smoke.
Deciding About Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy (HT) can help reduce certain symptoms and risks linked with low hormone levels. Test results can help your health care provider decide whether HT is right for you:
- Blood tests can measure hormone levels
- Blood cholesterol tests can help assess your risk of heart disease
- A bone density scan may help show if you have osteoporosis
- A breast x-ray (mammogram) may be done to check for breast cancer
- Thyroid function tests can show problems with the thyroid hormone
Benefits
- Help reduce risk of bone fractures
- Decrease hot flashes and sweating
- Decrease mood swings
- May improve vaginal dryness
Risks
Taking estrogen alone may increase the risk of:
- Uterine cancer
- Breast cancer (with long term use)
- Stroke and blood clots
Taking estrogen plus progestin may increase the risk of:
- Breast cancer
- Heart attacks, stroke, and blood clots
- Dementia
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