Menopause

MENOPAUSE

Condition

Menopause, sometimes referred to as the change of life, is when your menstrual periods stop permanently. It usually occurs between the ages of 48 and 55. Before your periods stop altogether, they may become very irregular. You may not have a period for one to three months or you may have periods more often than once a month. When you have not had a period for 12 consecutive months, you are in the menopause. Your ovaries decrease production of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone, which can lead to many symptoms, some of which can be serious and important to your health. Some symptoms may appear even before your periods stop completely. You may want to discuss symptoms and available treatments, their risks and possible side effects, with your doctor.

Causes

Menopause is usually a natural process, a result of normal aging. There can be other causes, however. These include:

  • the surgical removal of both ovaries
  • tumors in the brain or the pituitary gland, which controls the function of the ovaries
  • some diseases and medical conditions that affect hormone production
  • radiation treatment
  • chemotherapy
  • failure of the ovaries to function for unknown reasons.

Common Symptoms

  • hot flashes
  • difficulty sleeping
  • an increase in dryness and wrinkling of your skin
  • vaginal dryness that can cause sex to be painful
  • decrease in sex drive and desire
  • headaches
  • tiredness
  • trouble remembering
  • weight gain
  • bladder infections
  • dizziness
  • decreased chance of getting pregnant
  • increased hair growth on face and chest
  • irritability

More Serious Symptoms

  • depression
  • osteoporosis, a condition that results in loss of calcium from your bones and an increased risk of fractures
  • clogging, narrowing and hardening of the blood vessels, leading to heart disease

WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR MENOPAUSE

Call Your Doctor Right Away (day or night) If

  • You have been injured and think you have a broken bone.
  • You have heart palpitations  (a sensation of rapid heartbeats).

Call Your Doctor within 24 hours If

  • You have started a period or have vaginal bleeding, light or heavy, after you have gone for at least 12 months without having had a period.
  • You are urinating frequently and have pain when you urinate.

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If

  • You think you are in the menopause and need an appointment.
  • You need prescription medication for any of your symptoms.
  • You need a referral to a specialist, such as a gynecologist or a psychiatrist.
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HOME CARE ADVICE FOR MENOPAUSE

  1. Eat a diet that contains a lot of calcium (found in dairy products and dark green leafy vegetables) and soy products (such as soy milk, soy flour, soy nuts and tofu). The calcium is good for your bones and soy contains chemicals that act like estrogen and may help relieve some of your symptoms.
  2. Get plenty of sleep.
  3. Exercise regularly.
  4. Avoid overexertion when working and exercising.
  5. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Alcohol, red wine in particular, may bring on hot flashes.
  6. Avoid becoming overheated and consuming hot and spicy foods and drinks because these may also make symptoms like hot flashes worse.
  7. Do not smoke. In addition to other health concerns, smoking precipitates hot flashes.
  8. Dress in layerst to help deal with hot flashes.
  9. To make sure you are getting all the nutrients your body needs, take the following daily:
    • a multivitamin, plus
    • 400 mg of vitamin E, which seems to help some women with symptoms such as hot flashes and sleep problems
    • an additional 1,200 to 1,500 mg. of calcium (with vitamin D to aid absorption). Calcium should be taken in 500 mg doses because the body cannot absord more than that at a time.
  10. If vaginal dryness is a problem, use a lubricant, such as K-Y Jelly, which you can get without a prescription.
  11. Consider joining a support group if you think it might be helpful to discuss what you are going through and share information with other menopausal women.
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For More Information Click on the Links Below

References

  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Precis V, An Update in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Menopause, Page 401, 1994.
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Patient Education, The Menopause Years, APO 47, 2003.
  • The Geripause, Medical Management During the Late Menopause, Bernard A. Eskin, MD and Bruce R. Troen, MD, 2003.

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Disclaimer:

Peer-Reviewed by the Faculty of the University of Colorado Denver Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new healthcare information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional