Menopause

05/31/03

What is menopause?
Menopause is a normal part of a woman's natural aging process and occurs as hormone levels in the body decline. It marks the end of a woman's menstrual periods and her ability to become pregnant without assistance from technology. Menopause is a process that usually begins 2 to 5 years before a woman's last menstrual period. It is completed when 1 full year has passed without a menstrual period.

The symptoms of declining hormone levels can occur before menstrual periods have ended. This period of declining hormones is called the climacteric or perimenopause. Perimenopause can last several years and often includes irregular menstrual periods and other symptoms, such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and mood swings.

The term menopause is used to describe the period between the beginning and end of symptoms. A woman who has not had a menstrual period for 1 year or longer is postmenopausal. Menopause is often used to include the perimenopausal and postmenopausal periods.

A woman may say she is in menopause when she is:

Still having menstrual periods but also has symptoms of approaching menopause, such as hot flashes.

No longer having menstrual periods.

No longer having menstrual periods but continues to have other symptoms, such as hot flashes.

What causes menopause?
Menopause occurs when levels of the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in a woman's body decline. Decreasing levels of estrogen cause many of the long-term health problems, such as osteoporosis, that can occur after menopause.

For most women, menopause occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. Menopause can occur naturally or can be the result of:

Surgical removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy).

Chemotherapy

Radiation therapy to the abdomen or pelvis.

Other medications, such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRH-As). These medications often cause a "temporary" menopause.

What are the symptoms of menopause?
Although some women have few noticeable symptoms of menopause other than the ending of menstrual periods, most women will have some other symptoms. Symptoms may come and go, and more may develop, as the process of menopause progresses.

Symptoms that generally improve with time include:

Menstrual period changes.

Hot flashes

Emotional changes, such as mood swings or a change in sexual interest or response.

Sleep disturbances (insomnia)

Rapid, irregular heartbeat (heart palpitations)

Generalized itching

Joint pain

Headaches

Problems with concentration and memory loss

Vaginal changes

Urinary changes

Many women report an increase in symptoms such as hot flashes following surgical menopause (hysterectomy or oophorectomy), and these symptoms also seem to be more severe.

How is menopause diagnosed?
A diagnosis of menopause is usually based on your age, history of menstrual periods, symptoms, and the results of a pelvic exam. Additional exams and tests may be needed if symptoms are severe, if other conditions are suspected, or if other concerns make a diagnosis difficult.

Does menopause require treatment?
If you have no symptoms, have eaten, rested and exercised correctly for your entire life then you are in a very small minority of women and probably won't need any help maintaining your health at this time. For the rest of you - help is needed. The choices abound. Talk to friends. Find out what they have done - what has worked, what hasn't and what stopped working. And be sure to tell your doctor what you are considering.

To order MACA750™ for your hormonal health from the Medicine Plants™ FDA certified, GMP facility use the secure order page by clicking on MACA750™ at the top of this page.

Be well,
Medicine Plants™

Health Disclaimer! The information presented on this site should not be construed as personal medical advice or instruction. You should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to your health and well-being. The information and opinions provided here are believed to be accurate and sound, based on the best judgment available to the authors, but readers who fail to consult appropriate health authorities assume the risk of any injuries. The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions.

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