Description

The menopause is when periods stop for good. It is diagnosed after 12 months without a menstrual period, vaginal bleeding or spotting. Menopause can happen in the 40's or 50 years. But the average age is 51 in the united States.

The menopause is a natural. But the physical symptoms, such as hot flashes, and emotional symptoms of menopause may disrupt your sleep, low energy or affect the mood. There are many treatments, from lifestyle changes to hormone therapy.

Symptoms

Most often, the menopause occurs over time. The months or years leading up to menopause is called perimenopause, or menopause transition.

During the transition, the amount of hormones from the ovaries vary. Perimenopause can last anywhere from 2 to 8 years. The average is around four years.

Hormonal changes can cause symptoms such as:

  • Irregular periods.
  • The Vaginal dryness.
  • Hot flashes.
  • Night sweats.
  • Sleep problems.
  • Changes of mood.
  • Difficulty finding words and remembering, often called brain fog.

Different people have different symptoms of menopause. Most often, the periods are not regular before the end.

Omit the periods during perimenopause are common and expected. Often, menstrual periods to skip a month and then come back. Or skip a few months and then start the monthly cycles again for a couple of months.

The period of the cycles tend to get shorter in the early perimenopause, so that the periods are more closely together. As menopause nears, the periods more distant months before its completion.

You can still get pregnant during this time. If you've skipped a period, but they are not sure of that is due to menopause, think about taking a pregnancy test.

When to see a doctor

Continue to see your health professional for the well-being of the visits, and medical problems before, during and after the menopause. Consult your health care professional as soon as you can if you have vaginal bleeding after menopause.

Causes

Menopause may be the result of:

  • Natural decline of hormones.As you enter in their late 30s, the ovaries begin to produce less of the hormones that control your period. These are called estrogen and progesterone. With lower levels of them, it is more difficult to become pregnant. In your 40s, menstrual periods may be longer or shorter, heavier or lighter, and occur more often or less often. At the time, the ovaries stop releasing eggs. Then you have no more periods. This occurs, on average, around the age of 51.
  • The surgery that removes the ovaries, called oophorectomy.Ovaries produce hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, which control the menstrual cycle. The surgery to remove the ovaries causes instant menopause. Their periods of downtime. It is likely that you will have hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. The symptoms can be severe, as the surgery causes hormones to drop all at once, instead of slowly over several years. Surgery that removes the uterus but not the ovaries, called the hysterectomy, the majority of the times it does not cause instant menopause. You no longer have periods. But their ovaries still release eggs and produce estrogen and progesterone for a period of time.
  • Chemotherapy and radiation therapy.These cancer therapies can cause menopause. Can cause symptoms such as hot flashes during or shortly after treatment. Periods sometimes come back after chemotherapy. Then, you can still get pregnant. Therefore, you can continue using birth control. The targeted radiation therapy to the pelvis, the abdomen and the lower part of the spine can cause menopause. The radiation throughout the body to the transplantation of stem cells can also cause menopause. Radiation therapy to other parts of the body, such as the tissue of the breast or head and neck, probably won't affect the menopause.
  • Primary ovarian failure.Approximately 1% of the people who have menopause before 40 years of age. This is called premature menopause. Premature menopause can be the result of the ovaries do not take the habit of the levels of hormones. This is called primary ovarian failure. It can happen from changes in the genes or an autoimmune disease. Often not the cause of the premature menopause can be found. Then, the health care professionals most often suggest that the hormone therapy. Taken at least until the average age of the menopause, hormone therapy can protect the brain, heart, and bones.

Natural decline of hormones. As you enter in their late 30s, the ovaries begin to produce less of the hormones that control your period. These are called estrogen and progesterone. With lower levels of them, it is more difficult to become pregnant.

In your 40s, menstrual periods may be longer or shorter, heavier or lighter, and occur more often or less often. At the time, the ovaries stop releasing eggs. Then you have no more periods. This occurs, on average, around the age of 51.

The surgery that removes the ovaries, called oophorectomy. Ovaries produce hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, which control the menstrual cycle. The surgery to remove the ovaries causes instant menopause.

Their periods of downtime. It is likely that you will have hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. The symptoms can be severe, as the surgery causes hormones to drop all at once, instead of slowly over several years.

Surgery that removes the uterus but not the ovaries, called the hysterectomy, the majority of the times it does not cause instant menopause. You no longer have periods. But their ovaries still release eggs and produce estrogen and progesterone for a period of time.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These cancer therapies can cause menopause. Can cause symptoms such as hot flashes during or shortly after treatment. Periods sometimes come back after chemotherapy. Then, you can still get pregnant. Therefore, you can continue using birth control.

The targeted radiation therapy to the pelvis, the abdomen and the lower part of the spine can cause menopause. The radiation throughout the body to the transplantation of stem cells can also cause menopause. Radiation therapy to other parts of the body, such as the tissue of the breast or head and neck, probably won't affect the menopause.

Primary ovarian failure. Approximately 1% of the people who have menopause before 40 years of age. This is called premature menopause. Premature menopause can be the result of the ovaries do not take the habit of the levels of hormones. This is called primary ovarian failure. It can happen from changes in the genes or an autoimmune disease.

Often not the cause of the premature menopause can be found. Then, the health care professionals most often suggest that the hormone therapy. Taken at least until the average age of the menopause, hormone therapy can protect the brain, heart, and bones.

Risk factors

The people assigned female at birth go through menopause. The main risk factor is reaching the age of menopause.

Other risk factors include:

  • The surgery to remove the ovaries.
  • Certain cancer treatments.

Complications

After menopause, the risk of certain medical conditions increases. Examples include:

  • Heart and blood vessels. This is also called cardiovascular disease. When your estrogen levels drop, your risk of cardiovascular disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both women and men.
  • Weakening of the bones, called osteoporosis. This condition causes the bones to become brittle and weak, which leads to an increased risk of bone fractures. During the first years after menopause, you can lose bone density quickly. This ups your risk of osteoporosis. The bones are often broken after the menopause, which include the spine, hips and wrists.
  • The loss of control of the bladder, called urinary incontinence. As the tissues of the vagina and the urethra change, you may have a sudden, strong to urinate frequently. Then you could lose the urine, called urge incontinence. Or you could lose urine when you cough, laugh, or lift, called stress urinary incontinence. You may have urinary tract infections more often.
  • Sexual problems. Menopause causes the vagina to obtain dry and loses its elasticity. This can cause discomfort and slight bleeding during sex. Also, the less sensitivity in the area, it can decrease sexual desire, it is called libido.
  • The increase of weight. Many women gain weight during and after menopause due to the burning of calories, so-called metabolism, decreases.

Diagnosis

Most people can tell by the symptoms that have entered menopause. If you have concerns about irregular periods or hot flashes, talk with your health care professional.

The tests most often are not needed to diagnose menopause. But sometimes, your health care professional may suggest blood tests to check the levels of:

  • The follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estrogen (estradiol). The FSH goes up and the estrogen decreases during the menopause. Due to the hormones rise and fall during perimenopause, it can be difficult to determine from these tests, so if you're in menopause.
  • Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). The hyperactivity of the thyroid, called hyperthyroidism, can cause symptoms similar to those of menopause.

You can get home tests to check the levels of FSH in the urine without a prescription. The tests show that if you have high levels of FSH. This could mean that you are in perimenopause or menopause.

But, FSH levels rise and fall during your menstrual cycle. So in the house of FSH tests can't really tell if you are in menopause.

Treatment

Menopause does not need any treatment. Treatments aim to relieve symptoms and to prevent or manage the current conditions that can happen with aging. Treatments may include:

  • The hormone therapy.Estrogen therapy works best to relieve the hot flashes of menopause. It also facilitates other symptoms of menopause and decreases bone loss. Your health care professional may suggest estrogen in the lowest dose and for the time necessary to relieve your symptoms. It is best used by people who are younger than 60 years and within 10 years of the onset of menopause. If you still have your uterus, you will need to progestin with estrogen. Estrogen also helps to prevent bone loss. The long-term use of hormone therapy may have some form of heart disease and breast cancer risk. But from hormones around the time of menopause has shown benefits for some people. Talk with your health care professional about whether hormone therapy may be safe for you.
  • Vaginal estrogen. To relieve vaginal dryness, you can apply the estrogen to the vagina using a vaginal cream, tablet or ring. This treatment gives you a small amount of estrogen, the vaginal tissues to take in. It can help relieve vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse, and some urinary symptoms.
  • Prasterone (Intrarosa). Put this man-made hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in the vagina. Helps to relieve vaginal dryness and pain during sex.
  • Low doses of medications to treat depression are called antidepressants. Some antidepressants may relieve hot flashes of menopause. These are the so-called selective inhibitors of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (Ssris) and serotonin-reuptake inhibitors norepinephrine (SNRIS). A low dose of antidepressants can help control hot flashes in people who can't take estrogen for health reasons or for those who need an antidepressant to a mood disorder.
  • Gabapentin (Gralise, Neurontin). Gabapentin is approved for the treatment of seizures, but it has also been shown to help reduce hot flashes. This medicine is useful to people who can't use estrogen therapy and for those that also during the night, the hot flashes.
  • Clonidine (Catapres-TTS-1, Nexiclon XR). This pill or the patch more often it is the high blood pressure. Could you give some relief from hot flashes. There is often prescribed for hot flashes due to potential side effects such as low blood pressure, headache, drowsiness and constipation.
  • Fezolinetant (Veozah). This medication is a hormone-free. It is the menopause hot flashes by blocking a pathway in the brain that helps control your body temperature. Is approved by the FDA for the management of symptoms of the menopause. May cause abdominal pain, liver problems, and make sleep problems worse.
  • Oxybutynin (Oxytrol). This medicine treats the overactive bladder and urge incontinence. It has also been shown to relieve the symptoms of menopause. But in older adults, it may be linked to cognitive decline.
  • Medicines to prevent or treat the bone-thinning disease called osteoporosis. Your health care professional may suggest a medicine to prevent or treat osteoporosis. There are several medications that can help reduce the loss of bone mass and the risk of fractures. Your healthcare provider may also prescribe vitamin D supplements to help strengthen the bones.
  • Ospemifene (Osphena). It is taken by mouth, this is a selective modulator of estrogen receptor (SERMS), medicine comes to sex painful linked to the thinning of the vaginal tissue. This medicine is not for people who have had breast cancer or who are at high risk of breast cancer.

The hormone therapy. Estrogen therapy works best to relieve the hot flashes of menopause. It also facilitates other symptoms of menopause and decreases bone loss.

Your health care professional may suggest estrogen in the lowest dose and for the time necessary to relieve your symptoms. It is best used by people who are younger than 60 years and within 10 years of the onset of menopause.

If you still have your uterus, you will need to progestin with estrogen. Estrogen also helps to prevent bone loss.

The long-term use of hormone therapy may have some form of heart disease and breast cancer risk. But from hormones around the time of menopause has shown benefits for some people. Talk with your health care professional about whether hormone therapy may be safe for you.

Before deciding on any form of treatment, talk with your health care professional about your options and the risks and benefits of each. Review your choices, annual. Your needs and treatment options may change.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Many of the symptoms of the menopause makes it disappear in your own time. In the meantime, the following may help:

  • Cool hot flashes.Dress in layers, wear t-shirts without sleeves, and the wear and tear of the fabrics that breathe, such as cotton. The temperature of the room and out of the hand of the use or the room of fans. Put cold compresses under your pillow and turn the pillow often, so that your head is on the cool side. It could also help you to avoid triggers such as caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods.
  • Relieve vaginal pain.Try a water-based vaginal lubricant (Astroglide, Sliquid, others) or a silicone-based lubricant or moisturizer (Replens, K-y Liquibeads, other). You can get these without a prescription. Remain sexually active alone or with a partner. This can also relieve the discomfort of the vagina by increasing blood flow to the vagina.
  • Get enough sleep. Skip the caffeine and alcohol, which can make it more difficult to sleep. Exercise during the day, but not right before bedtime. If hot flashes disrupt your sleep, find a way to help manage so you can get a better rest.
  • Find ways to relax. There is little evidence that deep breathing, guided imagery, massage and muscle relaxation can relieve the symptoms of menopause. But finding ways to relax is good for health in general and can help you deal with the symptoms of menopause. You can learn through books and websites.
  • Strengthen your pelvic floor. Pelvic floor muscle exercises, called Kegel exercises, may improve some forms of urinary incontinence.
  • Eating a balanced diet. Include a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Limit saturated fats, oils and sugars. Ask your health care professional if you need calcium or vitamin D.
  • Control the weight. Studies show that obesity is linked with having more and worse hot flashes. Losing weight and keeping it off can help to alleviate them. Talk with your health care professional if you need help to lose weight.
  • Do not smoke. Smoking increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, cancer and a host of other health problems. You can also increase hot flashes and carry before the menopause.
  • Exercise regularly. Get regular physical activity or exercise on most days to help protect against heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and other diseases associated with aging.

Cool hot flashes. Dress in layers, wear t-shirts without sleeves, and the wear and tear of the fabrics that breathe, such as cotton. The temperature of the room and out of the hand of the use or the room of fans. Put cold compresses under your pillow and turn the pillow often, so that your head is on the cool side.

It could also help you to avoid triggers such as caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods.

Relieve vaginal pain. Try a water-based vaginal lubricant (Astroglide, Sliquid, others) or a silicone-based lubricant or moisturizer (Replens, K-y Liquibeads, other). You can get these without a prescription.

Remain sexually active alone or with a partner. This can also relieve the discomfort of the vagina by increasing blood flow to the vagina.

Alternative medicine

There are many alternative medicines that claim to help relieve the symptoms of menopause. But few of them have been proven in studies. Some complementary and alternative treatments that have been or are being studied include:

  • Plant estrogens, called phytoestrogens.There are natural estrogens in certain foods. There are two main types of phytoestrogens called isoflavones and lignans. Soybeans, lentils, chickpeas and other legumes that isoflavones. The seed of flax, whole grains, and some fruits and vegetables have the lignans. It has not been shown that the estrogen in these foods can relieve hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. The isoflavones have some weak estrogen-like effects. So if you've had breast cancer, talk with your healthcare professional before taking isoflavones tablets.
  • The bioidentical hormones.These hormones come from plant sources. The term "bioidentical" means the hormones in the product are chemically the same as the body does. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved some bioidentical hormones. But many are mixed in a pharmacy of a health care professional's prescription, it is called compound. But theFDAdoesn not regulate them, so that the quality and the risks may vary. Bioidentical hormones have not been proven to work better or more secure than other hormone therapy.
  • Cognitive behavior therapy. This type of therapy can help change the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are not healthy. It has been shown to reduce the amount of the symptoms of menopause, upset.
  • Black cohosh. Black cohosh has been popular for many people with symptoms of the menopause. But there is little evidence that black cohosh works. And can damage the liver and not be safe for people with a history of breast cancer.
  • Yoga. Yoga can relieve the symptoms of menopause, at least, as well as other forms of exercise. And balance exercises such as yoga or tai chi can improve strength and help you move better. That can help to prevent falls that could lead to fractures of the bones.
  • Acupuncture. Acupuncture can help to reduce hot flashes in the short term. But the research has not demonstrated that helps a lot. More research is needed.
  • Hypnosis. This mind-body therapy is in a state of profound relaxation and mental images. Hypnotherapy can reduce the number of hot flashes and how bad they are for some of the menopause of the people.

Plant estrogens, called phytoestrogens. There are natural estrogens in certain foods. There are two main types of phytoestrogens called isoflavones and lignans. Soybeans, lentils, chickpeas and other legumes that isoflavones. The seed of flax, whole grains, and some fruits and vegetables have the lignans.

It has not been shown that the estrogen in these foods can relieve hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. The isoflavones have some weak estrogen-like effects. So if you've had breast cancer, talk with your healthcare professional before taking isoflavones tablets.

The bioidentical hormones. These hormones come from plant sources. The term "bioidentical" means the hormones in the product are chemically the same as the body does.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved some bioidentical hormones. But many are mixed in a pharmacy of a health care professional's prescription, it is called compound. But the FDA does not regulate them, so that the quality and the risks may vary.

Bioidentical hormones have not been proven to work better or more secure than other hormone therapy.

You may have heard or tried other dietary supplements, such as red clover, kava, dong quai, DHEA , evening primrose oil and wild yam, cream natural progesterone. There is no scientific proof that they work. Some of these products can be harmful.

Talk with your health care professional before taking herbal or dietary supplements for menopause symptoms. The FDA does not oversee herbal products. Some may be harmful or affect other medicines that you take, putting your health at risk.

Preparing for your appointment

Your first appointment will probably be with your primary healthcare professional or a gynecologist.

What you can do

Before your appointment:

  • Keep track of your symptoms. For example, make a list of how many of the hot flashes that in a day or in a week. Note how bad they are.
  • Make a list of all the medicines, herbs and vitamin supplements you take. Include the dose and how often you take.
  • Ask a family member or friend to go with you, if possible. Someone can help to remember what your health care team tells you.
  • Write questions to ask their health care team. The list of your most important questions first.

Some basic questions to ask include:

  • What tests do I need if any?
  • What are the available treatments to relieve the symptoms?
  • What else can I do to relieve the symptoms?
  • There are alternative therapies that I could try?
  • No printed materials or brochures that you might have?
  • What websites do you suggest?

Be sure to ask all the questions that you have.

What to expect from your doctor

Some of the questions to your health care team can do include:

  • Do you still have time?
  • When was your last period?
  • How often you have symptoms that bother you?
  • How bad are the symptoms?
  • Nothing seems to improve the symptoms?
  • Does anything make your symptoms worse?
Symptoms and treatment of Menopause