Menopause

What is menopause?

Menopause is a time in a woman’s life when she stops having menstrual cycles.    This lack of menstrual cycles occurs because the ovaries have stopped functioning and will no longer release any eggs and marks the end of reproduction.

What it the average age of menopause?

The average age is 51, but age is dependant of hereditary and life style factors.  Menopause tends to occur later when a woman starts her menses at a younger age.

What hormonal changes occur at menopause?

When the ovaries stop functioning at menopause they stop making the hormones: estrogen and progesterone.  This lack of hormones can affect your body in many ways.  

What symptoms will a woman experience at menopause?

A woman may experience hot flashes, which are a sudden feeling of “heat” that starts in the upper chest and works up into the face.  The skin may redden and sweating may occur as well.  This may last seconds to a few minutes and may happen at night.  Seventy five percent of women experience these and flashes may last days, months or even years.

Sleeping disturbance may also occur, not just because of hot flashes, but because less “deep sleep” occurs.  This may result in feeling less rested and a woman may have difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Loss of estrogen may also affect the vagina and can cause drying of this area over time.  This may lead to irritation with intercourse and burning with itching.  A thinning of tissue can also occur in the bladder and may cause a feeling of urgency and/or leakage of urine. 

Other symptoms include emotional ups and down, heart palpitations and fatigue. 

What health issues may be related to menopause?

The lack of estrogen associated with menopause can cause less calcium absorption.  The greatest bone loss occurs in the first five years after menopause.  This can lead to osteoporosis and fractures in the spine, hip and wrist.  Since estrogen is known to protect the heart, the loss of estrogen with menopause can lead to more heart attacks and strokes.