During menopause, ovulation ceases, eliminating reproductive ability, and menstruation becomes less frequent and eventually stops. In some women, menstrual activity stops suddenly. For most women, activity slows as the amount and duration of menstrual flow tapers over time. Frequently, periods become more closely or more widely spaced. This irregularity may last for two or three years before menstruation ends.Symptoms of menopause include:
hot flashes and skin flushing
decreased sex drive
mood changes
irregular menstrual periods
vaginal drynessWomen who experience surgical menopause, which is the surgical removal of the ovaries, often experience severe symptoms. The severity of their symptoms is due to the body’s having to adjust to the loss of estrogen all at once, instead of over a period of time.
After menopause, women are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis, a condition that results in loss of calcium from bones. Lowered levels of estrogen increase the risk of osteoporosis.
Around the age of 50, women will generally experience natural menopause, unless surgical menopause already occurred. Consult your physician to discuss how the transition will affect your life.Natural menopause requires no treatment. Doctors sometimes suggest estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) for women to replace the estrogen their bodies no longer produce. ERT can help prevent osteoporosis, decrease vaginal drying, and reduce the symptoms of menopause. ERT is particularly recommended for women who undergo surgical menopause. However, recent data suggests that hormone replacement therapy may increase the risk of certain types of cancers.
Overall, menopause in a natural part of life, and most women experience it with mild side effects. If you are uncertain about some of the side effects, or if you feel they hamper your daily life, consult your doctor to decide if ERT is right for you.
