Menopause

A permanent end to your period may sound heavenly but menopause involves more than just saying goodbye to tampons and cramps; it often brings unpleasant symptoms and increased health risks. Menopause, the permanent end to menstruation and fertility, occurs on average at age 51, 12 months after a woman's last period. The years before menopause are called perimenopause, and the years following are referred to as postmenopause. After menopause, women are at an increased risk for heart disease, osteoporosis, weight gain and urinary incontinence.

Menopause causes Estrogen and progesterone, the hormones that regulate menstruation, decline as a woman ages; eventually a woman’s ovaries stop producing eggs until menstruation stops. A total hysterectomy that removes the ovaries and cancer therapies, such as chemotherapy, can cause early menopause.

Menopause symptoms Long before the onset of menopause, hormonal changes can cause symptoms, including irregular periods, sleep disturbances, hot flashes and mood swings. Some women also experience low libido, vaginal dryness, increased abdominal fat and thinning hair.

Menopause diagnosis/tests Menopause is usually diagnosed after the fact; once you miss 12 months of periods, you're officially in it. Before then, if you're experiencing menopausal symptoms, your doctor may be able to pinpoint if you're pre-or peri-menopausal by your symptoms, such as hot flashes and irregular periods. She may also do blood tests to check your follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level, which increases after menopause, and your estrogen levels, which decrease. Since thyroid conditions can mimic the signs of menopause, she may also check your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) levels.

Menopause treatment Menopause does not require medical treatment but there are options for relieving the symptoms:

• Hormone therapy (HRT) may be prescribed to boost hormone levels; anti-depressants may relieve hot flashes and mood swings; and bisphosphonates may prevent osteoporosis. Estrogen creams or tablets can also help relieve vaginal dryness.

• Lifestyle A healthy diet and exercise may help combat the slowed metabolism that accompanies perimenopause and ward off chronic conditions, such as heart disease.

• Alternative medicine Some women take herbal remedies, such as black cohosh, for hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms, although the scientific evidence on their effectiveness is limited.

Menopause prevention Eating a healthy diet, with fewer calories, getting regular exercise and reducing stress through yoga or meditation, may all be helpful for combating menopausal symptoms, weight gain and the diseases that result from it.

Outside resources
The North American Menopause Society
Menopauseandu.ca