Menopause Causes, Signs and Symptoms and Treatment. Menopause is the cessation of menstrual periods in a woman. It is a natural biological process. The average age of menopause is 51 years old, but the age range is wide (45-55 years old). Symptoms of menopause can include hot flashes, sleep disturbances, mood swings, vaginal dryness, and irregular periods. Treatment for menopause can include hormone therapy, lifestyle changes, and/or alternative therapies.
What is menopause?
Menopause is the permanent end of menstruation and fertility, defined as occurring 12 months after your last menstrual period. It’s the result of your ovaries no longer releasing eggs and producing less estrogen and progesterone hormones needed for pregnancy.
Menopause can occur in your 40s or 50s, but the average age is 51. It’s a gradual process. Initially, you might experience irregular periods. By menopause, your periods will have ceased for at least 12 months.
What causes menopause?
The ovaries two small, almond-shaped organs on each side of the uterus are the main source of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen stimulates the development of female sexual characteristics and regulates the menstrual cycle. Progesterone helps to prepare the uterus for pregnancy.
As you approach menopause, your ovaries gradually produce less estrogen and progesterone. This can cause changes in your menstrual cycle, as well as menopausal symptoms.
What are the symptoms of menopause?
The loss of estrogen causes most menopausal symptoms. They can include:
- Hot flashes.
- Sleep problems.
- Vaginal and urinary changes.
- Low libido.
- Weight gain.
- Thinning hair and dry skin.
- Mood changes.
Symptoms can begin months or years before menstruation stops and can continue for years afterward. They might last only a few weeks or months, be mild or severe, or come and go.
For some women, menopausal symptoms are so mild that they barely notice them. Other women find the symptoms bothersome enough to interfere with their daily activities.
When to see a doctor?
Perimenopause is the transition leading up to menopause. It’s the time when your ovaries produce less estrogen and your menstrual cycles become irregular.
Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation. It can occur in your 40s or 50s, but the average age is 51.
See your doctor if you’re experiencing menopausal symptoms and they’re affecting your quality of life. You might also want to see your doctor to discuss your health risks after menopause.
Treatments for menopausal symptoms
If you’re having bothersome menopausal symptoms, there are several treatments available.
- Hormone therapy. Estrogen therapy is the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms. It can be administered orally, transdermally or vaginally. For most women, the lowest possible dose that alleviates symptoms is best. Estrogen therapy can also be combined with a progestin to reduce the risk of endometrial cancer. These treatments might be used for a few years or indefinitely, depending on your age and health.
- Nonhormonal therapies. These include low-dose antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs and other medications.
- Lifestyle changes. Some lifestyle changes can help to reduce menopausal symptoms, such as managing stress, getting regular exercise and improving sleep habits.
Onset and Duration
The average age of onset for menopause is 51.4 years, although menopause can occur as early as age 40 or as late as age 60. For most women, menopause is a gradual process that occurs over several years. The duration of menopause symptoms also varies, with some women experiencing them for only a few months while others have symptoms that persist for years.
Causes
The primary cause of menopause is the depletion of ovarian follicles, which results in a decline in the production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This hormonal imbalance is responsible for the majority of menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and vaginal dryness.
While the ovaries are the main source of estrogen, the adrenal glands and fatty tissues also produce small amounts of the hormone. After menopause, the ovaries no longer produce eggs and the only source of estrogen is from these additional sources.
Other factors that can contribute to the onset of menopause include:
- Smoking
- Weight gain or loss
- Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or autoimmune disorders
- Certain medications, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy
- Surgery to remove the ovaries or uterus
Signs and Symptoms
The most common symptom of menopause is hot flashes, which are sudden episodes of warmth or flushing that can last for several minutes. Hot flashes are often accompanied by sweating, rapid heartbeat, and dizziness. Other symptoms of menopause include:
- Vaginal dryness
- Night sweats
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Sleep problems
- Weight gain
- Hair loss or thinning
Treatment
There is no single cure for menopause, but there are a variety of treatments that can help relieve symptoms. Some of the most common treatments include:
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): HRT replaces the hormones that are no longer being produced by the ovaries. HRT can be taken in the form of pills, patches, gels, or creams.
- Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs): SERMs are a type of medication that can help reduce hot flashes and vaginal dryness. SERMs work by binding to estrogen receptors in the body and mimic the effects of estrogen.
- Low-dose antidepressants: Antidepressants such as venlafaxine (Effexor) and paroxetine (Paxil) can help relieve hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms.
- Gabapentin (Neurontin): Gabapentin is a medication that is typically used to treat epilepsy, but it has also been found to be effective in treating hot flashes.
- Stimulus (vaginal) therapy: Stimulus therapy involves the use of a water-based gel or cream that is applied to the vaginal area to help increase moisture and relieve vaginal dryness.
Menopause is the Heritage of Human Race
Menopause is a natural process that happens to women of childbearing age. The process is also known as “the change of life.” During menopause, the ovaries stop making eggs and producing estrogen and progesterone. Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier or later.
There are three stages of menopause:
The Perimenopause Stage
The perimenopause stage is when a woman’s body starts to transition into menopause. During this stage, a woman’s ovaries produce less estrogen. This can cause irregular periods, hot flashes, and sleep problems.
The Menopausal Stage
The menopausal stage is when a woman has not had a period for 12 months. During this stage, a woman’s ovaries have stopped making eggs and producing estrogen and progesterone. This can cause hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness.
The Postmenopausal Stage
The postmenopausal stage is when a woman has not had a period for 12 months and is no longer of childbearing age. During this stage, a woman may experience hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. She may also have a higher risk for osteoporosis, heart disease, and some types of cancer.
What is menopause?
Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation. It is also defined as the end of the fertile phase of a woman’s life.
What causes menopause?
The ovaries stop producing eggs and the levels of reproductive hormones (estrogen and progesterone) decline. This process is gradual and may take several years.
What are the signs and symptoms of menopause?
The most common symptom of menopause is the cessation of periods (amenorrhea). Other symptoms may include hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and changes in mood and sleep patterns.
How is menopause diagnosed?
A diagnosis of menopause is typically made based on a woman’s age and the presence of typical symptoms. Blood tests to measure hormone levels may also be used.
What are the risks and complications associated with menopause?
The primary risk associated with menopause is the development of osteoporosis, or thinning of the bones. Other risks include an increased risk of heart disease and some types of cancer.
How is menopause treated?
There is no “cure” for menopause, but there are treatments available to manage symptoms. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most effective treatment for hot flashes and night sweats. Other treatments for vaginal dryness and changes in mood and sleep patterns may also be recommended.
What are the long-term effects of menopause?
The long-term effects of menopause vary from woman to woman. Some women experience no negative effects, while others may struggle with osteoporosis, heart disease, and other health problems.
Can menopause be prevented?
There is no way to prevent menopause, as it is a natural process that occurs as a woman ages. However, there are things that can be done to reduce the risk of some of the complications associated with menopause, such as osteoporosis.
What is the prognosis for women with menopause?
The prognosis for women with menopause is generally good. Most women are able to manage their symptoms and live healthy, active lives.
What research is being done on menopause?
There is extensive research being done on menopause, including studies on the best ways to treat symptoms and the long-term effects of menopause.
What is Menopause?
Menopause is the time when a woman’s periods stop. This happens when the ovaries stop making the female hormone oestrogen. Without periods, a woman can’t get pregnant.
To understand menopause, it helps to know about the menstrual cycle. Every month, an egg grows in one of the ovaries. If the egg is not fertilised, it’s released from the ovary into the fallopian tube.
The lining of the womb (the endometrium) has been thickening, ready to receive a fertilised egg. But, if there is no fertilised egg, the endometrium breaks down and is shed as a period.
What causes menopause?
Menopause is a natural biological process that usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. As a woman gets older, her ovaries produce fewer eggs and make less of the hormone oestrogen. This eventually leads to the menopause.
What are the signs and symptoms of menopause?
The most common symptom of menopause is the stopping of periods. However, other symptoms can include:
- hot flushes
- night sweats
- vaginal dryness
- reduced sex drive
- mood swings
- tiredness
- poor concentration
- hair loss or thinning
- dry skin
- urinary problems
- weight gain
These symptoms are caused by the drop in oestrogen levels. They can start a few months or years before periods stop, and can continue for some time afterwards.
How is menopause diagnosed?
There is no single test that can diagnose menopause. A diagnosis is usually made based on the woman’s symptoms and her age.
If a woman is experiencing menopausal symptoms and is aged 45 years or over, she does not usually need any further tests.
If a woman is younger than 45 years and is experiencing menopausal symptoms, she may be referred for further tests to rule out other causes of her symptoms, such as an underactive thyroid or premature ovarian insufficiency.
How is menopause treated?
There is no medical treatment for menopause, as it is a natural biological process.
However, there are treatments that can help to relieve some of the symptoms of menopause.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most effective treatment for hot flushes and night sweats. It can also help with vaginal dryness, reduce the risk of osteoporosis and protect the heart.
HRT comes in a variety of forms, including tablets, patches, gels and implants. It can be taken combined (oestrogen and progesterone) or oestrogen-only.
HRT is not suitable for all women. It is usually only recommended for women who are experiencing severe symptoms and who are unable to cope with them.
There are also a number of other treatments that can help to relieve the symptoms of menopause, such as:
- vitamin D and calcium supplements to prevent osteoporosis
- antidepressants to relieve mood swings and anxiety
- clonidine, a blood pressure medication, to relieve hot flushes
- gabapentin or pregabalin, painkillers, to relieve hot flushes and night sweats
- vaginal oestrogen to relieve vaginal dryness
- lubricants and moisturisers to relieve vaginal dryness
The bottom line
Menopause is the time when a woman’s periods stop. This happens when the ovaries stop making the female hormone oestrogen.
Menopause is a natural biological process that usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.
The most common symptom of menopause is the stopping of periods. However, other symptoms can include hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, reduced sex drive, mood swings, tiredness, poor concentration and weight gain.
There is no medical treatment for menopause, as it is a natural biological process. However, there are treatments that can help to relieve some of the symptoms of menopause, such