Menopause

What is menopause?

Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when her period stops. It usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. Menopause happens because the ovaries stop making hormones, including the hormone estrogen.

When menopause occurs, it signals the end of the reproductive years. After menopause, a woman can no longer become pregnant.

There are different types of menopause:

Natural menopause is the biological end of a woman’s reproductive years. Surgical menopause happens when a woman’s ovaries are removed. Induced menopause is when menopause happens because of medical treatment, such as chemotherapy.

The transition to menopause is called the perimenopause. The perimenopause can last for several years. During this time, a woman might have irregular periods and mood swings. She might also have hot flashes and trouble sleeping.

After the perimenopause, a woman has reached menopause. Menopause is a normal part of aging. It’s not a medical condition.

Treatments for menopause symptoms:

There are some treatments for menopause symptoms. These include hormone replacement therapy and over-the-counter medicines.

Hormone replacement therapy is a medicine that contains female hormones. You take this medicine to replace the estrogen your body stops making during menopause. Hormone therapy is most commonly used to treat common menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and vaginal discomfort.

Hormone therapy has also been shown to prevent bone loss and reduce fractures in postmenopausal women. However, there are risks with using hormone therapy. These risks depend on the type of hormone therapy, the dose, how long you take it, and your personal health risks.

The importance of having a specialist with you during this process of transition:

For best results, hormone therapy should be tailored to each individual and reassessed frequently to ensure that the benefits still outweigh the risks. It is always needed to be consulted with your specialist which option is better for each particular case.