Dealing with Menopause

Menopause occurs in women who have reached the end of their childrearing years. You have reached it usually when you are around age 50 and haven't had a period for a year. Although not all women experience it the same, some may stop their periods in earlier and later.

The change leading up to menopause is called peri-menopause. Its length varies from tow to eight years and can start as early as age thirty-something. There is no need for treatment unless it gets too bothersome. Learning as much as you can about it can prepare you for this next phase in your life.

Menopause is caused by normal changes that take place in a women's reproductive and hormone systems. As the eggs in your ovaries age, you don't ovulate as of ten. Because of this, your hormones levels fluctuate which causes your periods to change. They may become lighter or less often. Your estrogen and progesterone levels well drop so low that your period will completely stop.

The symptoms of menopause include irregular period, light periods, or even heavy bleeding. They may become shorter or longer. You can even skip periods. Hot flashes are a common symptom. Insomnia is also a symptom as well as mood changes. Palpitations are included along with headaches, vaginal dryness, and memory loss.

Symptoms can be milder severe. They can sometimes get worse during the first year after onset of menopause. Symptoms can also become milder and less stressful over time due to your normal hormone levels evening out. At that time you will be able to enjoy your lack of periods and birth control needs.

Menopause can be treated for those with severe symptoms. One way is a healthy diet. Another way is with (HRT) Hormone Replacement Therapy. HRT has been recommended to women who still have their uterus and desire to take estrogen. Taking estrogen without the progestin can increase risks of getting endometrial cancer. There are schedules to the therapy such as continuous, cyclic with a high dose, and cyclic with a low dose.

There were trial studies done on people who stopped taking hormone therapy. Two and a half years after taking the drug, users still were at high risk for breast cancer. The original study was named the Women Health Initiative or (WHI). The risk is higher for any cancer than nonusers of the therapy.

source: www.WebMD.com