Just What is Menopause and What Does it Mean for Me?

Some women dread the onset of menopause. But, it is a natural occurrence as a woman goes through life. If you deny what is happening to your body, you will only put yourself through needless worry and stress. Instead, why not learn what you can? In this way, you can make this time of your life a wonderful transition, instead of a time of mental anguish and physical distress.

The Council of Affiliated Menopause Societies defines menopause as "The permanent cessation of menstruation resulting from the loss of ovarian follicular activity." If you are going through natural menopause, it can be difficult to determine. The safest way to know you have gone through menopause is if it has been twelve months since your last period. During the years prior to menopause, you may experience less regular periods and longer time spans between your periods. Do not worry. This is normal.

There are two types of menopause. They are natural and induced. Natural menopause is described in the previous paragraph. Induced menopause is when a woman no longer has periods because of some type of medical procedure. This can be either permanent or temporary, depending on the type of medical procedure the woman is going through.

Induced menopause can have several causes. The most obvious would be having the ovaries surgically removed. This can happen at the same time as a hysterectomy, but not necessarily. There may be a reason to have the ovaries removed, but not do a hysterectomy at the same time.

Another cause of induced menopause is chemotherapy. It can damage the ovaries to the point they do not function at all. It may just stop ovulation for the duration of the treatment. How much damage and how long it will last depends on the drugs that are involved in your treatment. There is a chance your ovaries could recover when the treatment stops. Doctors have a difficult time predicting how much damage will be done.

Pelvic radiation therapy can also damage ovaries. This treatment causes the ovaries to be targeted with high doses of radiation. Usually, this is a treatment for cervical cancer. Radiation therapy is usually targeted to one organ. So, there is often no effect on the ovaries. And, if they receive a low dose of the radiation, it is likely they will recover.

No matter what type of menopause you are going through, it will mean the same thing for you and your body. You will no longer have periods. You will no longer be fertile. What this does not mean is that you become old. It is quite possible that with today's medical environment, you will live one half to one third of your life after going through menopause.

This does not mean you are young, however. You need to know what is going on with your body and stay ahead of problems, if at all possible. Talk to your doctor. Ask about bone loss, heart disease, diabetes, and other illnesses that can be worsened by hormones on the rampage. Menopause just means there are new ways to stay healthy and active. If you educate yourself, menopause can just be one more phase in your life. It does not have to be horrible or the end of youth.

SOURCE

Slupik, Ramona, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., with Lorna Gentry. "The Everything Menopause Book." 2003. F+W Publications, Inc. Avon, MA, USA.