MENOPAUSE
Menopause is the permanent cessation of reproductive fertility some time before the end of the natural lifespan. The term was originally used to describe this reproductive change in human females, where the end of fertility was traditionally indicated by the permanent stopping of menstruation or "menses". The word "menopause" literally means the "end of monthly cycles" from the Greek words pausis (cessation) and the word root men (month). In human females, menopause usually happens more or less in midlife, signaling the end of the fertile phase of a woman's life.
Menopause is perhaps most easily understood as the opposite process to menarche, the start of the monthly periods. However, menopause in women cannot satisfactorily be defined simply as the permanent "stopping of the monthly periods", because in reality what is happening to the uterus is quite secondary to the process; it is what is happening to the ovaries that is the crucial factor.
Thus menopause is based on the natural or surgical cessation of hormone production by the ovaries, which are a part of the body's endocrine system of hormone production, in this case the hormones which make reproduction possible and can influence sexual behavior. The menopause transition, and post-menopause itself, is a natural life change, not a disease state or a disorder. The transition itself can be challenging for a number of women, but for others it is not difficult.
(Sources: National Institute on Aging/ Wikipedia with links to Wikipedia)
Question: What is Menopause?
Answer: Menopause is the point in a woman's life when menstruation stops permanently, signifying the end of her ability to have children. Known as the "change of life," menopause is the last stage of a gradual biological process in which the ovaries reduce their production of female sex hormones--a process which begins about 3 to 5 years before the final menstrual period. This transitional phase is called the climacteric, or peri-menopause. Menopause is considered complete when a woman has been without periods for 1 year. On average, this occurs at about age 50. But like the beginning of menstruation in adolescence, timing varies from person to person. Cigarette smokers tend to reach menopause earlier than nonsmokers.
Many health care professionals now believe that adult males undergo a similar series of hormonal changes often referred to as “Andropause”.
Menopause – Hormone replacement:
Question: I'm a 48-year-old woman, and I'm going through menopause. My doctor wants me to start taking hormone replacement, but I'm worried about safety. What should I know?
Answer: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is started at the time of menopause. It usually consists of estrogen and progesterone. Women who are prescribed HRT should have annual checkups including Pap smears, breast exams, and mammograms.
Estrogen comes in different forms, such as oral pills, skin patches, and vaginal creams or gels. Estrogen eases the symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and urinary irritation. It also protects you against heart disease and osteoporosis, and it can lower your cholesterol. In some women, estrogen also improves mood.
The most worrisome side effect of taking estrogen without progesterone is an increased chance of endometrial cancer, which affects the lining of the uterus. If you have had a hysterectomy it is okay to take estrogen alone, but if you haven't, progesterone should be added to your regimen. Progesterone is given in pill form. It should be used in women who have a uterus and are receiving estrogen therapy to decrease the risk of endometrial cancer. A doctor should evaluate any woman receiving HRT who has abnormal vaginal bleeding.
Many women worry about the relationship between estrogen therapy and breast cancer. The exact relationship between these is not clear, but women who have a very strong personal or family history of breast cancer might not be given estrogen therapy. This should be discussed with your doctor.
Women with undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, or an active blood clot in the leg should not be given HRT. Other conditions may be made worse by HRT and should be considered when deciding about therapy. These include endometriosis, gallbladder disease, and menstrual migraine headaches.
The choice concerning HRT is an individual one. Factors that include your personal risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, breast cancer, and endometrial cancer should be considered. For most women, the benefits of HRT outweigh the risks, but as always, you should talk to your doctor to find out what is best for you.
