Menopause, Change of Life
Menopause is the time in a woman's life when her period stops and she can no longer become pregnant. It is a normal change in a woman's body. Menopause can occur naturally or be caused by surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. A woman is said to have completed natural menopause when she has not had a period for 12 consecutive months (and there are no other causes, such as pregnancy or illness, for this change). This typically happens after age 45. Menopause occurs immediately if the uterus or both ovaries are surgically removed, or if the ovaries are damaged in cancer treatment with radiation therapy or certain drugs.
Menopause is sometimes called,'the change of life.' In the years leading up to menopause, a woman's ovaries slowly make less and less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. You might not be aware of the changes happening in your body. Or, you might have symptoms as you near menopause. Many women wonder if these symptoms are normal, and many are confused about how to treat their symptoms.
Menopause affects every woman differently. Your only symptom may be your period stopping. You may have other symptoms, too. Some symptoms that women experience are related to menopause and decreased activity of the ovaries. Others may be related to aging in general.
Scientific evidence of a link to menopause is strongest for the following symptoms; hot flashes and night sweats, sleep difficulties, and vaginal dryness, which can lead to painful intercourse and other sexual problems.
It is not certain whether the following symptoms are due to menopause, other factors that can come with aging or a combination of menopause and these factors; problems in thinking or in remembering things, urinary incontinence, physical complaints, such as tiredness and stiff or painful joints, and changes in mood, such as depression, anxiety, and/or irritability.
After menopause, bone loss speeds up for several years as estrogen levels rapidly decrease. Bone loss can cause bones to weaken. Weak bones can break more easily. When bones weaken a lot, the condition is called osteoporosis.