Menopause

Menopause is a natural process, which marks the end of menstruation and fertility.

The physical symptoms of menopause are caused by hormonal changes.  The ovaries produce less estrogen and progesterone, and these are the hormones that control menstruation.   This process starts when a woman is in her late 30's.  Ovulation is less predictable, and fertility declines.

These changes, as well as changes in your menstrual pattern, are more evident in your 40s.  Your periods may become heavier or lighter, longer or shorter, and may become more or less frequent.  Eventually, your periods stop.

Usually, your periods will gradually decrease in frequency until they stop completely.  There is no exact way to know which period will be your last.  In most cases, you will have to wait until 12 months after your last period, to in fact confirm that you have reached menopause.   On average, this occurs at about age 51.  It is still possible to become pregnant in the final months before menopause, but it is very unlikely.

Menopause is usually a natural process. But certain medical treatments or conditions can bring on menopause earlier than expected. These include a hysterectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and premature ovarian failure.

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of menopause often occur well before the one-year anniversary of your last period. They include:

• Irregular periods
• Decreased fertility
• Vaginal dryness
• Hot flashes
• Sleep disturbances
• Mood swings
• Increased abdominal fat
• Thinning hair
• Loss of breast fullness

Even though menopause is not an illness, the physical and emotional symptoms that are experienced can be distressing.    If your symptoms are severe, you should consider seeking treatment.  Many treatments are currently available, including lifestyle adjustments, and hormone therapy.

Complications
Several medical conditions commonly appear after menopause.  You can reduce your risk by being aware of these conditions:

Cardiovascular disease.   Stopping smoking, reducing high blood pressure, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet, can reduce the risk.

Osteoporosis.   Bone density decreases rapidly during the first few years after menopause.  Postmenopausal women are especially susceptible to hip, wrist and spine fractures.   It is vital that your intake of calcium and vitamin D is adequate (about 1,200 to 1,500 milligrams of calcium and 800 international units of vitamin D daily). Regular exercise will also help keep your bones strong.

Weight gain. Many women gain weight during menopause.   You may find that you need to eat less and exercise more, to maintain your current weight.

Treatment

Menopause does not require a specific treatment, however there are treatments to lessen symptoms, and precenting chronic conditions that may occur with aging.   These treatments include:

• Hormone therapy. Your doctor may recommend oestrogen therapy to relieve menopausal hot flashes.
• Low-dose antidepressants such as Effexor have been shown to decrease menopausal hot flashes.
• Bisphosphonates. Doctors may recommend these nonhormonal medications, which reduce both bone loss and the risk of fractures.
• Before deciding on treatment, talk to your doctor about your options.

Self-care

Most of the signs and symptoms of menopause are temporary.   You can take these steps to help reduce or prevent these symptoms:

• Cool hot flashes. Exercise regularly, dress in layers and try to determine what triggers your hot flashes.   Some triggers may include hot beverages, spicy foods, alcohol, and hot weather
• Decrease vaginal discomforts. Use over-the-counter vaginal lubricants (Astroglide, K-Y) or moisturizers (Replens, Vagisil).or a good brand of EPO to assist in moisturising internally
• Optimise your sleep. Avoid caffeine, and try not to exercise right before bedtime. Relaxation techniques can also help.
• Exercise regularly, for at least 30 minutes on most days.  This can also help to lower stress levels.

You can also buy over-the-counter treatments that support mood balance, aid with temperature control, and help with irritability during times of stress.

Alternative treatments

The following are some alternative treatments for relieving the symptoms associated with menopause.

Phytoestrogens. These are estrogens that occur naturally in certain foods.  Blackmores PhytoLife contains a clinically proven dose of phytoestrogens, and helps to reduce the severity and frequency of menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes and night sweats. There is also the following available:

•  Vitamin E. This can provide relief from mild hot flashes for some women.
•  Black cohosh is also effective in treating hot flashes.

We have the following products available to assist

http://search.netpharmacy.co.nz/search?site_tree_id=70&w=menopause

Other treatments include dietary supplements such as licorice, chaste berry, evening primrose oil and wild yam.

When to seek medical advice

 It's important to see your doctor both during and after menopause, for preventive health care, and recommendations about medical conditions that may result with aging.

If you have missed a period but are not sure if you have started menopause, you should see a doctor to find out if you are pregnant.

If you experience vaginal bleeding after reaching menopause, seek medical advice.