Physical Effects Of Menopause

Menopause

Menopause is a natural sexual and physiological phenomenon that happens to women in the 40s or 50s. The phenomenon marks the point of the time when women cease to go through their menstrual cycles, and cannot get pregnant subsequently. It is a normal biological process and not a disease, and many women go on to stay perfectly healthy with no changes in their sexuality and vitality. It is just the end of the period of fertility. While the onset of menopause is a perfectly natural phenomenon, it does cause hormonal changes in the body which can cause a number of physical and psychological symptoms. Post menopause, the ovaries of the female body stop producing the hormones progesterone and estrogen, and the levels of these hormones

This culminates to a point in time where the ovaries completely stop producing sex hormones and their level in the body gradually diminishes
• Menopause can also set in after a hysterectomy, if the surgery removes both ovaries. A bilateral oophorectomy immediately causes menopause to set in
• Radiation therapy and chemotherapy associated with the treatment of certain diseases like cancer can induce menopause in women. Often, symptoms are temporary and go away after a while, but there can also be instances of full menopause after these treatments
• Menopause can happen early for women who have primary ovarian insufficiency. Often, due to genetic factors or because of auto-immune diseases, the ovaries do not produce the reproductive hormones in adequate amounts, hastening the onset of menopause
Do you have Menopause

Usually, the signs of menopause are self-evident and easily recognizable. After a period of irregular periods, if you stop having periods completely, it can be said that reaching menopause is the most likely cause. Hot flashes are also a typically common symptom of menopause, and should provide a tell-tale sign. Further medical tests are usually not required to determine the onset of menopause. However, in some cases, your doctor might recommend going through a physical exam accompanies with certain diagnostic tests like

Also, preventive measures might be necessary to lessen the risk of other serious conditions in post-menopausal women. Some commonly advised forms of treatment include –
• Hormone replacement therapy to replenish estrogen levels may be prescribed. In this treatment, estrogen and progestin are administered in small doses to relieve symptoms like hot flushes. HRT has also been known to protect women against bone deterioration and the possibility of heart conditions
• Estrogen can also be administered directly through the vagina, using methods like vaginal rings, creams and tablets. This can be beneficial in the treatment of certain urinary symptoms, discomfort and vaginal dryness
• A certain class of mild anti-depressants called SSRIs has been found to be beneficial in relieving menopause symptoms. This medication is usually administered to women who are unable to take estrogen supplements for health reasons, or need treatment for mood swings
• Medication can be prescribed to protect women from the possibility of bone-density conditions like osteoporosis later in