Menopause, Health guide for you,

 Menopause is a time in a woman’s life when the cyclic functions of ovaries and menstrual periods cease.

Menopause occurs at the end of the woman’s last menstrual period. The fact is only established later when a woman has had no periods for at least one year. The average age of menopause is about 50 years but it may occur normally in women as young as 40 years.

Regular menstrual cycles may continue to menopause but usually last periods tend to vary in duration and amount of flow.

Progressively fewer cycles involve t he release of an egg. Consequently, the ovary secretes smaller and smaller a mount of Oestrogen and progesterone and egg release eventually stops.

There are several  stages at which menopause may occur and these premature menopause which occur before the age of 40 years, the possible cause  for such menopause include genetic predisposition and autoimmune disorders where antibodies are produced damaging a number of glands like ovaries, smoking can also cause premature menopause.

Artificial menopause resulting from medical intervention that reduces/stops hormone secretion by ovaries. These interventions include surgery to remove ovaries or to reduce blood supply and Chemotherapy/radiations, Therapy of the pelvis including ovaries to treat cancers. Surgery to remove the Uterus (Hysterectory) ends menstrual periods but doesn’t affect hormone levels because the ovaries are intact and this doesn’t cause menopause.

Menopause may occur with symptoms but the time before menopause ( Perimenopause) symptoms may be non existent, mild, moderate or severe.

Hot flashes affecting 75% of women where the skin especially on head and neck become red and warm flashed. Perspirations may profuse, Hot Hashes can for more than a year and 25 to 50 % of the women have them for more than a year.

A hot flash can last for 30 seconds to 5minutes and can be followed by chetls.

Menopause can also cause psychological and emotional symptoms like fatigue, irritability, insomnia and nervousness. Night sweats may disturb sleep making fatigue and irritability worse. A woman may feel dizziness, tingling sensations (pins and needles) Loss of bladder control, inflammation of bladder /vagina and pain during intercourse because of virginal dryness may occur.

Menopause can also cause severe thinning of bones resulting to fractures due to minor injuries, cardiovascular diseases and coronary diseases may progress.

Symptoms to menopause can be treated by restoring oestrogen to premenopausal levels. Oestrogen replacement therapy relieves hot flashes, vaginal dryness , urinary problems, Osteoporosis and coronary heart diseases.

Women who can not take oestrogen like those with breast cancer are given ant anxiety drugs, progesterone to reduce discomfort of hot flashes.