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What
is menopause?
Menopause is defined as absence of menstrual
periods for 12 months. Menopause is the time
in a woman's life when the function of the
ovaries ceases.
At
what age does a woman typically reach
menopause?
Most women reach menopause between the ages of
45 and 55, but menopause may occur as earlier
as the 30s or 40s or may not occur until a
woman reaches her 60s.
What
are the signs and symptoms of menopause?
It is important to remember that each woman's
experience is highly individual. Some women
may experience few or no symptoms of
menopause, while others experience multiple
physical and psychological symptoms. The
extent and severity of symptoms varies
significantly among women. Some of the signs
and symptoms are discussed below:
(i)
Irregular vaginal bleeding:
Menstrual periods (menses) may occur more
frequently (meaning the cycle shortens in
duration), or they may get farther and farther
apart (meaning the cycle lengthens in
duration) before stopping
(ii)
Hot flashes and sweating: A hot flash is a
feeling of warmth that spreads over the body
and is often most pronounced in the head and
chest A hot flash is sometimes associated with
flushing and is sometimes followed by
perspiration. Hot flashes usually last from 30
seconds to several minutes.
(iii) Dryness
of the vagina walls
(iv) Burning
sensation during passing of urine
(v) Sleep
disturbances
(vi) Weight
gain
(vii) Mood
changes: irritability, fatigue, diminishes
memory.
(viii) Weakening of bones
What
is Hormone Replacement Therapy in treatment of
symptoms of menopause?
What
are the risks associated with HRT?
Studies of women receiving combined hormone
therapy with both estrogen and progesterone
have shown that these women had an increased
risk for heart attack, stroke, and breast
cancer when compared with women who did not
receive HT. Later studies of women taking
estrogen therapy alone showed that estrogen
was associated with an increased risk for
stroke (paralysis) and cancer of the uterus,
but not for heart attack or breast cancer.
How
does a doctor decide about providing HRT?
The decision about hormone therapy, therefore,
is a very individual decision in which the
patient and doctor must take into account the
inherent risks and benefits of the treatment
along with each woman's own medical history.
What
are the other treatment options for menopause?
The other treatment options include: (i) Oral
Contraceptive Pills (ii) Vaginal cream for
local application (iii) Anti-depressants.
Does
the risk of heart disease increase after
menopause?
Yes, the risk of heart disease increases
because of the decline in estrogen levels.
Why
are post menopausal women susceptible to
fracture?
Post menopausal women susceptible to fracture
due to a condition known as osteoporosis due
to weakening of bones. It is thus necessary to
increase the intake of calcium in the diet as
advised by a doctor.
What
are the steps that can be taken at home to
reduce the symptoms?
The following steps may be taken at home to
reduce the symptoms:
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Hot flashes: (i) Dress in light clothing
(ii) Avoid hot beverages
-
Vaginal dryness: Try using vaginal
lubricants like KY jelly
-
At least 8 hours sleep and relaxation.
-
Include a variety of fruits, vegetables and
whole grains in the diet.
-
Do a light exercise for at least 30 minutes
everyday.
Some
women report that vitamin E supplements can
provide relief from mild hot flashes. Is this
true ?
Scientific studies are lacking to prove the
effectiveness of vitamin E in relieving
symptoms of menopause. Taking a dosage greater
than 400 international units (IU) of vitamin E
may not be safe, since some studies have
suggested that greater dosages may be
associated with cardiovascular disease risk.
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