Menopause is the cessation of periods.It is generally between the age of 45- 50 years. It is a normal aging process. It is due to low production of hormone, estrogen. Menopause occurs after 1 year of amenorrhoea. Get more information on menopause, read on.
What is menopause
Menopause is derived from the Greek
word menos (month) and pause (to stop) refers to the last menstrual period
and is generally considered to have occurred after 1 year of amenorrhoea.
At the age of 45- 50 years:
The sexual cycles in a female usually
become irregular;
Ovulation fails to occur during many
of the cycles.
After a few months to a few years, the
cycles cease and the female sex hormones diminish rapidly to almost none
at all. Sometimes the phrase 'the change of life' is used and often doctors
use the term 'climacteric'.
Whom does menopause
affect
Menopause, occurring on an average
at the age of 45, is a normal event but it leads to much pathology in excess
of that of the normal aging process. The average age of menopause has not
changed for centuries. The age of menopause seems unrelated to socioeconomic
factors, race, weight or height although severe malnutrition or cigarette
smoking may result in an earlier onset.
The real importance of menopause
today lies in the increasing longevity of the 20th century woman. With
the increased longevity, women will now spend a third of their lives in
the postmenopausal state (characterized by estrogen deficiency) attendant
to many long-term symptomatic and metabolic complications.
Why does menopause
occur
The cause of menopause is 'burning
out' of the ovaries. The aging of the ovary begins even before birth when
a progressive decline in the number of primordial follicles compresses.
The percentage of growing follicles increases substantially at puberty
and is maintained throughout reproductive life and declines in the climacteric
period (period of time around menopause).
Natural menopause: Estrogens
are produced in sub critical quantities for a short time after menopause,
but over a few years falls almost to zero.
"Artificial" menopause: Besides
natural menopause, loss of ovarian function can also occur in patients
receiving pelvic radiation or chemotherapy or those having ovarian failure
or bilateral surgical removal of ovaries.
What are the different
phases of menopause
Menopause can be divided into three
phases:
Pre-menopause: There is a little
disruption of the ovarian function and the menstrual cycle remains regular.
Some symptoms may begin to occur in this phase.
Peri-menopause: This phase represents
declining ovarian function with menstrual irregularities and symptoms commonly
start or become troublesome during this time.
Post-menopause: Once there have
been no menses for 12 months the post-menopause phase is entered.
Name:
steph
Country: India
it is fun to no want is india.
Name:
ucha Agwu
Country: United Kingdom
i agree with the articles
Name:
ncbcwoman
Country: U.S.A.
i am 53 post-menopausal and stopped hrt last spring. within 45 days i had leg pain which has gotten progressively worse. today, after seeing postings abous muscle stiffness associated with menopause, i have asked and been put back on my hrt> i am hoping that this is the answer. i know hrt has it own issues but i pray that i can continue on it. i am taking lowest doze possible.
if your pain starting post hrt, think about trying it again. i will do my best to post my progress.
Name:
rina
Country: India
how the hrt is useful or useless.
Name:
carol
Country: Ireland
i am 52 and ithink i am starting the menopause i have occasional hot flushes and extreme muscle pain and back pain i feel i will not be able to walk when i wake in the mornings. i would be grateful for any advice
Name:
Linda
Country: U.S.A.
i'm 51 and haven't had a period in 14 months. i have very few hot flashes but i pain in most of the muscles in my joints. do i need estrogen?
Name:
Tricia
Country: england
i've been going through the menopause for the last few years and made the decision not to take hrt. i've tried several herbal remedies and found some to be very helpful. i'm taking meno-herbs 2 from victoria health. no more hot flashes, mood swings, headaches etc. i'd recommend it.
Name:
lee
Country: middleeast
i started menopause 2 yrs ago. i have recently had a iud fitted, which has helped my periods and incredible feeling of being out of control. maybe this would help? i have no periods now, and am beginning to feel well again, much to my familys relief.
Name:
WORRIED
Country: india
my menopause started at the age of 44 by surgicaly. i suffer from serve back ache and also to through aphase of hotflesh. please advise me what should i do
Name:
Grace
Country: usa
i am 65 yrs old. i stopped taking hormones after being on them for 15 years. i am suffering miderably from host flashes and muscle aches and pains. i have been off hormones for 7 months.
Name:
donna
Country: other
my friend is going through some rough times right now she is locking herself in the bedroom , diarrea , mood swings what kind of advise i can tell her. her periods are bad. she is 46 years old.
Name:
Pru
Country: australia
since discontinuing hrt after 8 years my hot flushes came back with a vengeance. to my horror, at the same time i started to experience continual muscle stiffness/soreness as if i had run a marathon the day before. i have decided to put up with the flushes and not whinge about them, but am alarmed by the muscle problem. does anyone else have this, and is it permanent or just a stage to endure? what causes this? i hate to think that i am just a weak old crock.
Name:
neelam chawla
Country: india
my menopause started at rhe age of 45.it effected me phisically as well as emotionally.now it had been ten yrs since i am takinging those harmones.but is still get my periods at right time at right time at the age of 55.
Name:
Rohini
Country: india
my menopause started at the age of 45. i suffer from severe back ache and also go through a phase of depression.
