What is Menopause?
Tina Turner turned 60 last year, throwing the phrase "Finished At Fifty" out
the window. This is not your mothers' menopause. . .But what is menopause?
It's the end of menstruation, or a cause for celebration! But what causes periods
to stop is the same thing that causes menopausal symptoms to begin: our ovaries
stop producing estrogen, causing hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances,
mood swings, vaginal dryness, and decreased libido. More importantly, it increases
a woman's risk for several diseases including heart disease, osteoporosis, and
Alzheimer's disease.
The average age of menopause in America is 51, but women can start having
symptoms in their 30's or 40's. If you have these symptoms, don't dismiss them
as just stress or fatigue; see your doctor.
Finally, you don't go into menopause overnight, so don't prepare for it overnight.
Your friends and family are good sources of information and support, but your
doctor is the best source of medical information about menopause for you.
Ask questions now to help you form a good treatment plan later. For many women,
that plan will include hormone replacement therapy or HRT. We'll discuss that
tomorrow on Dr. Donnica's Women's Health Report.
Click here for related information.
Created: 2/19/2001  - Donnica Moore, M.D.