Menopause Break Down
"What's going on with me?" is the most common question women have during perimenopause and menopause. "Is it hot in here, or is it just me?"; would be the second most common question. Menopause is the permanent end of menstruation and fertility, as occurring 12 months after your last menstrual period. Menopause can happen in your 40s or 50s, but the average age is 51 in the United States. Menopause is a natural biological process. Although it ends fertility, you can stay healthy, vital and sexual. Some women feel relieved because they no longer need to worry about pregnancy.
Menopause is diagnosed when a woman who has a uterus has not had a menstrual period for one year. Some of the more common signs of the menopause transition that may prompt a woman to seek discussion with a qualified health care professional include:
- Hot flashes
- Vaginal dryness
- Urinary tract infections or painful urination
- Leaking of urine
- Night sweats
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Heart palpitations
- Forgetfulness
- Mood changes
- Anxiety and irritability
- Decreased sexual desire
Complementary and alternative therapies are treatments that are considered nontraditional. They include dietary and herbal supplements, chiropractic, and massage therapy, and eating certain foods that are thought to prevent disease or heal.
A woman is considered to be postmenopausal when she has not had her period for an entire year. The term means after the menopause, or the stopping of periods. Having your doctor measure your follicle stimulating hormone level is another way to help confirm if you are postmenopausal. FSH is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. Your FSH levels will dramatically rise as your ovaries begin to shut down; these levels are easily checked through one blood test.
