I think I am going through ‘the Change’ – what am I
Menopause or “the change” is the permanent cessation of the menstrual period. If a woman has no periods for twelve months in the absence of pregnancy or other abnormalities she has reached the menopause. The average age of menopause is about fifty-one (51) years old and the normal range is from about age forty-four (44) to fifty-six (56). If a woman has the menopause before age forty (40), this is called premature menopause and she should see her doctor to discuss the potential effects on her health. At menopause, estrogen production from the ovaries ceases.
The peri-menopausal Transition is the time period between the onset of irregular menses and the permanent cessation of menses and usually commences at age forty-five (45). The transition is two to eight years and it usually last five (5) years. During this period, the number of days between menses is usually longer and there is an accelerated loss of ovarian follicles.
Smoking has consistently been shown to cause early menopause by 1.5 years. In the peri-menopausal period or at the menopause, a woman may begin to experience several symptoms. She may experience changes in her menstrual pattern, vaginal dryness and hot flashes.
The hallmark of menopause is the hot flush or hot flash. It is a sudden sensation of warmth or pressure in the head. Women may experience a feeling of heat or burning in the face, neck and chest. There may be reddening of skin and increase in skin temperature by up to seven degrees. It is usually followed by an outbreak of sweating and may last from a few seconds to several minutes. Symptoms are often worse at night and in warmer climates. Obese people are less likely to have hot flashes. Most women experience symptoms at the onset of menopause. There tends to be a decrease in symptoms from the second to fourth year after menopause. Hot flashes are uncommon five years after the menopause.
Hot flashes may be caused by conditions other than the menopause so, if a woman is experiencing these symptoms at other times, she should consult her doctor.
Other changes that women may experience at the time of the menopause are vaginal dryness, discharge and burning. They may begin to experience pain with intercourse and narrowing of the vaginal passage. Women may also have problems associated with urination, such as burning, increased frequency, involuntary loss of urine and more urinary tract infections. Women may notice a decrease in muscle strength and there is a loss in the strength of bones after the menopause.
Hormone therapy is a good option for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. They are proven to reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes. They can successfully relieve symptoms of vaginal dryness, pain with intercourse and other vaginal symptoms. Some hormones have been shown to protect against weakening of the bones and fractures, cancer of the colon and diabetes.
– Dr Monique Rainford
