Signs of Menopause - The Quick Reference Guide

Menopause is not a disease but is a normal phase in a woman's life and unfortunately you can't avoid it.

About Menopause

All women will experience differing signs of menopause and on average, women live more than 20 years after going through menopause. Menopause is commonly called the "change of life" because you go from being fertile to infertile. The average age that a woman reaches menopause is 52 although they will begin to feel symptoms a number of years before this, possibly in the mid to late 40s.

Perimenopause is the early stages of menopause and most often occurs in the mid-forties. The main menopause symptom is an irregularity of the monthly cycle. About 75% of women report experiencing hot flashes in the years leading up to the menopause.

Menopause is caused by a decrease in the body's production of estrogen and takes place gradually over several or more years. A decrease in estrogen increases the risk of heart disease and heart attacks. It also increases the occurrence of osteoporosis. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. 40% of women over 40 suffer bone fractures and this can often be attributed to the loss of bone mass that occurs with menopause.

There is no direct correlation between ethnicity, age at puberty, number of children born or the use of oral contraceptives in determining when a woman will go through menopause. Smoking can cause menopause to occur one or more years early. Smoking also increases the risk of heart attack and stroke and so it is highly suggested that women give up smoking while in their menopausal years. Genetics is the major factor as to when menopause will occur. You are most likely to go through menopause at about the same age as your mother did.

HRT (hormone replacement therapy) is one way of treating some of the most severe symptoms of menopause. ERT (estrogen replacement therapy) is similar to HRT except that only estrogen is used. HRT can help prevent heart disease and osteoporosis by replacing the hormones lost through menopause. HRT also has a number of risks involved including an increased risk of breast cancer and possibly uterine cancer. You should talk to your doctor about the possible risks and whether HRT is right for you.

Menopause is considered complete after one year without menstruation i.e. without experiencing a monthly period. Until menopause is complete you are still able to become pregnant and so you still need to take proper precautions.

The most common symptoms of menopause include irregular periods, irritability, hot flashes, sleep problems and a decreased sex drive.

Good nutrition and exercise are two ways to decrease the severity of some menopause symptoms. Vitamin supplements are essential to ensure proper health during this time.

An FSH test can determine if you have started menopause. It measures the levels of FSH, which are usually below 10 MIU/mil. A level of 30 or 40 MIU/mil likely means you've reached menopause.

Strength training can help reduce bone loss and can actually reverse bone loss up to 1% a year while stretching exercises, such as yoga, can help to maintain suppleness and decrease the chances of suffering fractures and muscle tear.

Consult with your doctor to determine the best strategy for dealing with your menopause.