MENOPAUSE

The term menopause is commonly used to mean the transition women go through in the years before, during and after their last menstrual period. Technically menopause is when a woman has not had a period for a full year as a consequence of reproductive aging. The average age for menopause is 52 but can be as early as age 40 or as late as age 58. 

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In menopause, there is a decrease in estrogen production by the ovaries. This lower level of estrogen can cause symptoms such hot flashes and night sweats and can unmask age-related health conditions such as cardiovascular disease. Over time with lower levels of estrogen, the risk of osteoporosis increases and urogenital symptoms can increase.

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In menopause symptoms can include hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, problems with sleep, difficulty with memory, vaginal dryness, pain with sex, urinary urgency and frequency,  increased urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence. Not all women have symptoms and the timing and severity of symptoms can vary widely. 

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Many women also develop health conditions after menopause, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, both as a consequence of the lower levels of estrogen in menopause and also from aging which affects all genders. Women with a history of high blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy or a family history of these medical problems are at increased risk for developing these problems after menopause.

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It is important for women in the second half of life to maintain heart-healthy habits and to continue with recommended screening tests such as mammography, bone density scans, colonoscopy and cervical cancer screening tests.