What is menopause?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Essentially, menopause signals the end of the hormonal symphony that produces ovulation: Your ovaries run out of viable eggs, interrupting your cycle of hormones and monthly periods. It may take a while for your body to settle into a new hormone equilibrium; in the interim, you may suffer menopausal symptoms: hot flashes, insomnia, loss of libido, reduced lubrication, itchy skin, dry hair and nails, achy joints, mood swings, memory lapses, even heart palpitations and an increased risk of seizures.
In spite of all these symptoms of menopause, estrogen decline is not totally a bad thing. You don't want to be in reproductive mode for your entire life, because you're meant to serve other purposes as you grow older. But that doesn't mean you have to suffer the side effects that occur during the process.
Find out more about this book: You: Staying Young: The Owner's Manual for Extending Your Warranty
Essentially, menopause signals the end of the hormonal symphony that produces ovulation: Your ovaries run out of viable eggs, interrupting your cycle of hormones and monthly periods. It may take a while for your body to settle into a new hormone... More -
Honor Society of Nursing (STTI) answered:In menopause, a woman’s menstrual periods stop and estrogen levels drop sharply. You are in menopause when you have not had a period for one full year. Menopause is a normal part of aging, but can also occur after chemotherapy or radiation therapy to the pelvic area for cancer and surgery to remove the ovaries.Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulIn menopause, a woman’s menstrual periods stop and estrogen levels drop sharply. You are in menopause when you have not had a period for one full year. Menopause is a normal part of aging, but can also occur after chemotherapy or... More -
This means the menstrual periods have stopped. Doctors will define it as 12 months from the last menstrual period.Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulThis means the menstrual periods have stopped. Doctors will define it as 12 months from the last menstrual period. More -
Healthwise answered:Menopause is the milestone in every woman's life that marks the end of her reproductive years. It is the point in time when a woman has had no menstrual periods for 1 year, which happens when the ovaries have stopped producing enough estrogen and progesterone to keep the menstrual cycle going.
Menopause marks the end of the perimenopausal phase and the beginning of the postmenopausal phase. While the average age of menopause is around 50, every woman's body has its own unique timeline. Some women stop having periods (menstruating) in their mid-40s, while others continue until their mid-50s.
After menopause, a woman's estrogen stabilizes at a low level. Although low estrogen helps reduce the risk of some types of cancer, it does lead to an increasing loss in bone density, which sometimes causes osteoporosis.
Menopause is the milestone in every woman's life that marks the end of her reproductive years. It is the point in time when a woman has had no menstrual periods for 1 year, which happens when the ovaries have stopped producing enough estrogen and... More -
Boston Women's Health Book Collective answered:Menopause is defined as the end of menstruation. However, because periods can be sporadic as a woman approaches menopause, she is said to have reached menopause only after she has not had a menstrual period for twelve months. At menopause, women no longer ovulate and their ovaries produce significantly less estrogen. Menopause either occurs naturally, or can be induced by surgical removal of the ovaries or other medical treatments. Often people use the term menopause to refer to the entire menopause transition.
Menopause is defined as the end of menstruation. However, because periods can be sporadic as a woman approaches menopause, she is said to have reached menopause only after she has not had a menstrual period for twelve months. At menopause, women no... More -
Menopause is when a woman's menstrual periods stop completely. It signals the end of the ovaries releasing eggs for fertilization. A woman is said to have gone through menopause when her menses have stopped for an entire year. Menopause generally occurs between the ages of 45-55, although it can occur as early as the 30s or as late as the 60s. It can also result from the surgical removal of both ovaries. A woman can still get pregnant during menopause until she has gone at least 12 months without menstruating (a period).
Changes and symptoms include: a change in menstruation (periods may be shorter or longer, lighter or heavier, with more or less time in between); hot flashes and/or night sweats; trouble sleeping; vaginal dryness; mood swings; trouble focusing; and, less commonly, hair loss on the head but increased hair on the face. About 85% of women experiencing menopause will have hot flashes.
All women will experience menopause. Menopause is not considered a disorder and most women do not need treatment for it. However, if symptoms are severe, medications may be used to help alleviate symptoms.
Perimenopause: During perimenopause, women may begin to experience menopausal physical and emotional signs and symptoms, such as hot flashes and depression, even though they still menstruate. The average length of perimenopause is four years, but for some women this stage may last only a few months or continue for 10 years. Perimenopause ends the first year after menopause, when a woman has gone 12 months without having her period. Periods (menstruation) tend to be irregular during this time and may be shorter or longer or even absent.
Postmenopause: Postmenopause is a time when most of the distress of the menopausal changes have faded. Hot flashes may seem milder or less frequent and energy, emotional, and hormonal levels may seem to have stabilized. During postmenopause, women are at a higher risk for developing osteoporosis (bone loss) and heart disease, due to the decrease in circulating estrogen. The postmenopausal phase begins when 12 full months have passed since the last menstrual period.
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Menopause is when a woman's menstrual periods stop completely. It signals the end of the ovaries releasing eggs for fertilization. A woman is said to have gone through menopause when her menses have stopped for an entire year. Menopause generally... More -
RealAge answered:Menopause is the phase of a woman's life when she no longer experiences menstruation. Menopause is usually confirmed once a woman has gone one year without having a period.
Menopause is preceded by perimenopause, which is caused by changes in hormonal cycling -- and usually begins two to eight years prior to menopause. During this stage, hormonal fluctuations lead to menstrual irregularities -- and some women also experience symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disturbances, increased urinary tract problems, loss of libido, weight gain, and skin dryness.Menopause is the phase of a woman's life when she no longer experiences menstruation. Menopause is usually confirmed once a woman has gone one year without having a period. Menopause is preceded by perimenopause, which is caused by changes in... More -
Dr. Elissa Gretz Friedman of The Mount Sinai Medical Center answered:The average age for menopause is 51.5 years. A woman is officially menopausal when she has not had a period for 1 year. A woman is born with all the oocytes (eggs) in her ovaries that she is going to have and throughout her reproductive life the number of oocytes decreases. When there are no more oocytes in the ovary, menopause occurs.
The average age for menopause is 51.5 years. A woman is officially menopausal when she has not had a period for 1 year. A woman is born with all the oocytes (eggs) in her ovaries that she is going to have and throughout her reproductive life the... More -
HealthyWomen answered:Menopause is a natural part of the female reproductive cycle when monthly menstrual periods end permanently, signifying the end of childbearing years. Menopause is said to have occurred when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 months. Until that time, a woman in her late 40s or 50s may still be able to get pregnant, despite irregular periods.
Menopause is a perfectly normal event that marks the end of fertility and childbearing years. Technically, menopause results when the ovaries no longer release eggs and decrease production of the sex hormones estrogen, progesterone and, to a lesser extent, androgen.
Menopause is a natural part of the female reproductive cycle when monthly menstrual periods end permanently, signifying the end of childbearing years. Menopause is said to have occurred when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12... More -
Menopause is the time in a woman's life when her periods (menstruation) eventually stop and the body goes through changes that no longer allow for pregnant. It is a natural event that normally occurs in women age 45 - 55. And for some women can be incredibly upsetting and emotionally traumatic. Not to mention the sometimes extreme side effects of menopause that can last years.
During menopause, a woman's ovaries stop making eggs and they produce less estrogen and progesterone. Changes in these hormones cause menopause symptoms. Periods occur less often and eventually stop. Sometimes it happens suddenly. Most of the time, periods slowly stop over time and symptoms will go on for years. Menopause is considered complete when you have not had a period for 1 year. This is called postmenopause. Women who are postmenopausal can no longer get pregnant.Menopause is the time in a woman's life when her periods (menstruation) eventually stop and the body goes through changes that no longer allow for pregnant. It is a natural event that normally occurs in women age 45 - 55. And for some women can be... More
