MENOPAUSE

The condition called menopause that occurs in women is the physiological stopping of menstrual cycles and comes about with the onset of middle age. The term menopause is often known as the "change of life" and takes place as the ovaries cease producing oestrogen thus causing the female reproductive system to stop working over a period of time. The expression menopause originates from the Greek terms 'meno' (or month) and 'pausis' (which means a pause).

Typically, the menopause occurs gradually over a period of about a year but sometimes can take just 6 months and in some instances it can be elongated over a period five years or even longer in rare cases. the early stages of menopause can actually begin in a woman's late 30's or early 40s, but the average age when the menopause begins is around the mid-forties. As with may things in life, there are variations and some women can enter the menopause at a much younger age and some a little later.

When the menopause starts before a woman is 40 years of age this is known as premature menopause and it is thought to only affect 1 person in a hundred. Interestingly, this rate increases to 5 in a hundred for twins but it is not known why this occurs.

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After the menopause takes place, there is an increased risk of the onset of osteoporosis and this is thought to be due to the reduction in sex hormone levels which play a significant part in the female bone development and subsequent degeneration.

Menopause Symptoms

As the body begins to adapt to the different hormone this is generally accompanied by hot flashes and sometimes heart palpitations. Occasionally, a woman will experience psychological symptoms like anxiety, depression, irritability, mood swings and a general lack of concentration.

It is also likely that the woman may experience vaginal dryness when sexually aroused and a need to pass water more regularly. In addition, it is commonplace for a woman to experience irregular menstrual cycles.

Treatment of Menopause symptoms

It is apparent that some menopause symptoms can be be relieved through medical intervention. Most controversially, some women resort to hormone replacement therapy (or HRT for short) as this has been found to offer the best relief, but it is now apparent that particular forms of HRT appear to pose significant health risks.

Many doctors are now advising women to steer clear of HRT as a way of alleviating menopause symptoms, as it is felt that the health risks far outweigh the potential benefits.

The current thinking is that is a link between the increased incidence of with blood clots or even cancer

Try searching on the Internet for "menopause treatments" and you will be amazed just how many pages are on offer. Try it for yourself by hitting the search button below!

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