Menopause

• What is menopause?
• At what age does a woman typically reach menopause?
• What conditions can affect the timing of menopause?
• What are the symptoms of menopause?
  • Irregular vaginal bleeding
  • Hot flashes & night sweats
  • Emotional and cognitive symptoms
  • Vaginal symptoms
  • Urinary symptoms
  • Other physical changes
• What are the complications and effects of menopause on chronic medical conditions?
  • Osteoporosis
  • Cardiovascular disease
• Are hormone levels or other blood tests helpful in detecting menopause?
• What are the treatment options for the symptoms of menopause?
  • Hormone therapy
  • Other medical therapies
  • Alternative therapies
  • Non-hormone therapies
• Lifestyle factors in managing menopause symptoms
• Menopause At A Glance
• Related menopause articles on WebMD:
  Menopause
  Menopause symptoms
• Related menopause article on eMedicineHealth:
  Menopause
  

Anxiety Worsens Hot Flashes Medical Author: Melissa Stoppler, M.D. Medical Editor: William C. Shiel, Jr, MD, FACP, FACR Controlling lifestyle stress and anxiety may help reduce the number and severity of hot flashes associated with menopause, according to doctors at the University of Pennsylvania. Hot flashes are perhaps the most troublesome symptom associated with approaching menopause and are experienced by a majority of women during the transition to menopause. Researchers studied over 400 Caucasian and African American women between 37 and 47 years of age who still had regular menstrual cycles. The women took tests that measured their anxiety levels at the start of the study and again following a six-year period. After six years, many of the women were experiencing hot flashes and irregular menstrual periods, two signs of approaching menopause. Read more about anxiety, hot flashes, and menopause. » Top Searched Menopause Terms: hot flash treatment, menopause symptoms, menopause home test kit, peri menopause, male menopause, premature menopause, surgical menopause, menopause and sex

What is menopause?

Menopause is defined as absence of menstrual periods for 12 months. The menopausal transition starts with varying menstrual cycle length and ends with the final menstrual period. Perimenopause means "around the time of menopause." It is not officially a medical term, but is sometimes used to explain certain aspects of the menopause transition in lay terms. Postmenopause is the entire period of time that comes after the last menstrual period.

Menopause is the time in a woman's life when the function of the ovaries ceases. The ovary, or female gonad, is one of a pair of reproductive glands in women. They are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus. Each ovary is about the size and shape of an almond. The ovaries produce eggs (ova) and female hormones such as estrogen. During each monthly menstrual cycle, an egg is released from one ovary. The egg travels from the ovary through a Fallopian tube to the uterus.

The ovaries are the main source of female hormones, which control the development of female body characteristics such as the breasts, body shape, and body hair. The hormones also regulate the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Estrogens also protect the bone. Therefore, a woman can develop osteoporosis (thinning of bone) later in life when her ovaries do not produce adequate estrogen.

Perimenopause is different for each woman. Scientists are still trying to identify all the factors that initiate and influence this transition period.

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

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