Commonly associated with the advancing of age, menopause is often referred to as ‘the change of life.’ During it’s occurrence, the ovaries stop producing estrogen and the reproductive system begins to gradually shut down. As the body attempts to adjust to the changing levels of hormone during menopause, a variety of symptoms may occur. Among them, depression, anxiety, hot flashes, irritability, changes in moods, the inability to concentrate, etc. In addition to these symptoms, women may experience irregular menstrual periods during menopause.
The average age that a woman begins to see the onset of menopause is 50, but there are women who enter menopause earlier. A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that is often performed in order to help women through the process. Once the cycle is complete, known as being post-menopausal, women will find that they are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis.
The treatment for menopause typically includes Hormone Replacement Therapy and is believed to reduce the weakening of bones often seen in osteoporosis. Through the years, there has been much debate as to whether this type of therapy is actually beneficial. Some women feel that menopause is a natural process as opposed to a disorder. For years, women have been urged to undergo hormone therapy while they are dealing with menopause. They were told to do so under the belief that it would reduce their risk of heart disease, but some experts believe that this type of therapy may actually increase the risk of other illnesses, including breast cancer, heart attack, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.
Because each woman is unique, menopause may ultimately produce some or all of the aforementioned symptoms. Because these symptoms are also common with other illnesses, the only way to confirm menopause is by seeing a physician. Following a diagnosis, a doctor will be able to provide the best type of medication and/or treatment to help guide the woman through menopause and help her body to make up for the hormones that are no longer being produced as before. It is important that women carefully consider any medications that may increase depression or cause other severe symptoms during not only menopause, but any time in life. The fact that some medication is addictive is just one of the issues to remain concerned with anytime a doctor writes a prescription. In order to avoid these problems, women are urged to ask their physician about possible side effects associated with medication that is used to treat menopause.
The information in this article is to be used for informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice. Anyone with questions regarding menopause must consult their physician for further information.