Menopause
Menopause is the point in your life when your ovaries stop producing enough hormones to keep the menstrual cycle going. After 1 year of having no periods, you've reached menopause. It usually happens around age 50, but everyone's body has its own timeline.
Having cancer treatment or surgery to remove the ovaries can cause menopause to start early.
Menopause is a natural part of growing older. You don't need treatment unless your symptoms bother you.
Symptoms
What are the symptoms of menopause?
Menopause symptoms include hot flashes, trouble sleeping, and vaginal dryness. You may have only a few mild symptoms. Or you might have severe symptoms. Symptoms tend to get worse the first year after menopause. But then many of them improve or go away.
Diagnosis
How is menopause diagnosed?
Your age, your history of menstrual periods, and your symptoms will tell your doctor if you are near or at menopause. If you can, bring a calendar or journal of your periods and symptoms.
You likely won't need to be tested to see if you have started perimenopause or reached menopause. But if your doctor suspects another medical condition, you may have some tests. Tests may include a pregnancy test or hormone tests.
If you have heavy, irregular periods, your doctor may want to do tests to rule out a serious cause of the bleeding. Heavy bleeding may be a normal sign of perimenopause. But it can also be caused by infection, disease, or a pregnancy problem.
Treatment
How are menopause symptoms treated?
If your symptoms are bothering you, there are treatments that can help.
Medicines may include:
- Hormonal birth control before menopause.
- Hormone therapy (HT).
- Antidepressants.
- Clonidine.
- Gabapentin.
Other treatments that may help include cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnosis, and an over-the-counter vaginal lubricant.
