Midlife health

Phases of menopause

• Managing menopausal symptoms
•  Phases of menopause

Menopause, also called "the change of life," is a major turning point for women.  It marks the time when menstrual periods end and a new phase of life begins.  While the average age of menopause is around 50, every woman's body has its own unique timeline.  Some women stop menstruating in their mid-40s, and others continue well into their mid-50s.

The years leading up to menopause are called perimenopause.  Typically women start perimenopause around age 46, with an average of five years until it ends.

The final phase, postmenopause, begins after one year of having no menstrual periods.

Managing menopausal symptoms

Although every woman experiences this natural transition in her own way, there are common physical and emotional changesyou can expect. (Menopause can also be triggered by a medical or surgical procedure that removes or seriously damages both ovaries, such as a hysterectomy or chemotherapy).
Some of the common symptoms women may experience include:

• Mood swings
• Hot flashes
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Vaginal dryness
• Muscle and joint pain
• Decreased sexual desire

Symptoms can range from mild to severe.

As you age, your risk for developing heart disease, osteoporosis, and breast cancer increases.  Some of the options for managing menopausal symptoms may raise or lower your risks for these (and other) conditions, so educate yourself and consult with your doctor before starting any treatment.

There are many approaches to managing menopausal symptoms.  Treatment should be tailored to your individual symptoms, health status, and personal attitudes.

Hormone therapy

If you are considering "hormone replacement therapy" or "HRT" for menopausal symptoms, you should discuss the overall health risks, benefits, and uncertainties of this type of treatment with your GP.

Learn the facts so you can make an informed decision.  Here are some questions to ask your doctor.

If you're using hormone replacement therapy and plan to continue, talk with your doctor about what dose is best for you and how long you should take it.

If you plan to stop, taper off gradually, according to your doctor's instructions.  This may prevent your body from having unpleasant symptoms in reaction to sudden hormone changes.

Antidepressants

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are prescription antidepressant medication that can be used to treat menopausal symptoms (such as hot flashes and night sweats) as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy.

SSRIs and other types of antidepressants may also be prescribed to treat irritability, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and moodiness.

Lifestyle changes

There are a number of ways you can relieve symptoms of menopause naturally though lifestyle changes.

Complementary and alternative methods

With the recent concern about the safety of hormone replacement therapy, many women are looking at complementary and alternative methodsincluding herbal supplements and mind-approaches for managing menopausal symptoms.  The above link provides some basis information on these alternatives, but again you should seek professional advice.