Menopause – What It Is and The Risks Women Face
By Regina Tayman
Menopause is quite simply the cessation of the woman’s reproductive
glands. It is defined as the absence of the menstrual cycle for a period
of twelve consecutive months. Menopause is something that most women
experience naturally, although it can be prompted by various medical
procedures, such as an oophorectomy. This surgical removal of a woman’s
ovaries prompts menopause to occur medically rather than naturally.
There are no hard and fast rules about when menopause will begin for
each woman, however; typically, it begins at about fifty-one years of
age. Although menopause usually occurs between the ages of forty-five
and fifty-five, some women start the process as early as their thirties.
The entire process can take as long as ten years. In the beginning,
there are irregular menstrual cycles, night sweats, hot flashes, mood
changes and a number of other irritating symptoms.
Estrogen is a female hormone produced by the ovaries. Therefore when the
body stops producing estrogen on its own, there can be medical
consequences. Osteoporosis is one such consequence. Estrogen protects
bone, so when the estrogen stops producing, bones can thin and break
more easily.
Scientists frequently disagree on the potential severity of health risks
associated with menopause. What they do agree on is there are frequently
increased urinary tract and vaginal infections, potential increases in
blood pressure, higher risks of cardiatric problems, and the most
commonly reported medical problem is osteoporosis. Of course, not all
women experience all of these medical issues. Some women do not
experience any of them at all. The important thing is to be aware that
they may occur and to educate your self on the potential issues that may
be faced. Discuss them with your physician and learn about all of the
different hormone replacement therapies that are available.
Hormone replacement therapy is simply replacing the hormones such as
estrogen that stops with menopause. There are a number of hormone
replacement therapies on the market. They come in the form of
prescription medications, natural remedies, herbal remedies and others.
Before you choose what form of hormone replacement therapy you will use,
learn the differences and the risks involved with each. This is a very
personal decision and needs to be considered carefully.
Regardless of which hormone replacement therapy (if any) that you
choose, menopause itself is a natural biological process that eventually
affects every woman. The more you know and understand about the process,
what changes your body will undergo and the long term effects it may
have on your health, the easier it will be to deal with. Enjoy and
embrace this not as an end to your reproductive era, but as the
beginning of your next phase of life. A life without monthly
inconveniences, cramps, bloating and the frequent interruption of life’s
more enjoyable pleasures. |
