Hot Flashes, Mood Swings... wait... could this be Menopause?

Menopause is defined as the time in a woman's life when you have not had your period for 12 months. At this time your ovaries stop releasing eggs and you can no longer become pregnant. This usually occurs in most women between 45-55 years of age—an average age for reaching menopause is 52 years.

The time leading up to menopause is called the menopausal transition, or perimenopause. This transition usually begins when you are in your 40s, but sometimes it can start earlier, and it can last for several years.

Can menopause happen earlier than the usual age range?

Menopause can happen before age 40. This can happen with no known cause or may be due to surgical procedures to remove the ovaries or uterus or from having medical treatments such as chemotherapy or taking hormone blocking drugs (e.g., tamoxifen) to treat breast cancer.

What happens during perimenopause?

During perimenopause, your estrogen and progesterone hormone levels can go up and down irregularly. These changes will likely cause a change in your periods making them longer or shorter, lighter or heavier, and less predictable with more or less time between cycles.

You may still be able to become pregnant, so be sure to use birth control during this time if you want to prevent pregnancy.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

About 70% of women notice hot flashes—sudden feelings of heat and red blotches on the upper part of your body that may be accompanied by sweating.

Other symptoms of the transition to menopause include:

• mood changes, including irritability
• forgetfulness or trouble concentrating
• vaginal dryness that may cause pain during sex
• sleep problems
• sweating at night
• bladder issues, such as loss of bladder control and urinary tract infections

What are other health concerns of menopause?

Menopausal women may have other health concerns that can include:

• heart disease, including heart attack
• stroke
• increased cholesterol levels
• osteoporosis
• urinary incontinence

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Do all women have the symptoms and experiences?

No, some women have very few or only mild symptoms, but others are more significantly affected by the number or severity of symptoms. The severity and nature of the symptoms may change during the menopausal process.

How can I manage the symptoms of menopause?

An important way to ease the symptoms of menopause is to maintain or adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Eat a healthy, balanced diet – This will help you to maintain an optimal weight and provide calcium and vitamin D which are important for healthy bones. Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods may also reduce your symptoms.

Exercise – Getting exercise will also help you to avoid weight gain. Weight bearing exercises will also help to avoid bone loss.

Smoking – Quitting smoking will help to avoid heart disease and may reduce the severity of hot flashes.

Health care – Be sure to have a yearly exam and check in with your doctor if you have concerns about your health.

What treatments are available to manage menopausal symptoms?

Other treatments are available to manage symptoms including hormone therapy, non-hormonal medications, OTC products, and herbal or natural products. Estrogen therapy has some risks associated with use, so it is important to have a discussion with your healthcare provider to see if it is best for you.

Summary

Women may have many questions about menopause and the management of symptoms. Be sure to ask your pharmacist and doctor if you have questions and to get specific information to manage your symptoms and concerns.