Premature Menopause -- Symptoms
In addition to dealing with hot flashes, mood
swings, and other symptoms that accompany menopause, many women
undergoing premature menopause have to cope with additional physical and
emotional concerns.
Premature Menopause -- Causes
Premature menopause is menopause that happens
before the age of 40 — whether it is natural or induced. Women who enter
menopause early get symptoms similar to those of
natural menopause,
like hot flashes, emotional problems, vaginal dryness, and decreased sex
drive.
Your Guide to Menopause
Menopause is the end of a woman's menstrual cycle
and fertility. It happens when the ovaries no longer
make estrogen and progesterone, two hormones needed for a woman's
fertility, and periods have stopped for 1 year.
Menopause FAQ
Discuss these frequently asked questions and answers about menopause with your doctor.
Menopause Basics
The term "menopause" is commonly used to describe
any of the changes a woman experiences either just before or after she
stops menstruating, marking the end of her reproductive period.
Understanding Menopause
Menopause simply means the end of menstruation for
one year. As a woman ages, there is a gradual decline in the function
of her ovaries and the production of estrogen.
Causes and Symptoms
Medical Causes of Menopause
Some women experience induced menopause as a
result of surgery or medical treatments, such as chemotherapy and pelvic
radiation therapy.
Menopause Symptoms
If menopausal symptoms occur, they may include hot
flashes, night sweats, pain during intercourse, increased anxiety or
irritability, and the need to urinate more often.
Menopause Causes
Loss of estrogen is believed to be the cause of many of the symptoms associated with menopause.
Menopause and Migraines
Could migraines be a symptom of menopause? Find out more.
Thyroid Disease and Menopause
Millions of women with menopausal-like symptoms,
even those taking estrogen, may be suffering from undiagnosed thyroid
disease. While symptoms such as fatigue, depression, mood swings, and
sleep disturbances are frequently associated with menopause, they may
also be signs of hypothyroidism.
Diagnosis and Tests
Diagnosing Menopause
Because hormone levels may fluctuate greatly in an
individual woman, even from one day to the next, they are not a
reliable indicator for diagnosing menopause.
Home Menopause Testing Kits: Are They Worth It?
So what about this new home menopause kit? It tests the level of FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) in the urine.
Talking to Your Doctor About Menopause
Knowing how to talk to your doctor or other
members of your health care team can help you get the information you
need about menopause.
Hot Flashes/Sweats
Menopause and Hot Flashes
Hot flashes occur in more than two-thirds of North
American women during perimenopause and almost all women with induced
menopause or premature menopause.
Causes of Night Sweats
Doctors often hear their patients complain of night sweats. Night sweats refer to excess sweating during the night.
Protecting Your Health
Menopause and Mammograms
The risk of breast cancer increases with age. That
is why it is very important for all menopausal women to get regular
mammograms.
Ovarian Cancer and Menopause
Menopause itself is not linked to a higher risk of
developing cancer. But the rates of many cancers, including ovarian
cancer, do rise with age.
Pelvic Exams and Menopause
Because the risk of cancer increases with age,
having regular pelvic exams may help in early detection of certain
cancers in both menopausal and postmenopausal women.
Bone Mineral Testing During Menopause
There is a direct relationship between the lack
of estrogen after menopause and the contribution to osteoporosis.
Because symptoms of osteoporosis may not develop until bone loss is
extensive, it is important for women at risk for osteoporosis to undergo
regular bone testing.
Menopause and Heart Disease
Once a woman reaches the age of 50, about the age
of natural menopause, her risk for heart disease increases dramatically.
In young women who have undergone early or surgical menopause, who do
not take estrogen, their risk for heart disease is also higher.
Menopause and Heart Disease -- What's Your Risk?
If you're going through menopause, you may be
concerned about health problems. People who have one or more specific
risk factors for coronary heart disease may be at much greater risk for
heart disease than people with no risk factors.
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