Perimenopause marks the time when your body begins the transition to menopause. It includes the years leading up to menopause — anywhere from two to eight years — plus the first year after your final period. There is no way to tell in advance how long it will last OR how long it will take [...]
Posts from ‘May, 2009’
What is premature menopause?
Menopause is called “premature” if it happens at or before the age of 40. For some women, it happens naturally. This could be due to family history of premature menopause. For other women, it is brought on by medical means, such as: Medical treatments, such as surgery to remove the ovaries Cancer treatments, such as [...]
Will hysterectomy cause me to enter menopause?
Sometimes, younger women need a hysterectomy to treat health problems such as endometriosis or cancer. A hysterectomy is an operation to remove a woman’s uterus. Often one or both ovaries are removed at the same time the hysterectomy is done. If you haven’t reached menopause, a hysterectomy will stop your period. But, you will reach [...]
How much physical activity should I do during menopause?
An active lifestyle can lower your risk of early death from a variety of causes and help you maintain a healthy weight. It also might improve your mood and help you to sleep better. For older adults, activity can improve mental function. Health benefits are gained by doing the following each week: 2 hours and [...]
What is “bioidentical” hormone therapy?
This term means different things to different people. It’s really manmade hormones that are just the same as the hormones the body makes. There are several products with hormones like this that are on the market and are well-tested. But this term is most often used to mean drugs that are custom-made from a doctor’s [...]
Are there “natural” treatments available for menopause?
Some women try herbal or other plant-based products to help relieve hot flashes. Some of the most common ones are: Soy. Soy contains phytoestrogens (estrogen-like substances from a plant). But, there is no proof that soy — or other sources of phytoestrogens — really do make hot flashes better. And the risks of taking soy [...]
Can menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) prevent heart disease or Alzheimer’s disease?
Some research has shown that women who start estrogen or certain types of hormone therapy around the time of menopause are less likely to get heart disease. But a very large study by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) had different results. The NIH research found that: Estrogen alone didn’t affect the risk of [...]
Who should not take menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) for menopause?
Women who: Think they are pregnant Have problems with vaginal bleeding Have had certain kinds of cancers (such as breast and uterine cancer) Have had a stroke or heart attack Have had blood clots Have liver disease Have heart disease MHT can also cause these side effects: Vaginal bleeding Bloating Breast tenderness or swelling Headaches [...]
Can menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) help treat menopause symptoms?
If used properly, menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) (once called hormone replacement therapy or HRT) can be very good at relieving moderate to severe menopausal symptoms and prevents bone loss. But MHT also has some risks, especially if used for a long time. MHT can help with menopause by: Reducing hot flashes and night sweats, and [...]
How to manage symptoms of menopause?
Many women do not need any special treatment for menopause. Eating healthy foods and keeping physically fit are important to feeling your best in the years leading up to menopause and beyond. But women who are bothered by some menopausal symptoms might want to try treatment. Several treatment options, including menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), are [...]
