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CURRENT ISSUE:
JUNE
2013
NEW
LOOK!
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Ask Dr. Marla
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| A very important time of life |
When it comes to menopause most women can tell you the hallmark signs of hot flashes and night sweats. But for many women, there are a host of other symptoms that begin to manifest in and around the transition of perimenopause and menopause.
First, it is important to understand that the menopausal transition can last an average of five years. During this time there can be irregular and skipped menstrual cycles. Early menopause is characterized by the loss of the menstrual cycle, after 12 months of an absent cycle a woman is post menopausal. During the menopausal transition estrogen can fluctuate widely, but in the post menopausal stage estrogen is no longer fluctuating; it is extremely low. |
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The symptoms
Many studies suggest that menopausal symptoms vary from person to person as well as over time. During late perimenopause, as women are approaching menopause, there are often complaints of depression, changes in cognition or thought processes and memory, and of course common vasomotor symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats.
After menopause, there are often complaints of aches and pains, sleep disturbances and insomnia, dry mouth and urogenital symptoms such as difficulty with bladder control, vaginal dryness and sexual dysfunction. These symptoms all become more prevalent. There are a number of factors that can affect the prevalence of common vasomotor symptoms. Variables include ethnicity, smoking, BMI, intake of calories, alcohol consumption, physical activity and educational level.
It is very important to recognize that these symptoms can impact on quality of life with significant distress! It is therefore key to learn how to minimize or eliminate controllable variables to lessen symptoms. Don’t diminish or dismiss any of these symptoms, talk to your physician for guidance. H&L
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