What is Menopause?

Sooner or later all women go through it. The “change of life”— menopause.

Menopause is not an illness. It is simply a time when your body is adjusting to lower levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. It is a part of every woman's reproductive life cycle.

Natural menopause usually occurs between ages 45 and 55. Some women may begin menopause suddenly due to surgery that results in removal of the ovaries or medical treatments that affect the ability of the ovaries to function.

Among the first changes that occur are changes in the frequency of your menstrual cycle, or period. The time between periods may sometimes be longer, other times shorter. Your length of bleeding may also vary in the number of days and amount of flow. A woman reaches menopause when she has not had a period for 12 months in a row.

This web site will help you understand some of the changes that occur during menopause and the various options that are available to help relieve them. One of these options is low-dose hormone therapy.

What are the most common symptoms of menopause?
Each woman's experience with menopause is different. Besides the end of monthly periods, three of the most common menopausal symptoms are hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal changes.

Hot flashes
A hot flash, also called a hot flush, begins with the sensation of heat in your face and upper body and is commonly accompanied by a red, flushed face or sweating. Some women find that their hot flashes can be triggered by stress, caffeine, spicy foods, hot drinks, or alcohol.

Night sweats
Night sweats are hot flashes that occur during your sleep. Often, they are severe enough to wake you. Along with night sweats, many women going through menopause experience insomnia which is the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep.

Vaginal changes
The vagina may become dry and thin and sex may be painful.

Do any other changes occur at menopause?
Osteoporosis
The decrease in estrogen at the time of menopause can also cause your bones to become thin, weak, and to break more easily. This condition is also known as osteoporosis. A diet rich in vitamin D and calcium may lower your chances of getting postmenopausal osteoporosis. Weight-bearing exercises, like walking or running, can also help maintain bone strength; it is important to talk about exercise with your healthcare provider before starting any new exercise routine.

How can these menopausal symptoms be treated?
Stay healthy
By developing and maintaining healthy life habits, you can significantly increase wellness during menopause. Eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and not smoking can help decrease many symptoms of menopause.

Explore your treatment options
There are many products available to help relieve menopausal symptoms. There are risks and benefits to different therapies. Talk to your doctor about what treatment option is right for you.

Herbal or “natural” supplements are one way to treat menopausal symptoms. These product contain no assurances regarding their exact dosage, efficacy, or purity and are not regulated by the FDA. Some supplements may even have serious side effects. If you are using, or considering using, an herbal supplement, be sure to tell your healthcare provider.

HT is a way of providing your body with the estrogen that you no longer produce naturally after menopause. It is an effective approach approved by the FDA for the relief of menopausal symptoms.

HT is available in several forms. Many women find taking a daily pill is a simple, convenient way to supplement the hormones their bodies are no longer producing.

Is there more than one type of hormone therapy?
Yes, there are two types of HT.

Estrogen therapy is used to relieve menopausal symptoms in women who do not have a uterus. Because taking medicine that just has estrogen raises the risk of endometrial cancer (cancer in the lining of the uterus), only women who do not have a uterus can safely take estrogen-only therapy.

In those women with a uterus, combination estrogen/progestin therapy can be used to treat menopausal symptoms. Taking both hormones together lowers the risk of endometrial cancer.

The FDA recommends that all estrogen therapy, alone or in combination with progestin, should be prescribed at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest possible time consistent with treatment goals and risks. However, HT is not for everyone and there are important health risks. You should discuss your options with your healthcare provider.

Please see IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION.

For more information, refer to the PATIENT PRODUCT INFORMATION.