2007 Women's Health Daybook - Understanding Menopause and Its Challenges

Understanding Menopause and Its Challenges

Menopause is a normal change in your life that usually happens when you are in your late 40s to mid-50s and your period stops. That's why some people call menopause "the change of life." During perimenopause, your body begins making less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. (Perimenopause is the years leading up to menopause and one year after your final menstrual period.) You have reached menopause when you have not had a period for 12 months in a row (and you are not pregnant or breastfeeding and you have no other disease-related causes for this change). As you near menopause, you may have symptoms from the hormone changes in your body. Many women wonder if these changes are normal. Many women are confused about how to treat their symptoms. It may help you feel better to learn all you can about menopause and to talk with your doctor about your health and your symptoms. If you want to treat your symptoms, your doctor or nurse can teach you more about your options and help you make the best treatment choices.

Current as of February 2007