All women go through menopause, but the experience may be different for different individuals. Defined as the last menstrual period a woman goes through, menopause is typically not identified until a woman has gone for a full year without having a period.
Timing
A woman may go through menopause any time between the ages of 40 and 59, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, but the average age is 51. Perimenopause, the time during which a woman's periods slow down and gradually cease, can last a few years.
Smoking may affect the timing of menopause, making it come sooner than it would otherwise. Postmenopause is the time after menopause has occurred and women who have undergone menopause are called postmenopausal.
Biology
The changes of menopause occur because of fluctuating hormone levels created by the ovaries that control the menstrual cycle. As the ovaries enter perimenopause, they slow their production of estrogen and progesterone, which leads to fewer menstrual cycles. Surgical removal of the uterus or ovaries that stops the menstrual cycle also causes menopause.
Signs and Symptoms
The main sign of menopause is a cessation of the menstrual cycle. The decreasing levels of estrogen and progesterone can cause other symptoms as well. These can include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, urinary incontinence, insomnia, cold hands and feet, changes in sexual desire and mood swings.
Associated Complications
At menopause, the risk of certain diseases rises significantly. Many women develop osteoporosis at this time since the protective effects of estrogen on bone go away as estrogen levels drop, according to the National Institute of Aging. The risk of heart disease, macular degeneration, glaucoma and colon cancer also rise around the time of menopause.
Treatment
Some women choose to take artificial hormones at the time of menopause to ease the symptoms, a treatment known as hormone replacement therapy. However, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, hormone replacement therapy raises the risk of blood clots, heart disease, stroke and breast cancer, so for some the benefits are not worth the risk.
Some women try a natural approach to easing menopause symptoms by using foods, such as soy, that contain compounds called phytoestrogens, which are similar to a mild form of estrogen. Herbs may also be used to try and treat menopause symptoms, although the efficacy of herbs remains uncertain. Herbs used for menopause include black cohosh, red clover, Dong quai, sage, Asian ginseng, chaseteberry, wild yam and kudzu. Acupuncture, homeopathy, yoga and exercise are also used by women going through menopause.
