I’m 26 now and don’t plan to stop using Depo until menopause. I don’t want to get my tubes tied in the event I MIGHT want to have another baby though after losing my second to SIDS this is unlikely.
Anyway, do you think this is safe?
Beth
Is it true that contraceptive pills can belate menopause? As they say there are a fixed number of eggs in the ovaries, when all the eggs are released from ovaries menopause occurs. Pills prevent release of new eggs so they slows down the process?
Courtney
I am 50 years old and do not eat fried foods or any fattening foods yet I cannot seem to lose weight. I lost 50 pounds and am now stuck. I still need to lose about that much more. What are the best foods to help lose weight and what should I avoid? I have lupus and cannot do strenous exercise.
Alex
I had one of my ovaries removed several years ago due to a cyst inside it. I was assured by my Doctor that this wouldn’t affect my fertility as the remaining ovary compensates (and certainly my menstural cycle wasn’t even disrupted) but as I have no intention of having children I wasn’t overly concerned.
I have been wondering if it will mean I will go through menopause a bit early?
Miguel
For the past 2 (two) years I have not been having regular periods. Within the past year I only menstruate once every three months. When I do it is very painful with all the gross moods etc. Am I going through menopause? I am 44 years old.
Daniel
I don’t even know if I spelled the word ‘menopause’ right, but how do you know if your mom is going through it? What are some signs?
Stephanie
I was recently diagnosed has going through menopause. Some of my symptoms include feeling sweaty, being tired all the time, mood swings and just not being myself.
Justin
It is the same as it was before I started my period 40 years ago.Thick white and flakey when it dries.I do not have a yeast infection or any STD. I’ve had yeast infections several times in my lifetime and this is not one.Has any other woman going through peri or menopause experianced this?
Tracy
Menopause is the permanent termination of menstruation and fertility. This stage begins when a woman has her last period. Menopause can be defined by 12 consecutive period-free months. At this stage, ovaries no longer produce eggs as hormone production stops, and common changes become noticeable - including vaginal dryness and loss of sex drive.
Menopause is a natural stage in a woman’s life. The menopausal process occurs in four stages: pre-menopause, perimenopause, menopause, and post menopause.
Pre-menopause refers to a woman’s fertile life, which ranges from her first menstrual period to her last menstrual period. However, the term is often misused to describe the years immediately before menopause (perimenopause) and also to describe premature menopause.
Perimenopause encompasses the years preceding menopause. It describes the length of time when your periods are becoming lighter or heavier. When discussing menopause, most women refer to perimenopause because its during this stage that the hormone levels change and levels of estrogen decline. As ovarian production decreases, the follicle stimulating hormone (or FSH) increases, triggering symptoms like hot flashes, headaches, memory problems, acne, and mood swings.
Perimenopause typically takes place between 45- and 60-years-of-age and can span a 2- to 10-year period of time. Early signs of perimenopause usually occur in a woman’s mid-40s. Women who experience early menopause typically follow their mother’s pattern.
4 Menopause Information Facts
Menopause Information Fact # 1 - Do all women experience menopause in the same way? No. Menopause experiences are different among individual women, and also among women in different cultures, and in different parts of the world. Research has shown that women’s experience of menopause can be related to many things including: genetics, diet, lifestyle, and social and cultural attitudes toward older women.
Menopause Information Fact # 2 - Diet and exercise are pertinent during menopause, as inactivity can heighten the risk of weight gain, heart disease, and osteoporosis. The female hormone, estrogen, protects your heart and bones. When it drops rapidly, you will need to consciously work to compensate for its loss by adopting a healthy diet, an active lifestyle complimented with physical exercise, and by consulting your doctor concerning hormone replacement therapy.
Menopause Information Fact # 3 - To lessen menopausal sickness and lower cholesterol levels, menopausal women should consume foods that are high in plant estrogens. Ideal sources are soy products, lima beans, celery, nuts, seeds, fennel, parsley, and flaxseed oil.
In addition, adding vitamins C, D or E, herbal supplements, low-fat and high-fiber foods such as fruits, green vegetables and whole grains, will help energize your body and ease hot flashes, fatigue, insomnia and uncomfortable bloating. Lastly, lean protein such as chicken and fish can help you to lose weight. Eating five small meals instead of three large ones per day is recommended to keep your blood sugar and metabolism levels even throughout the day.
Menopause Information Fact # 4 - Because of the nature of early or premature menopause, a woman will experience another level of emotional reaction to her situation than someone who comes to menopause in due, natural course. As well, if disease or the treatment that is prescribed has contributed to the onset of early menopause, the individual’s situation is that much more challenging. Psychological issues will likely need as much attention as the physical. Be as kind to yourself as possible. Seek support. Accept help and comfort whenever offered. Breathe.
In summary:
1. How will I know when perimenopause is over and full menopause has settled in? Menopause is considered to be in full effect when you cease to have a period for 12 consecutive months.
2. Will all my perimenopause symptoms disappear when I am in full menopause? No. The experience of menopause is not so cut and dry.
3. What is the single most important thing for me to do? Cultivate an accepting attitude. Menopause is a natural aging process that all women go through. The more you allow these changes to take place, the easier it will be on you. Try not to use menopause as an excuse for bad behavior.
Todd
The main problem with menopause is that there is a drastic reduction in production of the female hormones. This is what causes all the physical discomfort and hot flushes in menopause. The popular line of treatment is to take menopause hormones externally. Substitution of menopause hormones can be in the form of oral medication or it can be local application in the form of topical ointments.
It is important to take these menopause hormones strictly under a doctor’s guidance. A doctor studies the patient’s symptoms and entire family history and then recommends the correct dose and combination of menopause hormones. This ensures that the patient is not at risk and is taking the right menopause hormone.
Women can take either one or both menopause hormones depending on their physical condition and age. Women who have undergone a hysterectomy must take both estrogen and progesterone. Such women have a greater risk of heart disease, blood clots and breast cancer. Women taking estrogen alone have a chance of suffering a stroke.
Menopause hormones give good relief from hot flushes and vaginal dryness. There is no proof that they prevent heart disease or improve one’s general health. The benefits of menopause hormones vary with age. Women with early menopause greatly benefit from a short course of menopause hormones. Older women who take menopause hormones have a greater risk of developing breast cancer or tumors.
Younger women do reduce their chance of heart disease by taking menopause hormones. A comprehensive study to determine the benefits and risks of menopause hormones in younger women is underway. The results of this study can provide vital clues for improving the health and quality of life of menopausal women in the years to come.
There is a need to regulate the duration of menopause hormones. One must take estrogen daily and progesterone about twice a week. The exact dosage varies with the patient’s symptoms and medical condition. However, it is worth taking menopause hormones for a short time and not on a continuous basis.
A woman must regularly review the dosage of menopause hormones with her doctor. If the hot flushes have ceased, she must stop taking menopause hormones gradually. She can also shift to other localized medication like creams and patches. Menopause hormones are not a cure for age related problems like osteoporosis and heart disease. They are the last step in therapy when other medications have failed for these medical conditions.
Thus, a doctor must prescribe menopause hormones only after a detailed study of the patient’s medical record. Menopause hormones are not a magic cure for the symptoms of menopause, but they do gradually lessen some of its symptoms like hot flushes.
Karen
