Menopause is the point in a woman’s life when her ovaries stop producing enough hormones to keep the menstrual cycle going. It marks the end of the childbearing years. For most women, menopause happens around age 50. But it can happen in the mid-40s or well into the 50s. It’s a natural part of growing older.
Menopause symptoms include:
Symptoms tend to last or get worse the first year or more after menopause. Over time, many symptoms improve or go away.
Normal changes in your body cause menopause. As your egg supply ages, you start to ovulate less often. Your hormone levels fluctuate, causing changes in your periods. Over time, you stop ovulating and the levels of the hormone estrogen drop. This causes your menstrual cycle to stop.
Your age, history of menstrual periods, symptoms and a pelvic exam will tell your doctor if you are near or at menopause. Your doctor may do a blood test that can help confirm menopause. If you have irregular periods or other severe symptoms, your doctor may want to do other tests.
Menopause is a natural part of growing older. The first step is to have a healthy lifestyle. It may help reduce symptoms and also lower your risk of heart disease and other long-term problems related to gaining weight. If lifestyle changes aren’t enough to relieve your symptoms, or if you have severe symptoms, you may want to ask your doctor about other treatments that can help.
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