Is This Menopause?
"I must admit I'm a bit confused with the changes going on with my body. I'm 44 (almost 45)and began having irregular periods last fall, a few hot flashes, but not much else. This change scared the bejesus out of me since I was ALWAYS 25 days between periods, and you could bet on it! After an exam last month my doctor felt that everything was fine - normal PAP and all. Since my mom started menopause at 45, could this be the beginning of it? It has now been 46 days since my last period. Other than the (very)occasional hot flash, I feel fine. Should I be more concerned and go back to the doctor?"What Would You Do?
Just like puberty, menopause is a normal part of life. It is really the end of a long, slow process. When you are in your mid-30's, your ovaries begin to change how much estrogen and progesterone, two female hormones, they make. These are both important for normal menstrual cycles and successful pregnancy. Estrogen helps to keep bones healthy. It may also have an effect on cholesterol levels in your blood, help keep skin and arteries more elastic, and possibly help memory.
Although very rare before the age of 40, menapause can happen anytime from your 30's to your mid-50's or even later. Smokers often begin menopause earlier than non-smokers. If you have both ovaries removed (bilateral oophorectomy) during a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), you may have the symptoms of menopause right away, no matter your age. Once your uterus is removed, your periods will stop.
Some of the hormone-related stages in your life are:
Puberty
This is the age when body changes begin and breasts develop. A young girl begins to have a monthly period, often around 12-1/2 years of age.Perimenopause
This probably begins about 3 to 5 years before your last menstrual period. It lasts until 12 months after your final period. Some signs or symptoms of menopause may appear during this time.Menopause
The event that marks menopause is your final menstrual period. You will know for sure that you have experienced menopause when you have not had a period in a year. Only then can you be sure that you are no longer able to get pregnant.Postmenopause
Because this time follows menopause, it begins with your final period and lasts the rest of your life. Like menopause, you do not know you are there until 1 year later. The signs of menopause usually go away in a few years. You no longer have to worry about periods or getting pregnant. You are, however, at greater risk for some health problems.
Menopause
101 Table of Contents
Adapted from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging
