Every woman knows that she will reach menopause, but not every woman is clear what happens next. What changes may occur in your physical well-being and in your appearance? We’ll take you through what to expect from menopause and answer your questions about hormone replacement therapy.
What is menopause?
Menopause is the cessation of a women’s period for at least 12
consecutive months with no other underlying medical condition.
Menopause occurs when your body stops producing the hormones that
regulate your period. Over the course of a lifetime, women average
between one and two million eggs, housed in follicles. As you
menstruate, this supply dwindles and eventually the follicles are
entirely depleted. This is important because it signals your body to
stop the production of estrogen and progesterone, the hormones that
have been regulating your periods.
What is the earliest age women experience menopause?
The average age to reach menopause in the United States is 51, but some
women may have their last period as early as their 40s. If menopause
occurs before age 40, it is technically considered premature. However,
premature menopause only occurs in about 1% of the population. What
many women might think is menopause – hot flashes, irregular periods,
even missing your period for 6 months at a time -- may just be the
beginning. Dr. Rogerio Lobo, Director of the Center for Reproductive
Sciences at New York Presbyterian Hospital, says that women experience
symptoms 2-3 years before actually entering menopause.
Will my appearance change?
During menopause there is an increase in weight, most of it in the
abdomen. This is due to a drop in estrogen production -- which was
keeping your weight distributed around the hips and lower body. That’s
just part of it though, says Dr. Lobo. As you age your insulin
sensitivity changes, which is very important in terms of mobilizing
fat. Some hair on the face can occur, but it tends to occur much later
on in older women.
How will my body change?
The most common changes associated with menopause are hot flashes and
vaginal dryness. Hot flashes usually last about 3 years after
menopause, but in some cases persist much longer, even indefinitely.
They are intended to cool your body, much like an internal air
conditioner. Vaginal dryness can occur because of decreased estrogen
and a thinning of the vaginal wall.
