Menopause Managing The Change Of Life: Menopause Managing The Change Of Life

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Menopause: Managing the change of life

Medically speaking, menopause is defined as the first anniversary of a woman's final menstrual period — a natural consequence of the drop in ovarian hormone levels that usually occurs around age 50. This clear physical milestone is often accompanied by symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Until the mid-1950s, such discomforts were considered an inconvenience to be endured.

If you are approaching menopause or have already reached it, now is a good time to talk with your doctor or nurse practitioner about any symptoms you are having or are worried about. Symptoms vary widely from one woman to the next. Instead of broad-brush treatments (such as estrogen to treat everything from hot flashes to insomnia), today's clinicians are more apt to recommend specific treatments for specific symptoms.

Menopause isn't only a physical change. This phase of life can signal a broader transition for women, touching their social, psychological, and spiritual core. Because it marks the end of the childbearing years, menopause has been associated with a sense of loss. But it also can be a time of new-found freedom and opportunity.

A healthy diet, weight control, and exercise will help most women look down the road to several decades of life beyond menopause.

There's no denying that menopause is a sign of aging. As such, it often causes a woman to assess her situation in life and to plan for her future. Children may be leaving home, marital or social status may change, and aging parents may fall ill or die. Some women reassess their priorities, shifting their focus from home to career or the other way around. These potentially stressful life events may affect a woman's perception and experience of the physical changes associated with menopause.

This report describes the biology and psychology of menopause. You'll learn about perimenopause and how to tell if your physical changes are normal or something that should be evaluated by a doctor. You'll find information to help you determine whether hormone supplementation is right for you. In addition, this report details other physical and mental health issues that often surface in midlife, such as incontinence, insomnia, and memory problems. You'll learn about strategies to help deal with these concerns, including diet and other lifestyle changes, over-the-counter products, and hormone therapy.

Another section explains the connections between hormones and common age-related diseases that affect women, along with the latest recommendations for preventing and treating these conditions. Finally, it offers suggestions for aging gracefully and coping with the emotional changes of passing through your middle years.

Last updated:	August 13, 2007