Menopause FAQs

• What is menopause?

  Menopause is when the ovaries are no longer able to make estrogen. If the ovaries are removed, it is called a surgical menopause.

• Can I become pregnant if I am in menopause?

  Menopause cannot be diagnosed until you have had one full year without periods. During that year there can be unexpected pregnancies if birth control is not maintained.

• Is there a lab test that confirms menopause?

  Menopause can be confirmed with an elevated FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and the absence of periods for 12 months. The blood test alone does not confirm menopause.

   

• What is the average age of onset for menopause?

  The average age of onset for menopause is 51. Ninety percent of women will go through menopause between the ages of 45 and 55.

• Does menopause process take years to complete?

  The term menopause actually indicates the moment in time when the ovaries are no longer able to make estrogen. When women talk about going through menopause, they are talking about the time before and after that moment when they may have symptoms related to this change in hormones. This is often referred to as the perimenopause.

  The symptoms of menopause are very individual. Some women have no symptoms and simply stop having periods. Other women may have symptoms for years before and/or after stopping their periods.

   

• What are the most common symptoms of menopause?

  A change in your menstrual cycle can be one of the first symptoms. Periods can get further apart or closer together. Periods can be lighter or heavier. Hot flashes and night sweats can begin. Sometimes moodiness or anxiety is experienced. The classic menopause complaints are hot flashes and night sweats associated with absent periods.

• What is a hot flash?

  The hot flash is a vasomotor symptom caused by a change in the brain chemistry. Hot flashes usually begin starting at the waist and quickly spreading upward to the chest, back, neck and scalp. The number and severity of the hot flashes, vary from woman to woman.

• How long do menopausal symptoms last?

  Just as the symptoms differ from one woman to another, so does the length of time that they last.

• Can I predict my menopause experience based on my mother or sisters or other family members?

  No, menopause is a very individual experience. Even among family members we see a wide variety of experiences. The one exception is very early onset of menopause.

• Is an increase in facial hair to be expected in menopause?

  The decrease in estrogen associated with menopause can unmask our natural testosterone. This can lead to an increase in facial hair.

• What urinary problems are associated with menopause?

  Because of the decreased amount of estrogen to the tissues, you may have more frequent urinary tract infections. The tissue becomes thinner and loses some of its elasticity, making it more open to infection and irritation.

  This decrease in elasticity may also cause you to urinate more frequently and may contribute to losing urine with coughing or laughing.

   

• Is feeling fatigued a common symptom of menopause?

  Due to sleep deprivation caused by hot flashes or night sweats, or by stress, you may feel fatigued. It is important that you speak with your physician to determine if the fatigue is physical or psychological.

  Some women experience early morning wakening as part of their menopause. They have no trouble going to sleep but find that they awaken at 2 or 3 in the morning. The interruption in deep sleep can cause fatigue the following day.

   

• What is Osteoporosis?

  Osteoporosis means porous bone. It is characterized by loss of bone mass, which causes us to have bones of reduced density and strength. These thinner and more brittle bones make us more prone to fractures. Early detection and prevention is important. Menopausal patients should take 1200 to 1500 mg of calcium a day and 1000 of Vitamin D a day. Consult with your physician about the correct dosage for you!

• Should I take Hormones?

  Tough question. The decision to take or not take hormones must be individualized. The decision will be based on your symptoms, your family history, and your personal history. You'll have to consider how you prefer to manage your health in general and carefully weigh the pros and cons of treatment. The same symptom may be easily tolerated by one woman but may be viewed as quite distressful by another woman.

• Are there ways to manage menopausal symptoms other than hormones?

  Yes. Some women will choose behavior approaches. Some women will want to explore herbal approaches. Some women will choose to use SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which are medications like Prozac or Zoloft).

  The NIH (National Institute of Health) has established an institute to specifically look at complementary approaches to medicine. The institute is called the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine. The link to their website is http://nccam.nih.gov/.

• What can I do to prepare for Menopause?
  • Choose the right health care provider.
  • Schedule an exam.
  • Watch your diet.
  • Learn your risk for Osteoporosis.
  • Mind your mood.
  • Get moving.
  • Limit your alcohol intake.
  • Stop smoking.
  • Continue birth control
  • Manage your stress.
• When and how often do you recommend Bone Density Tests? Where do I go to get one?

  Bone density testing is usually begun around the time of menopause. The test is repeated about every 2 years. This test can be done at radiology centers but is also done in some physician offices.

• Is my low sex drive because of my hormones? Is there something I can take to make it better?

  Low sex drive is a very complicated issue. It can result from a change in hormones (testosterone or estrogen levels). It can be affected by your general health. Medications can affect sex drive. You may have a decrease in sex drive if you are experiencing pain or dryness with intercourse. Sometimes a decreased sex drive is behavioral. Years of inattention to that aspect of our lives can result in decreased interest. These issues can be addressed.

  If you'd like to learn more about menopause, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) distributes a wonderful article titled "Facts about Menopausal Hormone Therapy." A free copy is available via download here (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/women/pht_facts.htm)

  If you want more specific help with your menopausal symptoms, schedule an appointment with one of our providers. Call our office or use the appointment request form. You can also request an appointment from My Health Record if you have an account.