Menopause is the time in a woman's life when her periods naturally no longer occur. This eMedTV article offers an overview of this topic, including information about common symptoms and the average age at which the change occurs.
Possible signs and symptoms of menopause include changes in your period, vaginal dryness, and hot flashes. This eMedTV Web page describes several of these potential symptoms in detail, including body changes and mood problems that may occur.
Hot flashes are sudden feelings of heat that most often affect the upper part of the body. This eMedTV segment describes hot flashes in detail and provides suggestions for dealing with these episodes, which are often associated with menopause.
There are many ways of treating menopause symptoms, such as getting enough exercise and taking hormones. This eMedTV article discusses other treatment options and contains links to additional information.
As discussed in this eMedTV segment, acupuncture and herbal supplements (such as red clover) are some of the things women try when seeking natural relief of menopause symptoms. This article also looks at the use of dietary soy for menopause relief.
A healthcare provider may recommend hormone replacement therapy to women with menopausal symptoms. This eMedTV article discusses the benefits, risks, and side effects associated with taking hormone replacement therapy.
Phytoestrogens and bioidentical products are examples of natural hormone replacement therapy. However, as this eMedTV article explains, the effectiveness of these and other such "natural" therapies has not yet been proven.
Temporary menopause may be the result of cancer treatment, ovarian failure, or certain drugs. This eMedTV page explains how medications can lower the amount of hormones in the body, leading to this condition, with a link to learn more about menopause.
Premature menopause is defined as menopause that occurs before age 40. This section of the eMedTV Web site discusses what can cause this, possible symptoms, and describes blood tests that may be used when making a diagnosis.
The post menopause period of a woman's life begins when she has not had her period for 12 straight months. This eMedTV Web page provides tips for staying healthy after menopause and discusses health concerns such as bone loss and heart disease.
In general, women start to go through menopause at age 51, which is an increase from 100 years ago. This eMedTV Web article provides an overview of the average age of menopause -- both then and now -- with a link to more information.
