menopause

2230 Words5 Pages

· Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when the function of the ovaries ceases. The ovary, or female gonad, is one of a pair of reproductive glands in women. · The process of menopause does not occur overnight, but rather is a gradual process. This so-called perimenopausal transition period is a different experience for each woman. · The average age of menopause onset is 51 years old. There is no single method to predict when a woman will experience menopause. · The age at which a woman starts having menstrual periods is not related to the age of menopause onset. · A women is in menopause when she has had no menstrual periods (menses) for 12 months and has no other medical reason for her menses to stop. · Symptoms of menopause can be divided into early and late onset symptoms. Early symptoms include abnormal vaginal bleeding, hot flashes, and mood changes. Late symptoms include vaginal dryness and irritation, osteoporosis, and heart disease. · Treatments for menopause are directed toward alleviating the symptoms present in the particular woman affected. *What is menopause? Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when the function of the ovaries ceases. The ovary, or female gonad, is one of a pair of reproductive glands in women. They are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus. Each ovary is about the size and shape of an almond. The ovaries produce eggs (ova) and female hormones. During each monthly menstrual cycle, an egg is released from one ovary. The egg travels from the ovary through a fallopian tube to the uterus. The ovaries are the main source of female hormones, which control the development of female body characteristics such as the breasts, body shape, and body hair. The hormones also regulate the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. The process of menopause does not occur overnight, but rather is a gradual process. This so-called perimenopausal transition period is a different experience for each woman. Scientists are still determining all the factors that affect when this transition begins and the details of how it occurs. The average age of menopause is 51 years old. Although women tend to undergo menopause at an age simil... ... middle of paper ... .... HTML1DocumentEncodingutf-8What is menopause? When does a woman know she is in menopause? Are hormone levels or other blood tests helpful in detecting menopause? What are the symptoms of menopause? · · Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding · · Hot Flashes · · Mood Symptoms · · Vaginal Symptoms · · Osteoporosis · · Heart disease What are the treatment options for menopause? · · Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding · · Hot Flashes · · Mood Symptoms · · Vaginal Symptoms · · Osteoporosis · · Heart Disease

Open Document