|
In the years leading up to menopause (the last menstrual period) a woman's hormone patterns change. The ovaries gradually cease to function and production of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone slows down.
Irregular menstrual cycles are a sign of the age-related decline in fertility. When a woman has stopped menstruating altogether she can no longer become pregnant. Menopause occurs at around the age of 52.
Doctors divide the menopausal years - also referred to as the climacteric - into two phases: perimenopause and postmenopause.
|
|
The perimenopause is the transitional period which begins several years before menopause and ends one year after the last period.
|
|
|
The postmenopause is the phase of life after menstruation has ceased. It begins one year after the last period.
|
This division of the menopausal years into different phases is important as the predominant health risks in each of the phases can be different. The hormone deficiency during the menopausal years can produce typical menopausal symptoms and contribute to the development of certain diseases.
In some women menopause occurs before the age of 40. This is called 'premature menopause'.
Menopause occurring as a result of surgical removal of the ovaries or cessation of ovarian function due to chemotherapy or radiotherapy is referred to as 'induced menopause'. Women with premature or induced menopause also have a permanent hormone deficiency.
The better you understand your body and the more fully you can describe your individual problems, the easier it will be for the doctor to make a precise diagnosis and work out a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
|
