Health Library

Menopause is the time in your life when your menstrual periods stop. It marks the end of your ability to get pregnant. It can be defined as not having a period for 12 months without another medical cause.

The time when you start to move into menopause is called perimenopause. It often happens between ages 45–55. It can last for many years.

During perimenopause, hormone levels change in your body. This can cause symptoms and affect your health.

Menopause may make you more likely to have:

1. Bones that are weak and break more easily.
2. Depression. This is when you feel sad or hopeless.
3. Arteries that harden and get narrow. These can cause heart attacks and strokes.

What are the causes?

In most cases, menopause is a natural change to your body and hormone levels that happens as you get older.

But in some cases, it may be caused by changes that aren't natural. These include:

1. Surgery to take out both ovaries.
2. Side effects from some medicines.

What increases the risk?

You're more likely to go through menopause early if:

1. You have an abnormal growth (tumor) of the pituitary gland in your brain.
2. You have a disease that affects your ovaries.
3. You've had certain treatments for cancer. These include:
4. Chemotherapy.
5. Hormone therapy.
6. Radiation therapy on the area between your hips (pelvis).
7. You smoke a lot or drink a lot of alcohol.
8. Other people in your family have gone through menopause early.
9. You're very thin.

What are the signs or symptoms?

You may have:

1.  Hot flashes.
2. Irregular periods.
3. Night sweats.

Changes in how you feel about sex. You may:

1. Have less of a sex drive.
2. Feel more discomfort around your sexuality.
3. Vaginal dryness and thinning of the vaginal walls. This may make it hurt to have sex.

Skin changes, such as:

1. Dry skin.
2. New wrinkles.
3. Headaches.

Other symptoms may include:

1. Trouble sleeping.
2. Mood swings.
3. Memory problems.
4. Weight gain.
5. Hair growth on your face and chest.
6. Bladder infections or trouble peeing.

How is this diagnosed?

You may be diagnosed based on:

1. Your medical history.
2. An exam.
3. Your age.
4. Your history of menstrual periods.
5. Your symptoms.
6. Hormone tests.

How is this treated?

In some cases, no treatment is needed. Talk with your health care provider about if you should get treated.

Treatments may include:

1. Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT).
2. Medicines to treat certain symptoms.
3. Acupuncture.
4. Vitamin or herbal supplements.

Before you start treatment, let your provider know if you or anyone in your family has or has had:

1. Heart disease.
2. Breast cancer.
3. Blood clots.
4. Diabetes.
5. Osteoporosis.

Follow these instructions at home:

 Eat a balanced diet. It should include:

1.  Fresh fruits and vegetables.
2.  Whole grains.
3.  Lean protein.
4. Low-fat dairy.

 Eat lots of foods that have calcium and vitamin D in them. These can help keep your bones healthy.

Foods and drinks that are rich in calcium include:

1.  Yogurt and low-fat milk.
2.   Beans.
3. Almonds.
4. Sardines.
5.  Broccoli and kale.

 To help prevent hot flashes, stay away from:

1.  Alcohol.
2. Drinks with caffeine in them.
3. Spicy foods.

Lifestyle

 Do not smoke, vape, or use nicotine or tobacco.

Get 7–8 hours of sleep each night.

If you have hot flashes, you may want to:

1.  Dress in layers.
2. Avoid things that may trigger hot flashes, like warm places or stress.
3. Take slow, deep breaths when a hot flash starts.
4. Keep a fan in your home and office.

 Find ways to manage stress. You may want to try:

1. Deep breathing.
2.  Meditation.
3. Writing in a journal.

 Ask your provider about going to group therapy. Therapy can help you get support from others who are going through menopause.

General instructions

Talk with your provider before you take any herbal supplements.

Keep track of your symptoms. Track:

1.  When they start.
2.  How often you have them.
3. How long they last.

Use vaginal lubricants or moisturizers. These can help with:

1. Vaginal dryness.
2. Comfort during sex.

Contact a health care provider if:

1. You're older than 55 and still get periods.
2. You have pain during sex.
3. You haven't had a period for 12 months and then start to bleed from your vagina.
4. It hurts to pee.
5. You get very bad headaches.

Get help right away if:

1. You're very depressed.
2. You have a lot of bleeding from your vagina.
3. Your heart is beating too fast.
4. You have very bad belly pain or indigestion that doesn't go away with medicines.

This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.