Could This Be Menopause?
Ask two different women what menopause is like, and you'll get two different answers. Some women experience few, if any, symptoms. Others experience hot flashes, moodiness and more.
Menopause arrives at the end of a woman's last period, typically between ages 45 and 55. But hot flashes and other symptoms may occur two to eight years before that.
Menstrual changes often are the first signs of approaching menopause. In the years before menopause, a woman's ovaries start producing less estrogen. As a result, you may skip periods or have heavier or lighter periods than usual.
Some women also may experience:
- Hot flashes, which cause hot, flushed skin and sweating. Nighttime hot flashes are known as night sweats.
- Difficulty sleeping, which may be related to night sweats
- Vaginal dryness and/or irritation
- Urinary incontinence and/or urinary tract infections
- Moodiness, which may be related to sleep problems or stress
Some of these symptoms may last for several years after a woman's last period.
Dr. Miner will speak more about menopause at our FLASHES seminar in August. See event listing at left for more information.
