MENOPAUSE

							MENOPAUSE
 Means, “month”-”end”.
 Absence of period for 1 year.
 Menstruation ends due to the ovaries slow
  their production of estrogen and
  progesterone and eventually stop producing
  eggs.
 During this time of changing hormones, you
  may begin experiencing symptoms.
    TIMING OF MENOPAUSE
 Occurs as early as mid 30’s and late as mid-
  50’s and also as late as 60’s
 Age at menopause is not influenced by race,
  height, number of children or whether you
  took oral contraceptives.
       PERI-MENOPAUSAL
          SYMPTOMS
 HOT FLASHES
 – Last for 3-6 minutes.
 – Flushing
 – Physically draining
 – profuse sweating
 – Racing heart
 – 1-2 years and up to 5 yrs.
                INFECTIONS:
   Vaginal dryness
   Thinning and shrinking
   Vaginal burning or pain during sex
   Loss of sex drive
   Bladder infections, urinary difficulties-loosing
    it when laugh or sneeze due to lack of
    estrogen
           MOOD SWINGS:
   Depression
   Negative attitude towards menopause
   Crying spells
   Irritability
   Wrinkling of the skin
   Headaches and increased PMS symptoms
             IRREGULAR:
 Decrease in flow
 Skip or increase flow
 longer
  RESPONSES YOU CANNOT
         FEEL:
 Bone loss (leads to osteoporosis and
  fractures)
 High cholesterol and clogged arteries
      ****Still able to get pregnant until 12 consecutive
       months have passed
     NATURAL MENOPAUSE:
 Designates end of fertility
 Only one day in a woman’s life after she had
  not had a period for 12 consecutive months
     INDUCED MENOPAUSE:
 Surgically removing both ovaries before
  natural menopause causes surgical
  menopause.
 Ovaries are damaged by radiation, chemo,
  or certain drugs
 Will experience symptoms
 Greater risk of health problems later in life
  – Heart disease
  – Osteoporosis.
 Some pass without any symptoms, just
  stops!
 Other symptoms:
  – Hair loss
  – fatigue
          HYSTERECTOMY:
 Surgical removal of the uterus and other
  parts of the female reproductive organs
 TYPES OF HYSTERECTOMY:
  – 1. Subtotal hysterectomy: removes the uterus
    leaving the cervix in place. (continue to have
    pap smear)
  – 2. Total hysterectomy: removes uterus and
    cervix
– 3. Total hysterectomy with bilateral or unilateral
  salpingo oopherectomy: removes the uterus,
  cervix, fallopian tubes, and both or one ovary.
TOTAL HYSTERECTOMY
           Need operation if:
 Heavy vaginal bleeding
 Fibroids (benign tumor of the uterus)25%
  will have fibroids.
 Cancer of: uterus, cervix, ovaries, fallopian
  tubes
 Prolapsed: muscles and ligaments holding
  organ become weak, sag down
 PID & STD’s
         AFFECTS WOMEN:
 Physically- not active for 6 weeks, gentle
  exercises walk slow
 Sexually- after 6 weeks some improve
  HORMONE REPLACEMENT
       THERAPY:
 Take hormones every day after menopause
  or surgery
 Both estrogen and progestin(form of
  progesterone)
 Reduce risk of Osteoporosis.
 Relieve menopause symptoms
 Decrease risk of heart attacks
                  RISK:
 Estrogen alone can cause cancer of uterus
  or endometrium
 Progestin: breast tenderness, bloating,
  swelling, moodiness, cramps, reduce heart
  disease.