A middle-aged woman sits with her chin on her hand.Source: iStock Menopause definition and facts Menopause is defined as the absence of menstrual periods for 12 months. It is the time in a woman's life when the function of the ovaries ceases. The process of menopause does not occur overnight, but rather is a gradual...
Will I have a low sex drive or other intimacy problems during menopause? Readers Comments 1 Share Your Story Although menopause may have some negative effects on sexual function, this is not always the case. Each woman's experience of menopause is unique; not all women have the same symptoms or experience symptoms with the same...
Facts you should know about hormone therapy Hormone therapy (HT) refers to either estrogen or combination estrogen/progesterone treatment. Estrogen therapy is the most highly effective prescription medication for treating menopause symptoms and in light of recent research is still safe and effective for many women when used for fewer than five years. Estrogen therapy reduces...
If you don’t want to get pregnant, you should be taking birth control up until menopause If you don’t want to get pregnant, it’s important to use birth control as a safe and effective way to avoid an unplanned pregnancy. But at what age do you need to stop? You should be taking birth control...
Facts you should know about vaginal dryness and vaginal atrophy Vaginal atrophy is the medical term that refers to the thinning of the wall of the vagina that occurs during the menopause (the time after menstrual periods have ceased) in women. Vaginal atrophy occurs due to falling estrogen levels. Vaginal atrophy may be associated with...
Alternatives for treating hot flashes facts Each woman experiences menopause differently. Treatment, if necessary, is directed toward particular symptoms that are present. Hot flashes are experienced by many but not all women undergoing menopause. A hot flash is a feeling of intense warmth, sometimes associated with flushing, that spreads over the body and may be...
What is menstruation? Menstruation is the monthly process of shedding built up uterine lining. The average age at which a woman stops menstruating is 50 years old. The menstrual cycle is a series of hormone-regulated changes that a woman's body goes through to get it ready for a possible pregnancy. It occurs in monthly cycles...
Facts you should know about hot flashes Readers Comments 71 Share Your Story A hot flash is a characteristic symptom of menopause. Hot flashes are feelings of warmth that spread over the body and last from 30 seconds to a few minutes. Hot flashes may be accompanied by redness of the skin, known as flushing,...
Perimenopause definition and facts Readers Comments 1 Share Your Story Perimenopause is the name for menstrual symptoms leading up to menopause. Menopause is the time during a woman's lifetime when menstrual periods cease. The medical definition of menopause is the time at which a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months....
How long does menopause last? Menopause usually lasts one to two years. Some symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes (a sudden feeling of warmth in the upper part of the body) usually last for one to two years. However, they can continue for 10 years or longer. Menopause is the normal phase in a...