Menopause Questions

1. How will I know when perimenopause is over and full menopause has settled in?
   Menopause is considered to be in full effect when you cease to have a period for 12 consecutive months.



2. Will all my perimenopause symptoms disappear when I am in full menopause?
   No. The experience of menopause is not so cut and dry.



3. What is the single most important thing for me to do?
   Cultivate an accepting attitude. Menopause is a natural aging process that all women go through. The more you allow these changes to take place, the easier it will be on you. Try not to use menopause as an excuse for bad behavior.




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4. Are there natural treatments for menopause?
   Yes. Some women decide to take herbal, natural, or plant-based products containing phytoestrogens (estrogen-like substances from a plant) to help their symptoms. Common sources are soy, black cohosh, wild yam, dong quai, and valerian root.



5. I've reached menopause and haven't had my period for a few years now. But, the other day I had some bleeding off and on. Should I be concerned?
   Changes in bleeding are normal as you near menopause. There are also other common causes of bleeding in the years after menopause. The decline in your body's estrogen levels can cause tissues lining the vagina to become thin, dry and less elastic. Sometimes this lining can become broken or easily inflamed and bleed. It can also become injured during sex or even during a pelvic exam. Once you've reached menopause you should report any bleeding that you have to your doctor. Uterine bleeding after menopause could be a sign of other health problems.



6. What have we learned about taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause?
   We know that hormone therapy may be a way to get over the symptoms of menopause if taken for only a short time and in the smallest amount. Hormones DO NOT help prevent heart or bone disease, stroke, memory loss or Alzheimer's disease. If you decide to use hormones use them at the lowest dose which helps and for the shortest time needed. Check with your Doctor every 3 to 6 months to see if you still need them. Because there are both benefits and risks linked to taking them every woman should think about these in regard to her own health and discuss these issues with her Doctor. We are still trying to learn more about the long-term and short-term effects of hormone therapies on women's health.


Source: Questions 4,5,6: The National Women's Health Information Centre

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