Menopause Frequently Asked Questions Menopause FAQs Contents: What is menopause? Why does menopause occur? When does menopause occur? Are there any lab tests that need to be done? How will I know when menopause begins? What should I expect in terms of menopausal symptoms? Do all women go through menopause? I've heard about surgical menopause. What is it? Can chemotherapy or radiation also cause menopause? Is there anything I can do to prevent menopause? What is menopause?     "Menopause" is the medical term for the end of a woman's menstrual periods. It is a natural biological transition experienced by all women, but there is no blueprint as to how menopause will affect each woman. Common symptoms include irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, vaginal dryness, moodiness, and decreased sexual desire. Do remember, though, that not every woman develops every symptom. Although some symptoms last only a few years, others may worsen over time. Hormone therapy (HT) helps with some of these symptoms but carries important risks, including heart disease, stroke, blood clots, and breast cancer. Though other treatments are available, none is as effective as HT for hot flashes.     As we age, the chances of getting heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, and breast cancer rise. Therefore, menopause is a good time to think about prevention and developing a healthy lifestyle. Why does menopause occur? Menopause happens when the ovaries stop making hormones called estrogens. The normal monthly ovulation process produces estrogen and progesterone. If pregnancy does not occur, the lining of the uterus that has built up since the last menstrual period is shed during menstruation. Each month this normal cycle involves over 1000 eggs, even though only one is released. So, over time, the egg supply is reduced, ovulation occurs less often, and estrogen and progesterone levels fall. Perimenopause, the time leading up to menopause, may begin as early as 10 years before menopause actually occurs. The first symptom of perimenopause may be a change in the regularity of menstrual periods, but any of the symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, insomnia, and mood swings, may also appear during this time. When does menopause occur? Perimenopause often begins during a woman's 40s, but this varies by individual. Most women, though, experience menopause between the ages of 49 and 51. Are there any lab tests that need to be done? Tests are generally not necessary. Tests, such as blood hormone levels, are needed to help sort things out under some circumstances. In most cases, symptoms will be enough to verify your transition into menopause. How will I know when menopause begins? One sign of perimenopause will be irregular periods. Other common symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, or moodiness. You will know that you have officially entered menopause when it has been 12 months since your last period. What should I expect in terms of menopausal symptoms? Due to declining estrogen levels, you are likely to experience some symptoms associated with menopause. The most common symptoms of menopause are hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness, but sleep problems, mood changes, bladder control problems, and decreased sexual desire are also quite common. Many of these are likely to be short-term. 85% of women experience hot flashes, but only 15% consider them severe. Symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and mood changes typically last for about 18 to 36 months; however, approximately 15% of women report that symptoms continued for a longer period of time. Vaginal dryness and bladder control problems usually occur later than most symptoms, and may continue if it is not treated. Do all women go through menopause? Yes, all women go through menopause. Menopause is a natural, normal, biological phase of a woman's life. It is merely the end of menstrual cycles, due to declining estrogen levels. I've heard about surgical menopause. What is it? Menopause naturally happens when ovaries stop making estrogen. It also occurs if both of your ovaries have been surgically removed for medical reasons. This procedure is called oophorectomy or ovariectomy. When menopause is brought on by the removal of the ovaries, it can be referred to as a surgical menopause. The removal of the uterus alone is known as a hysterectomy. In this case, the ovaries can continue to produce estrogen until menopause, but there will be no menstrual periods to indicate that transition. If the uterus and ovaries are removed together, it is called a “complete hysterectomy.” Can chemotherapy or radiation also cause menopause? Yes, chemotherapy or radiation can cause menopause. For example, 70% of premenopausal women who undergo chemotherapy to treat breast cancer will enter an early menopause as a result of chemotherapy. Is there anything I can do to prevent menopause? No, menopause is not a disease and there is nothing you need to do to prevent it. In fact, you may even feel relieved of the burden of monthly periods and birth control concerns. What can be troubling are some of the symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness. Menopause also signals a time of life when certain conditions, like osteoporosis and heart disease, are more likely to develop. There are many treatments and lifestyle changes that you can use alone or in combination to deal with both the symptoms of menopause and to prevent osteoporosis and heart disease.