The
Menopause Years
The average age that women go through menopause is
51 years. The ovaries, two glands on either side of
the uterus, make estrogen from puberty until menopause.
One of the earliest and most common signs that menopause
may be approaching is a change in your menstrual periods.
Women may have an increased risk of bladder infection
after menopause. Hormone therapy (HT) can help relieve
the symptoms of menopause. Hormone therapy slows bone
loss after menopause and helps prevent osteoporosis.
In women with a uterus, using estrogen alone can increase
the risk of endometrial cancer because estrogen causes
the lining of the uterus to grow. There is an increased
risk of breast cancer in women who use combined hormone
therapy. Women also can take selective estrogen receptor
modulators (SERMs) to help prevent some of the bone
problems that can occur during menopause. Hormone
Therapy: Treatment in which estrogen, and often progestin,
is taken to relieve the symptoms caused by the low
levels of hormones produced by the body.
Hormone
Therapy
At menopause, a woman's body makes less estrogen and
she stops having menstrual periods. The lack of estrogen
can bring on symptoms such as hot flushes and vaginal
dryness. It also can increase the risk of osteoporosis
(bone loss). Because of this, women may choose to
take hormone therapy (HT) to restore estrogen after
menopause. Hormone therapy can help prevent some of
the health problems that affect women at menopause.
In women, they are used by the ovaries to make estrogen,
the so-called female hormone. Hormone therapy can
relieve the symptoms of low estrogen levels (hot flushes
and vaginal dryness) and decrease the risk of osteoporosis.
Estrogen helps preserve bone and works with other
hormones to increase bone mass. Estrogen also helps
bones absorb calcium, which gives them strength. Hormone
therapy can help relieve some of the symptoms that
affect women at menopause. Hormone Therapy: Treatment
in which estrogen, and often progestin, is taken to
relieve the symptoms caused by the low levels of hormones
produced by the body.
Osteoporosis
There are two types of bone--compact bone and spongy
bone. The first signs of osteoporosis are seen in
bones that have a lot of spongy bone, such as the
spine, hip, and wrist. Old bone is removed in a process
called resorption, and new bone is formed in a process
called formation. Estrogen--a female hormone--protects
against bone loss. Menopause--Bone loss increases
after meno-pause because the ovaries stop making estrogen,
which protects against bone loss. Slowing bone loss
helps build strong bones. Exercise increases bone
mass before menopause and slows bone loss after menopause.
Bone mineral density tests measure bone mass in the
heel, spine, hip, hand, or wrist. Hormone therapy
slows bone loss after menopause. Starting estrogen
at any time after menopause can help prevent bone
loss.
Understanding
Hysterectomy
Hysterectomy-the removal of the uterus-is a way of
treating problems that affect the uterus. Because
it is major surgery, your doctor may suggest trying
other treatments before hysterectomy. For severe conditions-and
those that have not responded to other treatment-a
hysterectomy may be the best choice. The choice depends
to some extent on the effect of the condition, and
the surgery, on your life. A woman may have pain or
heavy bleeding. Hysterectomy may be done to treat
conditions that affect the uterus. The pelvic organs
before (left) and after (right) the uterus is removed.
Your condition may be treated with medicine or various
types of surgery, including hysterectomy. Fibroids
that press against the lining of the uterus may cause
irregular or heavy bleeding. Endometriosis: A condition
in which tissue similar to that normally lining the
uterus is found outside of the uterus, usually in
the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other pelvic structures.
Detecting
and Treating Breast Problems
Your breasts are always changing. They change during
the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and
menopause (when menstrual periods end). One major
problem, breast cancer, remains one of the leading
causes of death in women. Mammography is a way to
detect changes in the breast tissue by X-ray. If you
have an increased risk of breast cancer (see box),
your doctor may suggest you have this test done more
often or before age 40. Mammography is vital for all
women, regardless of breast size or if you have breast
implants. Most breast lumps (about 90%) are found
through breast self-exams. Routine exams become even
more important after menopause because the risk of
breast cancer increases with age. Breast cancer is
the leading cause of death from cancer in women aged
34-50. If breast cancer is found and treated early,
most women can be cured. This is why routine breast
self-exams, mammography, and checkups by your doctor
are vital. If you have found a lump in your breast
or the results of your mammography are not normal,
other tests may be used to help diagnose breast problems.
Endometrial
Hyperplasia
Endometrial hyperplasia is a condition that occurs
when the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grows
too much. Some women are at higher risk of hyperplasia.
Endometrial hyperplasia can be treated, and women
at risk can take steps to protect against it. Endometrial
hyperplasia is more likely to occur in certain women.
The female hormones-estrogen and progesterone-control
the changes in the uterine lining. Estrogen without
enough progesterone may cause the lining of the uterus
to thicken. After you have been taking progesterone,
the lining of the uterus may be tested again by endometrial
biopsy. If you take estrogen after menopause, you
need to take a form of progesterone to reduce the
risk of endometrial hyperplasia and cancer of the
uterus. They may help protect against endometrial
hyperplasia in women who don't have regular periods.
Women at risk can take steps to protect against endometrial
hyperplasia.
Pelvic
Support Problems
Many women's pelvic organs change as they age. They
may have a feeling of pelvic pressure or heaviness.
These symptoms may be caused by pelvic support problems.
Many women suffer from pelvic support problems. The
right diagnosis and treatment can offer relief from
pelvic support problems. The parts of the body affected
by pelvic support problems include the urethra and
bladder, the small intestine, the rectum, the uterus,
and the vagina. When the tissues that support the
pelvic organs are stretched and damaged, the organ
that they support may drop down and press against
the wall of the vagina. Treatment A pessary may be
inserted into the vagina to support the pelvic organs.
Treatment of pelvic support problems may involve special
exercises or insertion of a special device called
a pessary. Surgery may relieve some, but not all,
of the symptoms caused by pelvic support problems.
Reducing
Your Risk of Cancer
A healthy lifestyle can go a long way toward reducing
the risk of cancer. Taking notice of changes in your
body and having certain screening tests can help find
cancer early-when it is easiest to treat. A healthy
lifestyle, screening tests, and regular checkups all
can help lower your risk of cancer. Tumors can be
benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). In cancer,
certain cells (top) develop abnormally and begin to
grow out of control (bottom). Different cancers have
different risk factors, warning signs, and treatments.
To help detect breast cancer, women should examine
their breasts at home every month. Certain women who
are at high risk for breast cancer may reduce their
risk by taking tamoxifen. Signs of more advanced cervical
cancer may include unusual vaginal discharge, abnormal
bleeding, and bleeding after sex. A healthy lifestyle,
screening tests, and regular check-ups all can help
lower your risk of cancer.
Cancer
of the Uterus
Tumors can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer).
Malignant tumors can invade and destroy nearby healthy
tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also spread (or
metastasize) to other parts of the body and form new
tumors. As soon as a malignant tumor is found, your
doctor can begin treatment to control the disease.
Most types of uterine cancer are adenocarcinomas.
Sarcomas are another type of uterine cancer. These
women may be at risk for cancer of the uterus. Women
who have used these pills have a lower risk of uterine
cancer. The main symptoms of uterine cancer are abnormal
bleeding, spotting, or discharge from your vagina.
Chemotherapy or progestin (a hormone) therapy may
be used to treat uterine cancer that has spread to
other organs.
Abnormal
Uterine Bleeding
The menstrual period is the time during a woman's
cycle when bleeding occurs. Bleeding may last up to
7 days. When the menstrual cycle is not regular, bleeding
lasts longer or is heavier than normal, or bleeding
occurs between periods, it is known as abnormal uterine
bleeding. Once the cause is found, abnormal uterine
bleeding often can be treated with success. The menstrual
period begins with the first day of the bleeding of
one period and ends with the first day of the next
period. During the menstrual cycle, estrogen and progesterone-two
hormones made by the ovaries-cause changes in the
endometrium (the lining of the uterus). Abnormal uterine
bleeding may be caused by problems in the lining of
the uterus. Abnormal or heavy uterine bleeding may
occur because of hormonal problems. Some women with
abnormal uterine bleeding will have surgery to remove
growths (such as polyps or fibroids) that are causing
the bleeding. Endometrial ablation is another method
for treating abnormal uterine bleeding.
