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Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• What is menopause?
• At what age does a woman typically reach menopause?
• What conditions can affect the timing of menopause?
• What are the symptoms of menopause?
• What are the complications and effects of menopause on chronic medical conditions?
• Are hormone levels or other blood tests helpful in detecting menopause?
• What are the treatment options for the symptoms of menopause?
• Hormone therapy
• Other medical therapies
• Alternative therapies
• Non-hormone therapies
• Lifestyle factors in managing menopause symptoms
• Menopause At A Glance
• Menopause Quiz
• Menopause and Perimenopause Slideshow
• Osteoporosis Slideshow
• Menopause FAQs
• Find a local Obstetrician-Gynecologist in your town

Non-pharmaceutical therapies

In women for whom oral or vaginal estrogens are deemed inappropriate, such as breast cancer survivors, or women who do not wish to take oral or vaginal estrogen, there are a variety of over-the-counter vaginal lubricants. However, they are probably not as effective in relieving vaginal symptoms as replacing the estrogen deficiency with oral or local estrogen.

Lifestyle factors in controlling the symptoms and complications of menopause

Many of the symptoms of menopause and the medical complications that may develop in postmenopausal women can be lessened or even avoided by taking steps to lead a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise can help protect against cardiovascular disease as well as osteoporosis, and exercise also has known mental health benefits. Proper nutrition and smoking cessation will also reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Menopause At A Glance

• 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 process. This so-called perimenopausal transition period is a different experience for each woman.

• The average age of menopause onset is 51 years old, but menopause may occur as early as the 30s or as late as the 60s There is no reliable lab test to predict when a woman will experience menopause.

• The age at which a woman starts having menstrual periods is not related to the age of menopause onset.

• Symptoms of menopause can include abnormal vaginal bleeding, hot flashes, vaginal and urinary symptoms, and mood changes.

• Complications that women may develop in the postmenopausal period include osteoporosis and heart disease.

• Treatments for menopause are customized for each patient.

• Treatments are directed toward alleviating uncomfortable or distressing symptoms.

REFERENCES:

Newton KM; Reed SD; LaCroix AZ et al. Treatment of vasomotor symptoms of menopause with black cohosh, multibotanicals, soy, hormone therapy, or placebo: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2006 Dec 19;145(12):869-79.

Rossouw JE; Anderson GL; Prentice RL et al. Risks and benefits of estrogen plus progestin in healthy postmenopausal women: principal results From the Women's Health Initiative randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2002 Jul 17;288(3):321-33.

Utian WH; Archer DF; Bachmann GA, et al. Estrogen and progestogen use in postmenopausal women: July 2008 position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause. 2008 Jul-Aug;15(4 Pt 1):584-602.

Previous contributing authors and editors:
Carolyn Janet Crandall, MD, FACP and Dennis Lee, MD