Menopause

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What is Menopause?

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Menopause, also known as the "change of life", is the irreversible ending of a women's menstrual periods and ability to bear children. The years before and after menopause when a woman has symptoms is called the perimenopause or climacteric. While some women cease having periods without noticing any other changes, over 80% of women will experience symptoms. These symptoms of menopause are caused by a lack of oestrogen from the ovaries.

Who gets Menopause?

Menopause naturally occurs in all women as they age. Most women will go through menopause between the ages of 45 to 55 years old. However, 1 in 100 women will go through premature menopause before the age of 40. On the other end of the scale, few women have given birth after 50 years old, with the oldest woman in the world to give birth without in vitro fertilization (IVF) reported to be 59 years old.

Predisposing Factors

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Menopause

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Menopause naturally occurs to all women, and the age of menopause is primarily determined by genetic factors. This means that a woman is likely to go through menopause at about the same age as her mother or grandmother. However, menopause may be hastened by cigarette smoking, surgery on the uterus or ovaries, and some cancer treatments. Symptoms of menopause vary depending on a woman's ethnic background, reported to be more severe in European women, compared to Asian women.

Progression

After menopause, women are no longer able to conceive and will no longer have periods. The symptoms of menopause tend to subside over the course of 3-5 years, but may persist for longer in some women. Post-menopausal women are at increased risk of developing osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and problems with weakness of the vaginal and bladder walls.

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