What problems might I have as a result of the menopause?
In the short-term, the menopause may be associated with distressing symptoms. At least four out of five women are troubled by menopausal symptoms. These relate to the:-
- blood circulation (hot flushes - hot flashes - and sweating at night -9).
- problems such as discomfort around the genitalia (20).
- some bladder symptoms (11).
- psychological symptoms including depression (12).
- reduced cerebral (brain) function (e.g. poor memory, reduced concentration, sleep disturbance and fatigue – Q 27.1;Q 27.2).
In the longer-term, there are significant risks of morbidity (disease) and preventable early mortality (death). There is a wealth of evidence proving that the deficiency in reproductive hormones accelerates the ageing processes of the arteries (atherosclerosis23) and the skeleton (osteoporosis – 24).
HRT may reduce the rate of these degenerative processes and possibly reverse the trends leading to reduced morbidity (illness) and delayed mortality (death). Provided you remain healthy, you should continue to have the physical and mental ability to care for, and enjoy, your family. HRT is likely to help you feel and be healthier.
Related Medical Abstracts - Click on the paper title:-
- Healthcare seeking and treatment for menopausal symptoms in the United States.(2007-01)
- Mid-age health in women from the Indian subcontinent (MAHWIS): general health and the experience of menopause in women.(2006-01)
- Longitudinal analysis of the association between vasomotor symptoms and race/ethnicity across the menopausal transition: study of women's health across the nation. (2006-02)
- The relationship of longitudinal change in reproductive hormones and vasomotor symptoms during the menopausal transition. (2005-01)
- Low sexual desire in midlife and older women: personality factors, psychosocial development, present sexuality. (2004-01)
- A population-based study of depressed mood in middle-aged, Australian-born women. (2004-02)
- Menopause-related symptoms: what are the background factors? A prospective population-based cohort study of Swedish women (The Women's Health in Lund Area study). (2003-01)
- Sleep difficulty in women at midlife: a community survey of sleep and the menopausal transition. (2003-02)
- Health profile of middle-aged women: The Women's Health in the Lund Area (WHILA) study. (0201-01)
- Is there a menopausal syndrome? Menopausal status and symptoms across racial/ethnic groups. (2001-01)
- Life satisfaction, symptoms, and the menopausal transition. (2000-01)A population based survey of women's experience of the menopause (1996)
Please click on the required question.
- 1 What will happen to me at my menopause?
- 2 Why does nature put women through the menopause?
- 3 Is life-expectancy changing?
- 4 What happens to my reproductive hormones at the menopause?
- 5 What non-hormonal changes occur at the menopause?
- 6 What problems might I have as a result of my menopause?
- 7 When am I likely to reach my menopause?
- 8 What is a premature menopause?
- 9 What are hot flushes and will HRT reduce them?
- 10 What causes hot flushes and night sweats?
- 11 Can my bladder problems be related to the menopause?
- 12 Can the menopause be associated with psychological problems.
- 13 How long can my menopausal (climacteric) symptoms last?
- 14 Is there a test that will accurately determine when my menopause has occurred?
- 15 Is it normal to experience heavy periods before the menopause?
- 16 How are heavy periods around the time of the menopause treated?
- 17 Is there a need to investigate vaginal bleeding after the menopause (postmenopausal bleeding)?
- 18 What could be the cause of vaginal bleeding after the menopause?
- 19 What is atrophic vaginitis?
- 20 What local genital symptoms can be associated with the menopause?
- 21 I have gone through the menopause and now have some bleeding (postmenopausal bleeding PMB). What will my gynaecologist wish to do?
- 22 Could I have any other long-term medical problems resulting from my menopause?
- 23 What is coronary heart disease?
- 24 What is osteoporosis?
- 25 Where else can I obtain further information?
- 26 Could I have some recommended menopause support groups.
Thank you for choosing to visit us.
This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.
I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.
