This is true, but menopause broadly includes hormonal and physical changes that take place in the three to five years during middle age before the last menstrual period. For this reason, menopause sometimes is called the "change of life." Menopause is the permanent end of menstruation and fertility and a natural part of a woman's life cycle. This stage of a woman's life occurs primarily due to decreased functioning of the ovaries. This reduced function results in decreased amounts of estrogen and a cessation of the menstrual period. All women experience menopause, however, it is a unique process for each individual woman. For most women, menopause occurs between the ages of 42-60 years old. However, it may occur as early as 30 or as late as 65 years old.
Many women experience a transition phase prior to menopause. This transition phase is called pre or peril-menopause. This is when a woman may start to notice her body beginning to change. During the period, a woman's body begins to slow its production of the female hormone estrogens. This change in hormone levels can cause weight gain, irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and decreased libido. In fact, recent studies have found for every two pounds of weight gained during menopause, the risk of high blood pressure increases by as much as five percent. Some women also experience aches and pains, mood swings, anxiousness and insomnia (difficulty sleeping). These uncomfortable symptoms while benign in nature, can lead to serious quality of life issues. This decreased quality of life is the primary reason women seek out solutions.
To relieve these symptoms, many women are advised by their doctors to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT). But HRT may not be right for every woman. Some women feel the dangers and obvious risks that come with HRT are far outweighed by any benefit that they may serve. For example: if a woman takes hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for more than four to five years, her risk of infection developing breast cancer increases. There are also higher risks of developing blood clots. Other women simply do not want to use chemical treatments for what is a natural, normal stage in life.
