The Science of Menopause
Add This Infographic to Your Site
|
The Science of Menopause
Menopause is a big step in a woman's life. Human ovaries tend to shut down by age 50 or even younger, causing them to lose their hormones, yet women commonly live on healthily for decades. A similar process happens with men as well. So, what exactly is going on during this mysterious cycle in the body?
Three stages of menopause in women:
Perimenopause
This is the beginning stage of menopause. During this stage your reproductive hormones, estrogen and progesterone, are slowly declining and fewer eggs are maturing in the ovaries. Ovulation becomes less predictable and fertility declines. Lasts 4-5 years.
Symptoms:
- unpredictable periods
- fluctuating hormone levels
- hot flashes (experienced by three-quarters of women)
- mood swings
- weight gain
Menopause
You are considered to be in menopause when you have not experienced a period for 12 months or longer
Symptoms:
- no longer have a regular menstrual cycle
- no longer have to worry about pregnancy
Postmenopause
Occurs after you are in menopause and lasts for the remainder of your life
Health risks:
- developing osteoporosis
- heart disease
- breast cancer
- other cancers
- weight gain
Estrogen levels and menopause
Before menopause, estrogen levels are at about 150. They plummet to about 50 during menopause and then drop down to 20 in postmenopause
When/what to expect:
Average age of menopause is 46-51. For smokers, it's 43-50.
Menopause can also be induced surgically in women who have their ovaries removed
There is a 45 percent increased risk of breast cancer in women who gained 55 pounds from ages 18-44
There is an 18 percent increased risk of breast cancer in women who gained 22 pounds of weight after menopause
There is a 17 percent increase in likelihood to begin menopause for women who exercise 8-10 hours per week
Menopause is not directly linked to breast cancer, but weight gain may be a cause and menopause may induce weight gain.
Male menopause
Some controversy still exists over whether or not older men experience what is known as "andropause" or male menopause. This is a much more gradual and subtle change of life than female menopause.
- low testosterone production
- can test testosterone levels with a blood test
- Normal levels of testosterone fall between 250 and 800 nanograms of testosterone per deciliter of blood
Testosterone in men usually decreases from the age of 40 by approximately 0.3 percent per year
20 percent of men over 60 will experience a decline in androgen production
Causes:
- Medications, especially those used to treat depression or mental disorders
- Alcoholism
-Chronic illness
- Dysfunction of the pituitary gland
- Hemochromatosis
- Hypogonadism
-AIDS
-Excessive stress
Symptoms:
- Obesity
- Depression
-Anxiety or mood swings
- Problems with concentration or memory
- low sex drive
|
my account
