menopause symptom : The Biology of Menopause
Menopause is a process, and it differs for every woman. Learn about the stages through which most women pass, and what you can probably expect.
What Is Menopause?
For many women, menopause is the first sign that life is finite. Medical experts agree that a woman has reached menopause if she hasn't had a period for 12 consecutive months and there's no underlying medical condition causing her to stop menstruating. Generally, women in Western nations can expect to have their last menstrual period at about age 51. In women who smoke, menstruation may stop a year or two earlier. But it varies widely. Some women have their last period when they're still in their 30s or not until their 60s. Premature menopause, which takes place before age 40, can result from chemotherapy, radiation treatment, or premature ovarian failure, which sometimes runs in families. Surgical menopause through removal of the ovaries, uterus, or both can happen at any age.
The Biology of Menopause
When you are born, your ovaries contain 1 million to 2 million egg-containing follicles. But over time, the number declines steadily as you ovulate or the follicles simply disintegrate. When the follicle supply is depleted, your ovaries halt production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which have regulated your periods through the years. During the time preceding menopause, ovulation and estrogen production become erratic, causing periods to become irregular. At the same time, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which triggers estrogen production in the ovaries during the childbearing years, acts as kind of an early warning signal when estrogen falls below usual levels. When estrogen levels drop, FSH rises, trying to stimulate your ovaries to produce more estrogen and maintain your menstrual cycle. FSH can be an indicator that the menopausal transition has begun. But day-to-day hormone levels are not a reliable indication of where you are in the menopausal transition. Other signs of menopause are physical symptoms that result from fluctuating estrogen, including hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, and others.
How declining estrogen affects your health
You might think of estrogen primarily as a female hormone because of its important role in menstruation and reproduction. However, its effects are by no means limited to the reproductive system. Estrogen receptors -- bits of protein that estrogen molecules connect with to exert the hormone's effects -- are found in cells of the liver, digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels, bone, skin, and central nervous system. Estrogen stimulates the production of proteins that help to maintain the healthy functions of these tissues and organs. Therefore, estrogen has a role in determining the composition of lipids in the blood, the density of bones, the regulation of body temperature, the ability to recall information from memory, and the elasticity of skin and arteries. Estrogen's decline at menopause puts women at increased risk for chronic illnesses that are linked with all of these tissues and organs.
© Copyright 2006, Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved
What Is Menopause?
For many women, menopause is the first sign that life is finite. Medical experts agree that a woman has reached menopause if she hasn't had a period for 12 consecutive months and there's no underlying medical condition causing her to stop menstruating. Generally, women in Western nations can expect to have their last menstrual period at about age 51. In women who smoke, menstruation may stop a year or two earlier. But it varies widely. Some women have their last period when they're still in their 30s or not until their 60s. Premature menopause, which takes place before age 40, can result from chemotherapy, radiation treatment, or premature ovarian failure, which sometimes runs in families. Surgical menopause through removal of the ovaries, uterus, or both can happen at any age.
The Biology of Menopause
When you are born, your ovaries contain 1 million to 2 million egg-containing follicles. But over time, the number declines steadily as you ovulate or the follicles simply disintegrate. When the follicle supply is depleted, your ovaries halt production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which have regulated your periods through the years. During the time preceding menopause, ovulation and estrogen production become erratic, causing periods to become irregular. At the same time, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which triggers estrogen production in the ovaries during the childbearing years, acts as kind of an early warning signal when estrogen falls below usual levels. When estrogen levels drop, FSH rises, trying to stimulate your ovaries to produce more estrogen and maintain your menstrual cycle. FSH can be an indicator that the menopausal transition has begun. But day-to-day hormone levels are not a reliable indication of where you are in the menopausal transition. Other signs of menopause are physical symptoms that result from fluctuating estrogen, including hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, and others.
How declining estrogen affects your health
You might think of estrogen primarily as a female hormone because of its important role in menstruation and reproduction. However, its effects are by no means limited to the reproductive system. Estrogen receptors -- bits of protein that estrogen molecules connect with to exert the hormone's effects -- are found in cells of the liver, digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels, bone, skin, and central nervous system. Estrogen stimulates the production of proteins that help to maintain the healthy functions of these tissues and organs. Therefore, estrogen has a role in determining the composition of lipids in the blood, the density of bones, the regulation of body temperature, the ability to recall information from memory, and the elasticity of skin and arteries. Estrogen's decline at menopause puts women at increased risk for chronic illnesses that are linked with all of these tissues and organs.
© Copyright 2006, Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved
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