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MENOPAUSE
PREMENOPAUSE
Occurs years before menopause Ovaries start producing less
estrogen Lasts up until menopause Signs and symptoms:
Fatigue Difficulty sleeping Dryness Tender breasts Mood swings More intense premenstrual
syndrome (PMS) Hot flashes
MENOPAUSE
Period at which women’s menstrual periods permanently end
Natural part of life, not a disease or disorder
Average age for menopause onset is 51, but may start as early as their 30s or as late as their 60s
Ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone Women cannot become pregnant anymore
POSTMENOPAUSE
Symptoms for most women ease or disappear completely
Women are at risk of a number of health conditions such as osteoporosis and heart disease
May regain energy Women are considered to be in postmenopause if
they have not had their period for 12 months/a year
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS Irregular periods: can be more often or less, last more
days or fewer, be lighter or heavier
Hot flashes: sudden feeling of heat
Trouble sleeping: difficulty sleeping at night
Vaginal and urinary problems
Mood changes
Changing feelings about sex: some women feel less aroused while others feel more comfortable after menopause
Osteoporosis: state in which your bones get thin and weak, can lead to loss of height and broken bones
Other changes: forgetfulness, difficulty focusing, waist might become larger, could lose muscle and gain fat and joints and muscles might feel stiff and achy
SIGNS &SYMPTOMS
• Depression and/or anxiety
• Memory loss
• Migraines
• Rapid heartbeat
• Itching
• Dryness
• Back, joint and muscle pain
• Breast tenderness and swelling
• Decreased elasticity of skin
• Irritability
• Skin thinning and becoming drier
• Intercourse maybe painful
• Trouble reaching orgasms
• Vaginal dryness
• Formication: itching, tingling, burning, pins, and needles, or sensation of ants crawling
CAUSES Ovaries run out of functioning eggs
The drop in estrogen is believed to be the cause for many of the symptoms since it is affects the blood vessels, heart, bone, breasts, uterus, urinary system, skin, and brain
There is also a drop in testosterone, the hormone that is involved with the sex drive
MANAGEMENTS & TREATMENTS Controlling Symptoms & Complications:
Regular exercise Healthy diet Stay at healthy weight Quit smoking (if you are smoking) Good mental health Get more sleep Decrease alcohol consumption Look for positive ways to ease daily stress Talk to friends and family
Therapy:Hormone Therapy Birth control pill Patches Sprays Creams Rings
MANAGEMENTS & TREATMENTS
Therapy: • Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT)
Good Effects Bad Effects
Estrogen relieves hot flashes, vaginal dryness, irregular bleeding, and helps prevent osteoporosis
Progestin helps prevent cancer
Higher risk of developing endometrial cancer
gallbladder disease, blood clots, and maybe breast cancer
Other serious side effects
• Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
Pharmaceuticals: • Prescription medications (such as antidepressants, epilepsy medicine, and
blood pressure medicine)• Over-the-counter medicines (such as vaginal lubricants, vaginal moisturizer)
MANAGEMENTS &TREATMENTSFor specific symptoms
Hot flashes: • Avoid spicy food, alcohol, caffeine, stress and hot places • Take slow deep breaths• Dress in many layers and take some off when hot flashes start • If overweight try losing weight • MHT
Troubles Sleeping:• Be physically active, not before bedtime since it might make you more awake• Avoid large meals, smoking, working and caffeine before bedtime• Drink something warm before bed (caffeine free tea or warm milk, etc.)• Keep bedroom dark quiet and cool• Avoid napping
MANAGEMENTS AND TREATMENTS For specific symptoms
Mood Swings: • Getting enough sleep and staying physically active • Avoid taking on too many duties • Talk to doctor to look for signs of depression and/or anxiety• See therapist • Try support groups for women who are experiencing similar symptoms• MHT
Memory loss:• Women complain of memory loss or troubles focusing although studies suggest that
menopause has little affect on these functions • Physical exercises• Mental exercises
CONNECTIONS In the novel Evelyn Couch is going through
menopause
Evelyn is experiencing many of the symptoms
She does not know how to handle them
Evelyn becomes frustrated with herself
Evelyn thinks, like many women, there is something wrong with her
CONNECTIONS Evelyn develops throughout the novel learning how to cope
with the symptoms Evelyn seems to be a very emotional woman at the beginning
of the novel There seems to be no apparent reason for her mood swings One of the ways that helped Evelyn with her symptoms was
through listening stories of whistle stop Also talking to Mrs. Threadgood helped her ease her
symptoms
Stöppler, Melissa Conrad. “Medicine Net.” Menopause. May 3, 2013. Web. Oct. 26, 2013 <http://
www.medicinenet.com/menopause/article.htm>.
U.S Department on Health and Human Services. “Office on Women’s Health.” Menopause. Sept. 24, 2010. Web.
Oct. 26, 2013 <http://www.womenshealth.gov/menopause/> .
“WebMD.” Premenopause.” Jun. 11, 2012. Web. Oct. 27, 2013 <http://
www.webmd.com/menopause/guide/guide-perimenopause?page=2>.
Watson, Stephanie. “Health Line.” Menopause. 2005-2013. Web. Oct. 26, 2013 <http://
www.healthline.com/health/menopause/causes-early>.
Help For Menopause." Pamphlet by: Food and Drug Administration. U.S. Food & Drug Administration, 2000.
0COV. Academic OneFile. Web. 29 Oct. 2013.
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