Menopause

Question: Can you start menopause when you are on birth control pills? Or, will you know you are starting menopause when you are on the pill? Will you still have normal periods? I am 32 and a bit young but the females in my family go through menopause young. I was just wondering because I am having horrible hot flashes at night and was wondering if the pill would mask menopause? Any help would be appreciated.

Answer: The oestrogen provided in the BCP (birth control pill) may be enough to control menopausal symptoms if you happened to be going through it whilst on birth control pills so in a way yes it could mask the fact that you were going through the menopause (depending on the level of oestrogen you are on) . Having said that, the night sweats can be side fx of the pill. With regards to periods, the bcp causes a monthly period so there is no reason why that would necessarily stop because you may be going through an early menopause. They would stop however, if you were definitely going through menopause and not on the bcp! If you are concerned and really want to know then a trip to the Doc to check your hormone levels esp FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH ( lutenizing hormone) (used to determine if you are in or about to enter menopause) would be best but am not sure if they can test that if still on the bcp, but I'm sure they'll clarify that for you! (",)

Question: When do women generally start menopause and how long does it last? I'm in my early 40's and was wondering when I should be concerned about menopause. I've been very moody lately and just don't feel like myself...could this be pre-menopause? What are some of the symptoms emotional and physical that accompany menopause? How long does menopause last?

Answer: 50 to death

Question: What does women in her menopause stage need to eat to stay healthy? Does anyone know what supplements or special cares are needed for women in her menopause stage? Such as taking omega 3 or something... P.S.: I'm in my early 20s and I am not going throught menopause. I'm doing this as a research for one of my class.

Answer: The following articles may be helpful: http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/menopaus1/a/nutritionmeno.htm http://life.familyeducation.com/nutrition-and-diet/health/44298.html http://www.estroven.com/info/wellness_care/nutrition http://health.yahoo.com/experts/weightkoch/1504/nutrition-and-menopause/ I AM going through menopause, as I'm 47. One of the most important things a menopausal woman can do? Cut back her calories dramatically and focus on healthy eating. Horrible advice, when you've lived almost 50 years you'd think you'd be allowed to eat all the chocolate you want.

Question: After menopause is it necessary to use contraceptive to avoid pregnancy? A friend of mine has been asking this question for quite a long time. He is shy of asking a doctor. Even after many years of wife's menopause he continues to use contraceptive as he is afraid of her getting pregnant. Can someone advice correctly?

Answer: Menopause is the cessation of the woman's ability to conceive. While going through menopause, a woman may become pregnant, but after it is complete, there is no chance. If she went through it many years ago, they are safe. No contraception is needed.

Question: If you start your periods early will you hit the menopause earlier? This is a little embarrassing.. I started my periods when I was nine years old. Does this mean I will go through the menopause earlier? If its to do with family.. My mum is 47 and hasn't gone through the menopause yet. Im just worried. Thanks x Im only 15 btw.

Answer: Hi ladeda, who knows what life has mapped out for us. No one can tell, all you can do is wait and see what happens. Mike t.

Question: Can the symptoms of menopause start in your early thirties? I am experiencing hot flashes at night, especially, and wondering how likely it is that I am in peri-menopause? ( pre menopause) I heard you can get symptoms years before you turn barren.

Answer: you can experience this even in your 20's. I would check with your doc for proper diagnosis.

Question: On average what age do women start menopause ? My friend and I were wondering on average what age do you start menopause. Also, if you start your period at a later age (eg17 compared to 10) does that mean you start menopause later?

Answer: Menopause isn't the sudden stopping of your periods. For most women, it's a gradual happening called "perimenopause" http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/perimenopause/DS00554, then "menopause" is defined as having gone a year without periods. Some women in perimenopause don't reven realize what's happening. It often starts happening in the 40's. Periods will get longer or shorter, or heavier or lighter, or more/less often, as hormones start declining. Perimenopause can be triggered by running out of usable eggs in your ovaries. Before a baby girl is born, she can have millions of eggs in her ovaries. At birth, she may have 400,000-500,000 eggs. Most of these die; some are ovulated (released from the ovaries). So it can be true that later menarche (first period) can result in later menopause. My own perimenopause started at age 38, and now at 47 I'm in true menopause.

Question: What are the things you have exprienced during menopause? I am looking for personal experiences with Menopause. The reason is the websites can give you a clinical explanation but experience is always better than what can be read in a book. Please if you are willing, share your personal experiences with menopause with me. I think mine may have begun. Yikes!

Answer: I didn't have hot flushes during the day, but woke up sweating during the night. I also suffered from depressions, broke out into tears for no reasons until I decided to to hat a grip of the situation. I kept a journal with my thoughts, changed the way I ate and added a lot of soy to my diet and generally foods that are rich in phytoestrogens, like beans, legumes, seaweed, yams, apples, potatoes, and carrots. To fight my depressions I took a yoga class and also danced a lot whenever things went rough. ;) Eventually things calmed down and looking back I think it was not so bad after all. I didn't gain weight so far (its five years now) and feel as attractive and as alive and young as before. All the best!

Question: At what age do men start to see the signs of male menopause? At what age do the signs of male menopause begin? Do all men reach menopause? How often do you hear cases of men suffering from male menopause? Men do suffer from symptoms similar to menopause. That's why it's called male menopause I beg to differ J John. infertility is when a man stops producing sperm. Cancer can also be a cause for a mans infertility.

Answer: to answer your question i did a little research and no all men go through menopause! here is what i found: Unlike menopause in women which represents a well-defined period in which hormone production stops completely, male hormone (testosterone) decline is a slower process. The testes, unlike the ovary, does not run out of the substance it needs to make testosterone. A healthy male may be able to make sperm well into his eighties or longer. However, as a result of disease, subtle changes in the function of the testes may occur as early as 45 to 50 years of age, and more dramatically after the age of 70 in some men. If you or a loved one is considering androgen replacement therapy, talk to a doctor to learn more. Your doctor may also recommend certain lifestyle changes, such as a new diet or exercise program, or other medications, such as an antidepressant, to help with some of the symptoms of male menopause. hope this helps good luck and have a good day Hiedi

Question: Why does menopause cause women to be a little mean?How long does menopause last? Why does menopause cause meanness? I notice that women tend to be a little mean when going through "the change" Why? How long does menopause last? Women are kind of crazy during menopause. My mom sure is moody lately.I can't wait for her to be done.I don't live with my parents but when I visit she can be a little mean sometimes lately. How long does it last? Why are menopausal women so mean?

Answer: It's pretty much the same issue as PMS, fluctuating hormone levels alter a person's mood.

Question: Menopause?? What remedies/treatments are there, (which are available from chemists) to help ease menopause???? Thanks.

Answer: I'd ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice. HRT is available if you're having severe symptoms, and is usually very effective. Different medications can be used to relieve different symptoms, so the treatment most suiteable for you depends on what the problem is. Remember that complementary medicines (herbal medicines etc.) are drugs, even though they aren't on prescription. They can react bady with some other medications, so check with the pharmacist that it's ok for you to use them before you buy.

Question: What are some of the more common signs that you are starting to approach menopause? I realize that the most common sign that you've HIT menopause is cessation of periods, but what about the time preceding? How do you tell if you're starting to approach menopause?

Answer: Loss of interest in sex,night sweats,hot flashes,mood swings,aggressive behavior,weight gain,chin hair,wrinkles,joint pain,gee isn't it great? WAAA!

Question: What is the youngest age a woman can go through menopause? I'm only 25 but I've been having symptoms of menopause, is this even possible? I've had problems with my period ever since I got it, so I wouldn't be surpised! Thanks. I won't be able to go to a doctor for about 2 weeks, we're in the middle of moving and pretty much all of our time is used up packing and working. I'm kinda embarrassed to even ask a Doc about it. It seems kinda ridiculous. I'll give you some history real quick. I've always missed periods, from 6 weeks in between to 4 months (been since Sept this time). Bad cramps all the time. Went on the pill for about 7 years on and off to control it. Didn't have insurance for the last 2 years and went off it. In the last year, had major issues, longer gaps and longer lasting (3 weeks one time), had hair grow on my face and breasts (never did before) and had a higher temp then normal. I guess it is pretty dumb that I'm embarassed to ask my doc, I had a bad experinace when I asked one about something I thought I had. I was mocked and laughed at. I stopped going to see him.

Answer: Here's a link on Premature Ovarian Failure aka Premature Menopause: http://www.4woman.gov/menopause/stages/p… and http://www.medicinenet.com/premature_men… You more likely have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Here's a link for that: http://www.4woman.gov/faq/pcos.htm Don't be affraid to talk to your gynecologist about this. You've got something going on hormonally. It needs checked out. If you had symptoms for diabetes would you feel silly for seeing a doctor? Well, this is the same type of thing. Your body isn't giving you what it needs.

Question: How do you know when will you be menopause? I had my first period when i was 12. Can we calculate the estimated time of our menopause? Somebody told me to add 30 to the age I had my first period and that'll be my age to be menopause.

Answer: 34 Menopause Symptoms Menopausal symptoms affect about 70% of women approaching menopause. Typical menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes or night sweats, are caused by changing hormonal levels in the female reproductive system. Almost all women notice early symptoms while still having periods. This stage of gradually falling and fluctuating hormone levels is called perimenopause, which often begins in the early 40s. The symptoms of menopause usually last for the whole menopause transition (until the mid 50s), but some women may experience them for the rest of their lives. The most common symptoms are: Hot Flashes, Night Sweats, Irregular Periods, Loss of Libido, and Vaginal Dryness. However, there are a variety of treatments that can be considered to deal with these symptoms.

Question: I heard that women start menopause 31 years after they have their first cycle. Is that true? My mom had menopause at the age of 41-i was wondering if by chance that would happen to me. Could i follow in my mother's foot steps?

Answer: in general genetics is very important in reproductive system - read about it below - but 31 years after first period is not correct - read about menopause below

Question: My wife will be going through menopause soon what should I expect? Because of Cancer treatment and a hysterectomy after that my wife will be going through menopause, pretty soon. The cancer treatment gave me a preview but the hysterectomy will be the full on thing. What should I expect? How can I be supportive?

Answer: Menopause typically occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55 year old. Symptoms include irregular periods, heavy bleeding, hot flashes, disrupted sleep, headaches, dry eyes, vaginal changes (dryness), hair loss, weight gain and a loss of interest in sex. Someone women may also experience extreme emotional distress. Some women also have short term memory loss, lack of focus and irritability. Some women describe feelings of “fuzzy thinking� and the inability to multi-task. Some also experience increased feelings of anxiety, fatigue and depression. Also, women should be cautious of extreme or drastic mood swings.