Menopause: Symptoms, Treatments, Causes, and Resources

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What is Menopause?

Menopause is part of the natural life cycle of women and is defined as the point when a woman has not had her period for 12 consecutive months. Menopause occurs as the functioning of the ovaries decline, due to the aging process, and they produce lower levels of estrogen and other hormones. For women, this stage of life brings many physical and emotional upheavals. The primary physical implication is that women are no longer able to reproduce.

Menses begin with a very complex process known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. The process begins with the part of the brain called the hypothalamus that makes the gonadotropin-releasing hormone GN-RH. GN-RH then causes the pituitary gland to release two more hormones: luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). LH and FSH cause the ovaries to produce hormones involved in the development of female sexual characteristics. As a result, the adrenal glands start to make estrogen and testosterone that result in the physical changes of puberty.

Do Early Menses Mean Early Menopause?

There are several reasons why girls may go through this process early. In some cases, the entire HPG axis simply starts too soon. Although this process begins earlier than normal, the pattern and timing of the steps in the process are otherwise normal. Most children with this situation are healthy, and there is no underlying medical problem that has prompted this occurrence. Other cases of early menses may be due to a serious underlying medical problem such as a tumor, encephalitis, genetic disease or hypothyroidism.

Menopause is part of the normal progression in the menses life cycle and is defined as the final menstrual period. It is confirmed when a woman has not had her period for 12 consecutive months. Menopause is linked to a reduced functioning of the ovaries due to aging and results in lower levels of estrogen and other female hormones. Spontaneous menopause is defined as the permanent ending of menses that is not a result of medical intervention.

Menopause occurs in the Western world between the ages of 40 and 58 with the average age about 51. It marks the end of reproductive ability. Even though life expectancy has improved during the last decades, the age at which women reach menopause has stayed constant for centuries.

For a number of reasons, women will sometimes enter menopause at a much earlier age. This is called early menopause. Some woman can experience spontaneous menopause as early as 30. The symptoms of early menopause are basically the same as those symptoms of women who go through later menopause. However, women at younger ages may not realize that the symptoms are related to menopause and that their ovaries are losing their functioning. If a woman under 40 experiences irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, unusual changes in mood, vaginal dryness and trouble sleeping, she should have a medical evaluation. Since the symptoms are not always related to menopause, determining the causes is important to ensure one stays healthy.

The question that women who have gone through early menses ask is whether this means they will go through early menopause? The concern is often their timeline for having children.

What Factors Influence Spontaneous Menopause?

A number of factors can influence the timing of spontaneous menopause. Smokers on average reach menopause about two years earlier than nonsmokers. Additionally, there is a genetic link in that women often go through menopause around the same time as their mothers and sisters. Chemotherapy and/or pelvic radiation therapy for cancer can also be a cause of earlier menopause. Some limited evidence also connects early menopause to women who have never had children, have been exposed to toxic chemicals, had treatment for epilepsy, have a history of heart disease and have had pelvic surgery. There are no clear links between age at menopause and race, age at beginning of menses and the use of birth control pills.

Is Age a Factor In Menopause?

The fact that there is no clear correlation between age of menopause and a woman’s age at beginning of menses is good news for women who went through early menses since early menopause comes with a number of health concerns due to the reduction of estrogen. Going through menopause early can put a woman at higher risk for osteoporosis, thyroid disease, heart disease and glaucoma.

What Are Some Symptoms Of Menopause?

The list of physical symptoms that women have reported during menopause can be quite overwhelming. Luckily, most women will experience only a few of these symptoms, which can range from hot flashes, mood swings, and trouble sleeping to extreme fatigue and anxiety. Some difficulties are also produced because of the combination of the changing levels of hormones and the effects of aging.

Are Heart Palpitations Caused by Menopause?

One of the complaints that women have reported is heart palpitations. This can be a rather frightening occurrence as women may think they are experiencing a heart attack. However, in most cases, heart palpitations are benign and are linked to menopause. The reasons that heart palpitations may present themselves in menopause is because of the drop in estrogen levels which begin in perimenopause, the phase before menopause actually occurs, and, because hot flashes can cause a woman’s heartbeat to increase by seven to 15 beats per minute.

Women having heart palpitations may experience their heart beating slower or faster, fluttering or jumping or the sense that their heart has skipped a beat. These symptoms can be felt in your neck, throat or chest. Palpitations do not last long and may happen intermittently during the months and years before a woman actually reaches menopause.

When During the Heart Palpitations Should You Seek Medical Attention?

If a woman has the following symptoms with palpitations, she needs immediate medical attention: chest pain, pressure or tightness; fainting or near-fainting; dizziness or confusion; trouble breathing; shortness of breath; feelings of indigestion; unusual sweating; or extreme fatigue. Additionally, medical attention needs to be sought if the palpitations are new, frequent or persistent. Women who are pregnant, have a history of heart disease or heart disease risk factors and have a family history of sudden death also need to seek immediate medical consultation.

Only a medical practitioner can ascertain the origin of the palpitations. There may be causes other than menopause or heart disease such as thyroid problems, anxiety or anemia. After a thorough examination that would include a full medical history and some medical tests like an EKG (electrocardiogram), the physician will be better able to determine the cause. If hormones are causing the palpitations, the patient will likely not need any treatment. The palpitations will lessen or desist after she reaches menopause. If the palpitations become more frequent or other symptoms appear, a return visit to the doctor will be necessary.

There are a number of steps women can take to deal with heart palpitations. Even though a woman may know that they are not of any significance, they can still be worrisome. It is advisable to avoid situations that can cause the heart to beat stronger or faster. Some recommendations are to reduce stress, avoid alcohol and illegal drug use such as cocaine, and exercise at moderate intensity.

It is important to be aware that a woman’s risk of heart disease rises sharply once she reaches menopause. One in eight women between the ages of 45 and 64 has heart disease. The number rises sharply to one in four after 65. However, there are a number of things that women can do to lower their risk of heart disease: Do not smoke, or quit if you do; exercise regularly; lose weight if they are overweight; eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, lean protein, especially fish, whole grains and nonfat dairy products; limit alcohol to one drink per day; and monitor cholesterol levels, blood pressure and blood sugar levels regularly.

Resources about Menopause

Website Called Menopause.org that has information about Menopause

Medicinenet.com Information about Menopause including symptoms and treatments

WebMD Menopause Center that covers Symptoms, Hot Flashes, Age, Treatments, Tests, and Causes

MedlinePlus information about menopause including symptoms such as: A change in periods – shorter or longer, lighter or heavier, with more or less time in between, Hot flashes and/or night sweats, Trouble sleeping, Vaginal dryness, Mood swings, Trouble focusing, Less hair on head, more on face

Resource by Paige

Paige is a Licensed Esthetician at Thrive Skin Institute. She obtained a Bachelor of Science from Penn State. She earned her Esthetician degree from The California Academy

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