How much do you know about menopause...take the quiz!!

Answers to last Wednesdays quiz.

1. At what age does menopause typically begin?

     a. 40

     b. 45

     c. 50

     d. 55
( Menopause usually occurs sometime between age 45 and 55, but the typical age is 50, according to the National Institute on Aging (NIA). Menopause means the permanent end of menstruation.)

2. A women is considered to be in menopause after she has missed how many menstrual cycles?

     a. 3

     b. 6

     c. 9

     d. 12

(Menopause begins at that point when you have had your last menstrual cycle, the NIA says. You won't know whether you have had your last period until you have been period-free for one year.)

3. What factors can cause premature menopause?

     a. Smoking

     b. Autoimmune disorders

     c. A woman's mother had early menopause

     d. All of the above
(The NIA says, if you smoke, you may go through menopause 1 11/2 years earlier than women who don't smoke.)

4. Hot flashes are symptoms of the premenopausal stage.  How many premenopausal women experience them?

     a. 100%

     b. 75%

     c. 50%

     d. 30%

(Hot flashes can occur several times an hour, a few times a day, or once or twice a week, the NIA says. Most women have hot flashes for about a year. Some may experience them for two to five years).

5. A blood test can help confirm if a women is beginning menopause.  The test measures the level of which of these?

     a. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

     b. Estrogen

     c. Progesterone

     d. Cholesterol

(The pituitary gland releases this hormone to stimulate the ovaries to release follicles, or eggs. A blood test that measures the hormone, along with symptoms such as hot flashes and period cessation, confirms perimenopause—the stage just before menopause.)

6. Although menopause usually does not require extra medical care, you should see your doctor if:

     a. Your periods become closer together than every 21 days

     b. Your periods last longer than seven days or are very heavy

     c. You experience bleeding between periods

     d. You experience vaginal bleeding after more than one year without a period.

     e. All of the above
 (All of these abnormal changes in menstruation could indicate a problem, so you should check with your health care provider.)

7. What is the most serious adverse effect of menopause?

     a. Hot flashes

     b. Osteoporosis

     c. Heart disease

     d. b and c

(Bones thin when ovaries stop producing estrogen. Cholesterol levels can rise, which threatens heart health).

8. How much bone loss does a women experience in the first five years of menopause?

     a. 10% over the five year period

     b. 5% over the five year period

     c. 3% - 5% annually

     d. 1% - 2% annually

(Talk to your health care provider about what you can do to help prevent bone loss.)

9. Hormone therapy minimizes some of the negative effects of menopause.  Which  of these hormones is used?

     a. Estrogen

     b. Estrogen and progesterone

     c. Testosterone

     d. Prostaglandin
(Used for a short time, hormone therapy can help relieve symptoms of menopause.)

10. If a women experiences menopause after age 50, how long should she continue using some form of birth control? 

     a. She doesn't need to use birth control

     b. 3 months

     c. 6 months

     d. 12 months

Disclaimer - The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.

I referenced the following sites for the information contained in this post -

1. http://pinnaclehealthresources.staywellsolutionsonline.com/YourFamily/Women/Tools/40,Menopause Quiz

2. http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/quizzesquestions.asp?quizid=53

Monica

How much do you know about menopause...take the quiz!!

Test your menopause knowledge, take the quiz!!


Leave me your answers and I'll privately send you your score...don't worry, no matter what your score,  you'll still have a great learning experience. Have fun and don't stress!


1. At what age does menopause typically begin?
     a. 40
     b. 45
     c. 50
     d. 55
2. A women is considered to be in menopause after she has missed how many menstrual cycles?
     a. 3
     b. 6
     c. 9
     d. 12
3. What factors can cause premature menopause?
     a. Smoking
     b. Autoimmune disorders
     c. A woman's mother had early menopause
     d. All of the above
4. Hot flashes are symptoms of the premenopausal stage.  How many premenopausal women experience them?
     a. 100%
     b. 75%
     c. 50%
     d. 30%
5. A blood test can help confirm if a women is beginning menopause.  The test measures the level of which of these?
     a. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
     b. Estrogen
     c. Progesterone
     d. Cholesterol
6. Although menopause usually does not require extra medical care, you should see your doctor if:
     a. Your periods become closer together than every 21 days
     b. Your periods last longer than seven days or are very heavy
     c. You experience bleeding between periods
     d. You experience vaginal bleeding after more than one year without a period.
     e. All of the above
7. What is the most serious adverse effect of menopause?
     a. Hot flashes
     b. Osteoporosis
     c. Heart disease
     d. b and c
8. How much bone loss does a women experience in the first five years of menopause?
     a. 10% over the five year period
     b. 5% over the five year period
     c. 3% - 5% annually
     d. 1% - 2% annually
9. Hormone therapy minimizes some of the negative effects of menopause.  Which  of these hormones is used?
     a. Estrogen
     b. Estrogen and progesterone
     c. Testosterone
     d. Prostaglandin
10. If a women experiences menopause after age 50, how long should she continue using some form of birth control? 
     a. She doesn't need to use birth control
     b. 3 months
     c. 6 months
     d. 12 months


( I will post the correct answers/explanation next Wednesday)

Disclaimer - The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.

I referenced the following sites for the information contained in this post -

1. http://pinnaclehealthresources.staywellsolutionsonline.com/YourFamily/Women/Tools/40,Menopause Quiz

2. http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/quizzesquestions.asp?quizid=53

Monica

Induced Menopause

Induced menopause is usually defined as menopause which occurs as the result of an unusual event, such as, ovarian damage from medication, chemotherapy, or radiation exposure, ovarian malfunction or by surgical removal of both ovaries (bilateral oopherectomy), which may also be referred to as, surgically induced menopause.

Induced menopause, (both surgically and non-surgically), can occur at any age after puberty and before natural, spontaneous menopause occurs.

With (non-surgically) induced menopause, there may be a short transition as damaged ovaries shut down production of hormones over a period of time. By contrast, surgically induced menopause occurs immediately following surgery.


I referenced the following sites for the information contained in this post –

http://www.natural-progesterone-advisory-network.com/the-effects-of-induced-menopause/

http://www.womensweb.ca/health/repro/menopause/index.php

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=8951


Disclaimer -The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.

Monica

Coming soon....

Induced Menopause...

Hot Flashes 101

Hot flashes and menopause -- it's almost impossible to think of one without the other. Hot flashes are the most common symptom of perimenopausal and menopausal women; according to some studies, affecting approximately 85% of these women.  Most women have mild to moderate hot flashes, but about 10–15% of women experience such severe hot flashes that they seek medical attention.

When you're having a hot flash, you may experience:

• a feeling of pressure in your head as the hot flash begins
• a feeling of mild to intense heat spreading through your upper body and face
• a flushed appearance with red, blotchy skin on your face, neck and upper chest
• rapid heartbeat
• perspiration, mostly on your upper body
• a chilled feeling as the hot flash subsides

Hot flashes are mostly caused by the hormonal changes of menopause, but can also be affected by lifestyle and medications. A diminished level of estrogen has a direct effect on the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for controlling your appetite, sleep cycles, sex hormones, and body temperature. Somehow (we don't know how), the drop in estrogen confuses the hypothalamus—which is sometimes referred to as the body's "thermostat"—and makes it read "too hot."

There is considerable variation in time of onset, duration, frequency, and the nature of hot flashes. . An episode can last a few seconds or a few minutes, occasionally even an hour, but it can take another half hour for you to feel yourself again. Research shows the most common time of onset is between six and eight in the morning, and six to ten at night.
Some women keep a record of when a hot flash occurs and what they were eating or doing, or how they were feeling at the time.  You can then try to avoid the triggers.  Some common triggers are:

stress alcohol caffeine diet pills spicy food

hot food hot tubs saunas hot showers

hot beds hot rooms hot weather smoking

Hot flash survival tips -

• Dress in layers, so you can peel off one layer after another as you get warmer.
• Don't wear wool, don't wear synthetics, and be wary of silk. That leaves cotton, linen, rayon, and more cotton.
• Avoid turtlenecks. Stick to open-neck shirts.
• Keep ice water at hand that you can sip to cool down.
• Where possible, lower the thermostat or maybe it's time for an air conditioner or a ceiling fan.
• Wear cotton pajamas or a nightgown. If you perspire a lot at night, your nightclothes are easier to change than the sheets.
• Use cotton sheets only, not synthetics.
• Get a bigger bed if you and your partner are on different heat planets but you still want to stay in close orbit.
• Take a cool shower before bed.
• Arrive at meetings early so that you can get the coolest seat.
• Use your freezer liberally. A number of women talked about opening the freezer at home (or in the supermarket) and sticking their head in when a hot flash hits.
• Put a cold pack or a cold cloth at the back of your neck.

Hope this information helps; I’ve referenced the following links for the information contained in this posting:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hot-flashes/DS01143/DSECTION=symptoms

http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/menopaus1/a/menopause2.htm

http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/hotflashes/a/nomorehotflashs.htm

http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/menopausal/facing/hot_flashes.jsp

Monica

Disclaimer -The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.

Perimenopause -

I received a lot of interesting feedback on my menopause post (“Elephant...” Feb. 17, 2011) and many comments related to perimenopause.  Therefore, I’ve decided to dedicate this post to perimenopause

The prefix “peri” is of Greek origin and means “around” or “about” and when you combine it with the Greek "mens", which means monthly and "pausis", which means cessation (“Elephant...” Feb. 17, 2011), you have perimenopause, which means “around the monthly cessation”....ok, enough Greek, let’s get on with the other details.

Perimenopause is the phase before menopause actually takes place, when ovarian hormone production is declining and fluctuating.   My research has shown this phase can last anywhere from 5 – 15 years before menopause, while other research refer to perimenopause as that period which is a 3 to 4 year span just before menopause, the end of menses, occurs.

I’ve also discovered many women experience more symptoms during perimenopause than after menopause. Because this often happens at an age between 35 and 45, many women's symptoms are overlooked or ignored by their healthcare providers.

There are many signs and symptoms, both of a physical and a mental nature, related to perimenopause.  They may include:

·         Hot flashes and/or night sweats

·         Breast tenderness

·         Mood changes - depression, anxiety, irritability,

·         Trouble sleeping

·         Irregular periods – lighter or heavier flow, flooding, shorter or longer cycle

·         Vaginal dryness

·         Decreased libido

·         Urinary urgency and/or leakage when laughing or sneezing

·         Problems with memory and concentration

·         Fatigue

I’ve only mentioned some of what I personally feel are more common symptoms.  There are many other symptoms which could occur with perimenopause.

Often your doctor can make the diagnosis of perimenopause based on your symptoms. Blood tests to check hormone levels may also be beneficial but may be difficult to evaluate due to erratic fluctuations of hormones during this period.

Talk to your doctor about your specific symptoms and goals of treatment. This will help him or her in developing the plan that is right for you.

I referenced the following sites for the information contained in this post –

http://www.project-aware.org/Experience/perimenopause.shtml

http://womenshealth.about.com/od/menopaus1/a/perimenopausesy.htm

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=11876

http://www.webmd.com/menopause/guide/guide-perimenopause

Disclaimer - 
The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.

Monica

The "Elephant" in the Room

OK....we all wonder about it, so...let's talk about "the elephant" in the room.....menopause!!!  My husband likes to call it "mental pause"...but, I tell him, that's not very nice!

You may or may not have reached this stage in your life; however, if you're a women and you're lucky to live long enough, it too will happen to you.

What is "menopause"?  Well, it comes from the Greek "mens", which means monthly and "pausis", which means cessation.  So, literally it would mean "monthly cessation", and, that's exactly what it is, the end of menstruation.  (Personally, I think menopause is amazing ...I've never been so happy to get rid of something in my life!!)

Menopause commonly occurs between the ages of 42 and 56, and, if you haven't had a period for one year you can say you have begun menopause.

Over the next several posts I will try to address other topics related to menopause...such as, hot flashes, peri-menopause, signs of menopause and induced menopause, to name a few.  I am by no means an expert in this field, but, if you have any questions I will do my best to get some information for you.

I referenced the following sites for the information contained in this post -

http://www.cwhn.ca/node/40801

http://www.menopausecanada.com/

Disclaimer -  

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.

Monica