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Introduction to Menopause
How Does Menopause Happen
Progesterone
Hormones And The Menstrual Cycle
Estrogen
Conditions Requiring Immediate
Medical Attention
Common Sense Remedies
Androgen
Conditions Requiring
Immediate Medical Attention
There are
conditions that mimic menopausal symptoms but are manifestations of
different disorder. If you experience any one of the following, consult
your doctor or go to the emergency room if advised.
See or
Call Your Doctor If:
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If you have extreme pain during intercourse |
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If you have pain or burning when urinating - Thick, white, or
colored vaginal discharge |
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If you have fever and/or chills |
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If you have heavy bleeding with your periods or you pass many
small clots or large ones which can leave you pale and very tired. |
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If you have begun menstrual periods again after going without
one for 6 months. |
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If your hot flashes are severe, frequent, or persistent enough
that they seriously disrupt your sleep, work, or daily activities. |
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If you experience long-term heavy bleeding, or any bleeding
one year after your period stops. This could be a sign of uterine
cancer. |
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If you have the following risk factors for osteoporosis or you
suspect osteoporosis:
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Family history of osteoporosis |
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Small bone frame |
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Thin |
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Fair skin (Caucasian or Asian race) |
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Had surgery to remove ovaries before normal menopause or
menopause before 48 years of age |
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Lack of calcium in diet |
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Lack of weight-bearing exercise |
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Alcohol abuse |
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Hyperthyroidism |
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Use of steroid medicine |
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If you are taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and you have
any of the following?
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Side effects |
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Return of menopausal symptoms |
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Menstrual Irregularities
All women should have regular pelvic exams-as often as once a year if they are
sexually active-so that any abnormalities can be detected and treated early.
Here are some menstrual irregularities that may require medical assistance. Tell
your doctor about theses and other menstrual irregularities. (We cover all
menstrual irregularities; not just from menopause.)
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You have missed menstrual periods or unusually heavy, painful
periods; cramps, pain, or sense of pressure in lower abdomen; vaginal
spotting or bleeding. This might be ectopic pregnancy ( pregnancy outside
uterus, usually in Fallopian tube). Call doctor for immediate appointment.
If bleeding or abdominal pain is severe call 911 or go to emergency room
immediately.
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You have unusually heavy or painful periods, especially toward the
end; pain in lower abdomen, vagina, or lower back that may begin just before
period and worsen just after; pain during intercourse; blood in urine or
stool while menstruating; nausea and vomiting just before period begins.
This could be endometriosis (disorder in which tissue that normally lines
uterus appears outside uterus and becomes attached to other reproductive or
abdominal organs) . If you are experiencing symptoms for the first time or
if pain is severe, call doctor for immediate appointment.
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You have unusually heavy, irregular, or missed menstrual periods;
pain in lower abdomen or back; foul-smelling vaginal discharge; pain during
intercourse; fever and sometimes chills. You may have pelvic inflammatory
disease (infection of reproductive organs, often caused by sexually
transmitted diseases). Call doctor for immediate appointment.
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Compared to your usual pattern, you experience changes in
heaviness of flow, length of periods, or time between periods; aches or pain
in abdomen; sensation of fullness, swelling, or pressure in abdomen;
frequent urination.
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You may have
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Noncancerous ovarian cyst |
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Noncancerous ovarian tumor |
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Ovarian cancer. |
Call your doctor for immediate appointment. It's important to diagnose condition
as soon as possible.
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You have unusually heavy or painful menstrual period that begins a week or
more late.You may have
early pregnancy and miscarriage. If you think you may be pregnant and you
are bleeding, call doctor for advice and appointment.
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You have bleeding or spotting during pregnancy.This
is common. It may, however, signal a problem. Call your doctor for advice.
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You experience unusually heavy menstrual period soon after childbirth.This
is quite normal. If, however, you have more than two heavy periods after
giving birth, call doctor for advice.
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You have no menstrual period for several months.You may have amenorrhea (absence of menstruation), which can be
caused by emotional distress, hormone imbalance, dieting or eating disorders
(see anorexia and bulimia), or strenuous athletic training. This also could
be because of:
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Pregnancy |
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Breast-feeding. |
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Menopause. |
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Abnormality of reproductive organs. |
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Use of certain drugs. |
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Discontinuing use of birth control pills. |
Call doctor for advice and appointment. Note: If a girl is over 16 and has never
had a menstrual period, schedule appointment with doctor.
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You have unusually heavy periods; bleeding between periods; pain or
discomfort in lower back or abdomen; frequent urination; constipation;
possibly sudden, sharp pain in lower abdomen.This
may be a sign of uterine fibroid tumors. Sometimes tumor becomes misted,
cutting off its blood supply and causing severe pain. Call your doctor for
advice and appointment. Write down dates you are bleeding and how many pads
or tampons you use each day.
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You experience unusually heavy or painful menstrual periods while using IUD
or after you stop taking birth control pills.This is a common side effect of IUDs. It is from the hormonal
changes caused by going off the Pill. Call doctor for advice about your
birth control method.
Probably no
underlying disorder, but heavy bleeding can result in anemia. If bleeding is
extremely heavy (you use more than one pad or tampon in an hour), call
doctor for advice.
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