Menopause

May told me to research on Menopause. She is counting down the days when she will finally face menopause ba.. that's why she want to learn more about it.. Instead of going through all the hassle to research it herself. She, as usual, ask me to find out and blog, so she can just read with ease.

Actually, May want to know about it not because she waiting for menopause... it's because she is surrounded by people who are menopausing.

Here goes..

What is menopause?

Menopause is a normal, natural event—defined as the final menstrual period and usually confirmed when a woman has missed her periods for 12 consecutive months (in the absence of other obvious causes). Menopause is associated with reduced functioning of the ovaries due to aging, resulting in lower levels of estrogen and other hormones. It marks the permanent end of fertility. Menopause occurs, on average, at age 51. The years between puberty (when periods start) and menopause are called premenopause.

Must miss period for 12 consecutive months and it starts around the age of 51.. May still got some years to go before she reach that stage...

So what are the symptoms?

• Irregular vaginal bleeding
• Hot flashes & night sweats
• Emotional mood swings
• Vaginal symptoms
• Urinary symptoms
• Other physical changes

Women out there.. take note of the symptoms. If you have the symptoms please control yourself and don't kp so much. Thank you.

Here comes the most important section, Treatment...

I read that there are a few ways to relieve the symptoms of menopause. They are:

1) Oral contraceptive pills - Surprisingly right, didn't know that contraceptive pills got such other functions too...

2) Local Hormone Treatments - Applying estrogen directly into your body. They come in cream form which you can apply.

3) Anti-Depressant - To control the mood swings. This one very important.

4) Vitamin E - To control mild hot flashes.

Looks like the above applies to the ladies. What about the men? Do they have menopause too?

The answer is YES.

Men can now shut up and stop laughing at women who menopaused because they have it too. Hee hee..

Because people’s life is longer than old time, and more and more people have had experienced the syndromes, scientists and doctors are making research on it. It is found that men have “menopause” similar like women. Men’s “menopause” means a special period that there are obvious changes of chemistry, hormone and physiology inside body. Generally, men start “menopause” around 50 – 60 years old (for women between 45 – 55 years old). In clinic, some men start to have “menopause syndromes” early at 35 years old; some men start late at 65 years old.

Since men do not go through a well-defined period referred to as menopause, some physicians refer to this problem as androgen (testosterone) decline in the aging male. Men do experience a decline in the production of the male hormone testosterone with aging, but this also occurs with some disease states such as diabetes. Along with the decline in testosterone, some men experience symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, depression and sexual problems.

Here are the symptoms:

• Decreased mental quickness and sharpness
• Decreased energy, strength and endurance
• Less desire for activity and exercise
• Decreased muscle and increased body fat
• Mild to moderate depression and irritability
• Depression and/or loss of eagerness and enthusiasm for daily life
• Decreased sex drive
• Decreased sexual function and/or sensitivity

I have listed the symptoms of menopause in both men and women. You can now go spot those people who have menopause around you and try to give them some oral contraceptive pills.. :P

May, maybe we can buy some pills and give it to "you know who"s on their birthdays......