Menopause

Resident Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, ANGELA ANZEZE, weighs in on menopause and the hormonal treatments available.

- Angela Anzeze

Menopause is the permanent cessation of menses for a period of up to 12 months as a result of estrogen deficiency. The average age of menopause is 51. Climacteric or perimenopause is the period between the ages of 45 – 50 years when the body begins to transition and show physical signs that indicate that menopause is starting. You can expect your menses to become irregular before they cease permanently. Post menopause is the phase after menopause.

In the United States, approximately 1.3 million women become menopausal each year, and about 5% of the women aged between 40 and 45, experience early menopause. Additionally, 1% of the women experience premature menopause before the age of 40 due to permanent ovarian failure that may be associated with abnormalities in the sex chromosome, or the destruction of the ovaries by antibodies produced by the body.

CAUSES OF MENOPAUSE

Age

Oestrogen is the primary female sex hormone. It is responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. With age, there is a sharp decline in the cells in the ovary which produce estrogen. The result is a decline in estrogen levels and the permanent cessation of menstruation and ovulation.

Medical interventions that may induce menopause

Menopause may occur after the surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries. Menopause can also be induced by cancer treatment - due to the destructive effects of chemotherapy on ovaries. Exposure to radiation may also destroy the ovaries permanently and lead to menopause.