Menopause:

Causes, stages, symptoms, & treatments

What is Menopause?What Causes Menopause?Menopause SymptomsStages of MenopauseMenopause TreatmentsTaking Charge

What is menopause?

Throughout a woman’s life, the female hormones estrogen and progesterone are responsible for reproductive health and for supporting many of the tissues throughout the body. These hormones are produced in the ovary, when stimulated by the brain to do so. As a woman ages, the ovaries stop producing sex hormones at the same rate.

This can happen as early as in the late 30s or early 40s, and women may start to notice symptoms as a result of their changing hormones. Hormonal fluctuations may begin to cause irregularities in menstrual bleeding, mood swings, hot flashes, brain fog, changes in metabolism, and changes in sleep patterns. Some women may suffer from these types of symptoms for up to 10 years, before they finally complete the menopause transition.

What causes menopause?

Aging

Normal aging is what leads most women into the menopause transition in their late 30s or early 40s. It’s natural for hormone production in the ovaries to decrease, and the result is a wide spectrum of menopausal symptoms.

OOPHORECTOMY / HYSTERECTOMY

When a woman has her uterus removed via hysterectomy, this does not cause any change in hormone production, as the uterus does not produce hormones. Sometimes the fallopian tubes are removed (salpingectomy) and/or the ovaries (oophorectomy) along with the uterus, to reduce risk of future cancers. Removal of the fallopian tubes also has no effect on hormones. However, removal of the ovaries will cause the sudden onset of menopause, since they are the primary source of estrogen in the body.

CANCER THERAPIES (CHEMO / RADIATION)

When a woman has cancer of any part of her body and requires treatment with chemotherapy medications or radiation, exposure to these forms of treatment may cause the ovaries to shut down, prompting the onset of menopause.

PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY

For a small subgroup of women, the ovaries shut down prematurely. This causes a woman to enter the menopause transition much earlier than expected. Typically, primary ovarian insufficiency is diagnosed if a women completes menopause before the age of 40.

The Stages of Menopause

to discover where you are in the menopause transition take the quiz

Menopause Symptoms

There are over 100 symptoms associated with menopause, but the following are some of the most common:

Hot Flashes

A hot flash is a sudden feeling of warmth in the upper body, usually most intense over the face, neck, and chest. Sometimes women will spontaneously start sweating in these areas, and skin can redden.

Night Sweats

These are hot flashes that occur during sleep. Many women describe waking up in a sweat, having to throw the covers off themselves during the night. Then once the night sweat passes, they may feel cold.

Sleep Disturbances /

Insomnia

Sleep disturbances can have a wide variety of symptoms. Women might have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or they may simply not feel well-rested when they wake up. It’s also common for sleep to be interrupted by night sweats.

Fatigue

Many women report feeling constantly tired. This may result from a lack of quality sleep, disrupted by night sweats and other disordered sleep patterns.

Brain Fog

Brain fog may appear during perimenopause or menopause as forgetfulness, confusion, difficulty completing tasks/multitasking, or even difficulty recalling information.

View All Symptoms

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Want to learn about all of the
symptoms of menopause?

Learn how changes in your hormone levels during menopause can cause symptoms like weight gain, fatigue, brain fog, painful sex, and poor sleep.

More importantly, learn what you can do TODAY to get rid of those symptoms and feel your very best.

Free Download

Want to learn about all of the symptoms of menopause?

Learn how changes in your hormone levels during menopause can cause symptoms like weight gain, fatigue, brain fog, painful sex, and poor sleep.

More importantly, learn what you can do TODAY to get rid of those symptoms and feel your very best.

What you’ll receive:

1
Information about the menopause transition and what it entails
2
A breakdown of the 100+ menopause-related symptoms, why they occur, and how you can treat them
3
The treatment options available to you TODAY to address any current symptoms you may be experiencing

Menopause Treatments

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or hormonal therapy (HT)

Non-hormonal prescription drugs

Herbal treatments

Lifestyle changes

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

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Take charge towards a happy life in menopause!

Knowledge is power. Becoming educated about the symptoms and signs to look for will help you recognize when you’re going through the menopause transition. By seeking treatment when you need it, and choosing treatment options that fit your lifestyle, you can make this transition a smooth one.

Register for a free online visit with Winona, if you’re ready to start feeling better. Our physicians are available and eager to help you, and our community of Winona Women is here to support you. Don’t suffer with symptoms alone; take ownership of your health and wellness, and rediscover your best self.

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