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Menopause
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is menopause?
How do I know if what I’m experiencing is menopause?
Why should I go to a doctor?
What causes menopausal symptoms to occur?
What can I do to relieve the symptoms of menopause?
What are the risks of estrogen therapy?
What are the benefits of estrogen therapy?
I feel fine. Why should I be concerned with osteoporosis?
What is menopause?
Menopause, also known as the "change of life," is a stage of a woman’s
reproductive cycle that occurs when ovaries stop producing estrogen, causing
the reproductive system to slowly shut down. It’s confirmed when 12 months have
passed since a woman's last menstrual period. Menopause can also occur when the
ovaries are
surgically removed. Most women experience menopause from 40 to 58 years
of age, with a median age of 51.4 years.
However, what most women actually experience is not an event but rather a
phase, like puberty. This phase, called premenopause or perimenopause, is the
transitional stage before complete cessation of the menstrual cycle. It usually
begins in a woman’s 40s. During this phase, a woman gradually stops ovulating
and her ovaries taper off their production of estrogen and progesterone.
The process of menopause usually is completely natural. This change, which can
occur throughout adulthood, can be prompted by surgical removal of the ovaries.
It can also result from severe damage to the ovaries, sometimes caused by
chemotherapy or radiation treatments. A hysterectomy (the removal of the
uterus) can result in an end to menstruation but will not bring about menopause
as long as the ovaries continue to function.
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How do I know if what I’m experiencing is menopause?
Remember that while all women eventually go through menopause, each will have a
slightly different experience.
While menopause is associated with many physical and emotional symptoms, some
women experience no noticeable symptoms at all. Only a doctor can accurately
determine if symptoms indicate the onset of menopause and whether treatment may
be appropriate.
Symptoms to watch for include hot flashes, night sweats and associated sleep
disturbances and vaginal dryness. Hot flashes are common during menopause.
Eight-five percent of women experience this undesirable symptom. However, only
women with moderate to severe menopausal symptoms1
should consider estrogen therapy.
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Why should I go to a doctor?
A doctor can evaluate your symptoms, taking into account your age, family
history and possibly hormone levels as determined by a simple blood test. It’s
helpful to bring a record of your last few menstrual periods to your checkup.
Women who have had hysterectomies and no longer menstruate can go through
menopause without noticeable symptoms. You should continue having regular
gynecological checkups, even after a hysterectomy.
What causes menopausal symptoms to occur?
The woman's loss of estrogen causes
menopause symptoms to occur. Not all menopausal symptoms1
can be treated with estrogen therapy (ET). Usually, women with moderate to
severe hot flashes and vaginal dryness can be helped with ET.
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What can I do to relieve the symptoms of menopause?
You and your doctor will decide whether
estrogen therapy (ET) is appropriate for your menopausal symptoms. If you're a candidate for
ET or other hormone therapies, you have several options to choose from.
Estrogen and estrogen/progestin combinations come in several forms, including
pills and patches. ET therapy, such as Vivelle-Dot, has been
proven to relieve moderate to severe menopausal symptoms1
and help prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis. In discussions with your doctor,
be sure to consider the
risks of estrogen therapy associated with ET.
In addition to ET or other prescribed therapies, there are also a number of
lifestyle commitments you can make to help your menopausal experience be a
positive one. To learn more, see the sections on
fitness and
nutrition.
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What are the risks of ET?
Estrogens increase the chances of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report
any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are taking estrogens. Vaginal
bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus (womb).
Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart
attacks or strokes. Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase
your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer and blood clots.
Using estrogens may increase your risk of dementia (decline in memory and
thinking skills).
ET should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding; currently have or
have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus; had a
stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year);
currently have or have had blood clots; currently have or have had liver
problems; or think you may be, or know that you are pregnant.
The most common side effects that may occur with Vivelle-Dot are headache,
breast tenderness and back pain.
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What are the benefits of ET?
Many women find that ET diminishes moderate to severe menopausal symptoms1,
including bothersome hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
Women also are at higher risk for developing osteoporosis during menopause. ET
helps to lower this risk so that women go through the second phase of life with
healthier bones.
If you use Vivelle-Dot only to treat dryness, itching, and burning
in and around your vagina, talk with your healthcare professional about
whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for
you.
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I feel fine. Why should I be concerned with osteoporosis?
Postmenopausal osteoporosis is the reduction of bone mass associated with
menopause. This condition causes bones, including the spine, wrist and hip
bones to become more fragile and susceptible to breakage. There are no obvious
symptoms in the early stages of osteoporosis.
There are many factors that put women at higher risk of osteoporosis. Being
postmenopausal is one. In fact, women can lose up to 20% of their bone mass in
the 5 to 7 years following menopause. Other risk factors include being female;
being thin with a small frame; being an older adult; having a family history of
osteoporosis; cigarette smoking; and excessive use of alcohol.
Vivelle-Dot is approved for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. If
you use Vivelle-Dot only to prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your
healthcare professional about whether a different treatment of medicine
without estrogens might be better for you.
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