Menopause

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Menopause

Perimenopause; Postmenopause

The potential symptoms include:

• Hot flashes and skin flushing
• Night sweats
• Insomnia
• Mood swings including irritability, depression, and anxiety
• Irregular menstrual periods
• Spotting of blood in between periods
• Vaginal dryness and painful sexual intercourse
• Decreased sex drive
• Vaginal infections
• Urinary tract infections

In addition, the long-term effects of menopause include:

• Bone loss and eventual osteoporosis
• Changes in cholesterol levels and greater risk of heart disease

Blood and urine tests can be used to measure hormone levels that may indicate when a woman is close to menopause or has already gone through menopause. Examples of these tests include:

• Estradiol
• FSH
• LH

A pelvic exam may indicate changes in the vaginal lining caused by changes in estrogen levels. A bone density test may be performed to screen for low bone density levels seen with osteoporosis.

Review Date: 02/27/2006
Reviewed By: Melanie N. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.