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Menopause and Alternative Medicine

1. What is menopause?
Menopause (also called the "change of life") is a normal part of a woman's aging. It is the time when her ability to have children comes to an end. In American women, the transition into menopause usually begins around age 47, with the final menstrual period usually around age 51. However, some women experience it earlier. Menopause occurs over a period of time because the levels of a hormone called estrogen, which is produced by the ovaries, begin to decline slowly. A woman is said to have completed natural menopause when she has not had a period for 12 months in a row. Menopause will occur immediately if a woman has her uterus and/or both ovaries removed surgically (an operation to remove the uterus is called a hysterectomy). This is because at least one ovary and the uterus are needed for a woman to have menstrual periods. Menopause also begins right away if a woman's ovaries are damaged by cancer treatment with radiation therapy or certain anticancer drugs.

2. What are the most common symptoms that women have during the menopausal transition?
Some symptoms that women experience are related to menopause and decreased activity of the ovaries. Others are related to aging in general. The scientific evidence that certain symptoms are linked to menopause is strongest for the following symptoms:

  • Hot flashes, night sweats, or perspiring excessively (these are examples of what are called vasomotor symptoms, because they involve expansion of the blood vessels)

  • Sleep difficulties

  • Vaginal dryness, which can lead to painful intercourse and sexual problems
It is not certain whether the following symptoms are due to menopause, other factors that can come with aging (such as stress, economic concerns, or changes in personal relationships), or a combination of them:

  • Changes in mood, such as depression, anxiety, and/or irritability

  • Problems in thinking or in remembering things

  • Painful joints or muscles, or other physical complaints, such as tiredness and stiff joints
The expert panel assembled for the NIH SoS conference noted that menopause is a normal part of women's aging, and advised that menopause not be viewed as a disease (that it be "demedicalized").