The onset of menopause is affected by:

• Genetics
• Illness
• Smoking
• Surgical removal of ovaries
• Medically induced menopause (such as chemotherapy for breast cancer)

Symptoms of Menopause

Symptoms of menopause vary from woman to woman but will probably include any or a combination of the following:

• Hot flashes
• Libido or sexual health issues
• Vaginal dryness
• Mood swings

What is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause or the "climacteric" is the phase that usually precedes the menopause and usually lasts three to five years.

Symptoms of Perimenopause :

Perimenopause can cause symptoms that are due to changes in estrogen and progesterone production by a woman’s ovaries. During this time a woman can experience the following symptoms:

• Irregular menses
• Vaginal dryness
• Decreased libido or sexual health issues (link to that page)
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats

Treatments for Menopause and Perimenopause

Treatments are available for these symptoms, but they are not for everyone and must be discussed individually with a provider in menopause health. These treatment options include:

• Hormone therapy
• Lower dose oral contraceptive pills
• Life style changes
• Phytoestrogens (plant-based estrogen-like hormones)
• Non-hormonal prescription medications
• Laser treatment for vaginal atrophy

Treatments for women with artificially induced menopause:

Sometimes, in the course of medical treatment, physicians may induce artificial menopause in a woman. Gynecological cancers and autoimmune diseases are among those conditions for which treatment may involve artificially induced menopause.