MENOPAUSE

PREMENOPAUSE  Occurs years before menopause  Ovaries start producing less estrogen  Lasts up until menopause  Signs and symptoms:  Fatigue  Difficulty sleeping  Dryness  Tender breasts  Mood swings  More intense premenstrual syndrome (PMS)  Hot flashes

MENOPAUSE  Period at which women’s menstrual periods permanently end  Natural part of life, not a disease or disorder  Average age for menopause onset is 51, but may start as early as their 30s or as late as their 60s  Ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone  Women cannot become pregnant anymore

POSTMENOPAUSE  Symptoms for most women ease or disappear completely  Women are at risk of a number of health conditions such as osteoporosis and heart disease  May regain energy  Women are considered to be in postmenopause if they have not had their period for 12 months/a year

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS  Irregular periods: can be more often or less, last more days or fewer, be lighter or heavier  Hot flashes: sudden feeling of heat  Trouble sleeping: difficulty sleeping at night  Vaginal and urinary problems  Mood changes  Changing feelings about sex: some women feel less aroused while others feel more comfortable after menopause  Osteoporosis: state in which your bones get thin and weak, can lead to loss of height and broken bones  Other changes: forgetfulness, difficulty focusing, waist might become larger, could lose muscle and gain fat and joints and muscles might feel stiff and achy

SIGNS &SYMPTOMS Depression and/or anxiety Memory loss Migraines Rapid heartbeat Itching Dryness Back, joint and muscle pain Breast tenderness and swelling Decreased elasticity of skin Irritability Skin thinning and becoming drier Intercourse maybe painful Trouble reaching orgasms Vaginal dryness Formication: itching, tingling, burning, pins, and needles, or sensation of ants crawling

CAUSES  Ovaries run out of functioning eggs  The drop in estrogen is believed to be the cause for many of the symptoms since it is affects the blood vessels, heart, bone, breasts, uterus, urinary system, skin, and brain  There is also a drop in testosterone, the hormone that is involved with the sex drive

MANAGEMENTS & TREATMENTS Controlling Symptoms & Complications:  Regular exercise  Healthy diet  Stay at healthy weight  Quit smoking (if you are smoking)  Good mental health  Get more sleep  Decrease alcohol consumption  Look for positive ways to ease daily stress  Talk to friends and family Therapy: Hormone Therapy  Birth control pill  Patches  Sprays  Creams  Rings

MANAGEMENTS & TREATMENTS Therapy: Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT) Good EffectsBad Effects  Estrogen relieves hot flashes, vaginal dryness, irregular bleeding, and helps prevent osteoporosis  Progestin helps prevent cancer  Higher risk of developing endometrial cancer  gallbladder disease, blood clots, and maybe breast cancer  Other serious side effects Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) Pharmaceuticals: Prescription medications (such as antidepressants, epilepsy medicine, and blood pressure medicine) Over-the-counter medicines (such as vaginal lubricants, vaginal moisturizer)

MANAGEMENTS &TREATMENTS For specific symptoms Hot flashes: Avoid spicy food, alcohol, caffeine, stress and hot places Take slow deep breaths Dress in many layers and take some off when hot flashes start If overweight try losing weight MHT Troubles Sleeping: Be physically active, not before bedtime since it might make you more awake Avoid large meals, smoking, working and caffeine before bedtime Drink something warm before bed (caffeine free tea or warm milk, etc.) Keep bedroom dark quiet and cool Avoid napping

MANAGEMENTS AND TREATMENTS For specific symptoms Mood Swings: Getting enough sleep and staying physically active Avoid taking on too many duties Talk to doctor to look for signs of depression and/or anxiety See therapist Try support groups for women who are experiencing similar symptoms MHT Memory loss: Women complain of memory loss or troubles focusing although studies suggest that menopause has little affect on these functions Physical exercises Mental exercises

CONNECTIONS  In the novel Evelyn Couch is going through menopause  Evelyn is experiencing many of the symptoms  She does not know how to handle them  Evelyn becomes frustrated with herself  Evelyn thinks, like many women, there is something wrong with her

CONNECTIONS  Evelyn develops throughout the novel learning how to cope with the symptoms  Evelyn seems to be a very emotional woman at the beginning of the novel  There seems to be no apparent reason for her mood swings  One of the ways that helped Evelyn with her symptoms was through listening stories of whistle stop  Also talking to Mrs. Threadgood helped her ease her symptoms

Stöppler, Melissa Conrad. “Medicine Net.” Menopause. May 3, Web. Oct. 26, U.S Department on Health and Human Services. “Office on Women’s Health.” Menopause. Sept. 24, Web. Oct. 26, “WebMD.” Premenopause.” Jun. 11, Web. Oct. 27, perimenopause?page=2 Watson, Stephanie. “Health Line.” Menopause Web. Oct. 26, Help For Menopause." Pamphlet by: Food and Drug Administration. U.S. Food & Drug Administration, COV. Academic OneFile. Web. 29 Oct WORKS CITED