• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Menopause

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Perimenopause; Postmenopause

Symptoms:

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

Signs and tests:

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.

References:

Weismiller D. The Perimenopause and Menopause Experience: An Overview. Clin Fam Practice . 2002; 4(1).

Stenchever, MA. Comprehensive Gynecology , 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo:Mosby, Inc.; 2001:1217-1250.

• Review Date: 2/27/2006
• 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.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.