Aging and Menopause

Vol. 1, No. 3

This is the third of our multipart series on Aging. We hope that you will find this and others interesting, insightful, and educational. And look for our posts on social media during October as we celebrate Menopause Awareness Month!

- Morgan Burns, APRN

Aging as we know it is an essential part of the human body. As we grow older, aging involves the gradual deterioration of physiological functions that are necessary for survival and fertility. Aging takes place in various forms, including loss of elasticity in the skin, tendons, blood vessels, and multiple organ systems within your body. As our bodies change over time, women specifically encounter changes during menopause. While the topic of menopause can be sensitive for many, it is important to understand menopause and its effects on a woman’s body.

Menopause is the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle and occurs when their ovaries no longer continue to make estrogen and progesterone, two hormones needed for fertility. Menopause takes place 12 months after a woman experiences her last menstrual cycle. Women often experience changes and symptoms for months and even years leading up to the point of menopause. As estrogen levels decrease, women often experience various symptoms.

Symptoms include fatigue, hot flashes, irritability, increased swelling and bloating around the abdomen, incontinence, loss of strength, sleepiness, vaginal dryness, decreased interest in sex, changes in mood, and even dry and thinning skin. Each woman experiences different symptoms, and they can be unique in many ways. The most common sign of menopause includes changes to a woman’s menstrual cycle. This could include closer durations between menstrual cycles, spotting, heavy bleeding, and extended periods.

For most women, the transition within a woman’s body to menopause usually begins between ages 45 and 55. Menopause typically lasts about seven years but can be as long as 14 years in some women. Many lifestyle factors affect how long menopause will last including smoking, exercise, the age when it begins, and even race and ethnicity. Research from the Mayo Clinic shows that physical activity including aerobic exercise and strength training helps to burn calories and can help improve the symptoms of menopause. By practicing a healthy diet and exercising at least 75 minutes per week, women with menopause have seen improvements in their regular symptoms.

It is essential to discuss your symptoms with your provider first and provide an in-depth medical history. The National Institute of Health recommends consulting with your provider and even checking your follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), progesterone, testosterone, and estrogen levels, estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3) to rule out any other causes of the changes you may be experiencing. Each woman is unique, so knowing your health vulnerabilities is essential. A complete genetic profile can help your practitioner develop a plan to help you ease through menopause. Treatment options can include bioidentical hormones, nutritional supplements, and lifestyle modifications. These treatment options can help to keep skin supple, eliminate vaginal dryness, eliminate brain fog, help protect you from cancer and keep your bones strong. Contrary to popular belief, your journey can be a pleasant experience.

Mayo Clinic. “The Reality of Menopause Weight Gain,” Mayo Clinic. Accessed 29 August 2024.

National Institute on Aging. “What is Menopause”. National Institute of Health, https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/menopause/what-menopause#.. Accessed 29 August 2024.