The Menopause Explained
Strictly speaking, menopause is the end of menstruation, when the last follicle matures and releases its egg. Changes in menopause:
- Fewer follicles remaining in ovaries
- Reduced response in ovaries
- Fewer hormones from hypothalamus and pituitary
- Less oestrogen and progesterone
- Skin and hair changes
- Mood changes.
The hormonal changes which occur in the female body take place over a long period, often as long as ten years between 45 and 55. It is now common to call this time the peri-menopause as it is obvious that the monthly cycle is still taking place while the events of change go on.
Peri Menopause
Gradually the number of follicles diminishes so that the ovary makes a smaller response to hormones released from the pituitary. This leads by feedback to fewer hormones being released from both hypothalamus and pituitary.
Periods may still occur, because eggs are still being released, but the overall level of hormones is smaller, so that there may be:
- a thinner lining to the womb (less oestrogen)
- less mucus and lubricant lining to the vagina (less progesterone).
These two changes lead to:
- lighter periods
- and vaginal soreness or dryness.
Other Reasons for Menopausal Symptoms
Skin and hair changes are not directly related to hormone status, as age is the main factor here. Men undergo much the same changes -drier skin, thinner, wirier hair, less bum!
Some women experience more frequent periods. This is not well understood but is due to changes in feedback to the pituitary and may also be a feature of thyroid dysfunction or stress.
Many women also experience very heavy periods and prolonged bleeding at this time. This is more often due to development of fibroids - benign outgrowths from the womb wall. These are usually age-related but are not necessarily a condition associated with menopause. In fact they frequently stop causing problems when periods cease, as the hormones which make them proliferate are no longer produced in sufficient quantities. Occasionally an imbalance of hormones is the cause of excessive bleeding from the womb. You should consult with a doctor about excessive bleeding, and eliminate any more serious disorder before you start a course of herbal treatment.
Loss of sex drive (libido) and emotional irritability are often associated with the menopause, but there is no definite evidence that the female hormones are responsible for maintaining sexual interest or for producing calmer feelings.
Why do some Women have an earlier Menopause?
Most of the variation between individual women is down to genes in the same way that balding in men depends on their genetic inheritance. There has been no link established between the age of menopause and the age at which women start menstruating. There also appears to be no link between menopausal age and number of children women have.
However there are some factors which do affect the onset of menopause, such as diet, work and exercise. Surveys show that women in the 'first world' affluent countries generally have later menopause than in 'third world' poorer countries.
