Perimenopause and Menopause: What’s Going On?
From the staff of the Center for Women’s Health at Ephrata Community Hospital.
No longer subjects to be whispered about, perimenopause and menopause are frequent topics of discussion on popular television talk shows, in magazines and on the web. Menopause support groups are forming all around the nation.
So what's going on? In a 1998 survey of women aged 50 to 65, the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) found that more than half the women said that their post- menopausal years were the happiest and most fulfilling. There is a myth that menopause is a terrible time of life and everything goes downhill from there. “The fact is, menopause is a normal part of life, just like puberty. It is the time of your last period, but symptoms may begin several years before that,” explains Madonna Talbert, M.D., Gynecologist and Certified Menopause Practitioner. Symptoms can last for months or years, and some women may hardly be aware of a change at all. “Menopause is not a disease that has to be treated,” says Dr. Talbert, “but receiving help with the symptoms, such as hot flashes, is helpful to many women.”
Understanding the trends...
A number of trends are emerging to make perimenopause and menopause easier transitions in the lives of women:
• We are living longer, healthier lives. The quality of life has also improved over the last several decades. Just 100 years ago, the average life expectancy of a woman was 60, so menopause really was at the end of life. Today, a postmenopausal woman can expect to live well into her 80's or more, and have a healthy life during most of those years.
• Baby Boomers are now reaching menopause. This is the generation that has resisted aging. This generation broke new ground in feminism and the sexual revolution. They are now taking new approaches to menopause. Instead of whispering about menopause as their mothers did, this generation is forming support groups, logging onto web sites, and reading books about this natural transition of life.
• Consumers are playing more active roles in their health; another trend embraced by Baby Boomers. They are taking more responsibility for their postmenopausal health. A positive approach from a woman's healthcare provider helps. Medical attitudes influence women and their perceptions about menopause; therefore a provider with a positive approach is helpful.
A new resource!
Women's Midlife Health, a service provided in The Center for Women's Health of Ephrata Community Hospital, will assist you in viewing perimenopause and menopause as a natural transition in a your life.
Bring your questions, special issues, concerns, and worries about symptoms to the Women's Midlife Health service. You can schedule a consultative visit with our Certified Menopause Practitioner, Dr. Madonna Talbert. Dr. Talbert's positive viewpoints can help by providing recommendations for improving diet, adding exercise, and reducing stress, along with many other suggestions. Many other areas of concern to women such as urinary incontinence, fatigue, sleep disturbances, emotional health, and sexuality issues can be discussed. A visit to this service doesn’t replace the care given by your gynecologist or family physician. Our practitioners (women who understand women!) can provide important resources and work with your physician to help you through this natural life transition.
The staff of Ephrata Community Hospital’s Women's Midlife Health looks forward to helping women find answers to their questions and adopt healthier lifestyles so this natural transition to menopause will be a comfortable one.
For more information about Women’s Midlife Health, call the Center for Women’s Health at 717-721-8222.
