Some symptoms, such as hot flashes and a dry vagina, are caused directly by changes in the level of your

 

 

 

 

 

hormones
Hormones are chemicals that are made in certain parts of the body. They travel through the bloodstream and have an effect on other parts of the body. For example, the female sex hormone estrogen is made in a woman's ovaries. Estrogen has many different effects on a woman's body. It makes the breasts grow at puberty and helps control periods. It is also needed to get pregnant.

 

 

 

 

 

hormones.

But there are lots of other changes, both physical and emotional, that you might experience at this time. You might put on weight or find yourself feeling down or less energetic than usual. Or you might not feel like having sex.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Gambrell RD Jr.
The menopause: benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy.
Comprehensive Therapy. 1994; 20: 580-585.

 

 

 

 

 

¹

Researchers aren't sure whether these things are caused by changes in your hormone levels or whether there are other causes, such as aging or the emotional changes that you might face at this time of life.

Here are some of the symptoms of menopause.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Greendale GA, Lee NP, Arriola ER.
The menopause.
Lancet. 1999; 353: 571-580.

 

 

 

 

 

²

But not everyone gets these symptoms. Women experience menopause in different ways. You might sail through it without any problems or with only mild symptoms. Or you might have severe symptoms that affect your enjoyment of life.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Gambrell RD Jr.
The menopause: benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy.
Comprehensive Therapy. 1994; 20: 580-585.

 

 

 

 

 

¹

A survey of nearly 7,000 women aged 45 to 54 found that 84 percent had at least one common menopausal symptom, such as hot flashes or a dry vagina.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Porter M, Penney GC, Russell D, et al.
A population based survey of women's experience of the menopause.
British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 1996; 103: 1025-1028.

 

 

 

 

 

³ But for more than half the women, the symptoms weren't a problem.

There are lots of things you can do to keep yourself healthy. To learn more, see Self-help for common menopausal symptoms.

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