Menopause

What is Menopause?

Menopause is the series of changes that occur when a woman's body no longer releases eggs and the ovaries produce significantly lower amounts of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. It typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier or later. The average age at the beginning of menopause in the United States is 51. It is technically defined as going without a menstrual cycle for 12 consecutive months when there is no other cause for this change.

Aging is the chief cause of menopause.
Menopause can cause many health problems, including hot flashes, vaginal dryness and thinning bones (osteoporosis). Many women try to ease these symptoms by taking hormone replacement therapy consisting of estrogen or an estrogen/progesterone combination.

Osteoporosis

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis, meaning porous bone, is a disease consisting of low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue, leading to fragility and increased risk of fracture. It is also called 'the silent' thief because it occurs without symptoms. The most common fractures occur in the hips, wrist and spine. Hip fractures most often require surgery and hospital stays. Spinal fractures can result in loss of height.

Women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis then men. Fifty-five percent of people over the age of fifty are at risk to develop osteoporosis. Of the estimated ten million Americans diagnosed with osteoporosis, eight million are women.

Without getting tested, most people do not realize they have osteoporosis until they sustain a fracture or a vertebral collapse. Risk factors, which increase the chances of developing osteoporosis, include:

• Low bone mass
• Being female
• Old age
• Low intake of calcium during lifetime
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Inactive lifestyle
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Smoking
• Fractures after the age of fifty
• Family history of osteoporosis
• Being very thin; having a small, delicate frame
• Estrogen deficiency from early or surgically induced menopause
• Abnormal absence of menstrual periods
• Anorexia Nervosa
• Use of certain medications

Postmenopausal women can lose up to twenty percent of their bone mass in the first five to seven years after menopause.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to detect osteoporosis is with a specialized test known as a Bone Mineral Density test, which we offer as an in-office appointment at GVG. Other types of treatment include:

• Medications
• Hormone Therapy

Prevention is the best course of action to avoid osteoporosis. By the age of twenty, you have acquired ninety-eight percent of your skeletal mass. Keep calcium and Vitamin D in your diet, don't smoke or drink alcohol excessively, exercise - including weight bearing, get tested, and talk to your doctor if you think you may be at risk. The most important thing to remember about osteoporosis is that it can be prevented.

PMS

WHAT IS PMS?

Millions of women experience symptoms such as bloating, fatigue and breast tenderness during the days before their period. If these symptoms sound familiar, you could be suffering from premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Premenstrual syndrome is a term used to describe a wide range of symptoms that might occur in the two weeks before a woman's menstrual period. These physical, emotional and behavioral symptoms usually stop when a woman's menstrual period begins, or shortly thereafter.

PMS can appear at any time between puberty and menopause. A woman's symptoms usually recur in a predictable pattern but may worsen with age or stress. It is also common for PMS to increase during times of hormonal instability, such as puberty, the time after childbirth and the period after a miscarriage or abortion. Changes in contraception may worsen PMS as well.

Most women experience some of the symptoms associated with PMS at some point in their lives, but not all women have the syndrome. While the exact number of women who have the condition is debatable, the National Institutes of Health estimates that 75 percent of menstruating women experience some form of PMS.

A smaller percentage (less than 10 percent) of women experience symptoms so severe it disrupts their daily lives. The more severe condition is called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Patients with PMDD are diagnosed under strict guidelines issued by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). While the symptoms are similar, PMDD is considered a separate disorder from PMS.

Yeast Infections

Yeast infections are a common condition among women. Almost 75 percent of adult women develop a yeast infection at least once in their lives, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A yeast infection is a form of vaginitis, or inflammation of the vagina. Unlike other forms, vaginitis, such as trichomoniasis, yeast infections are not considered a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Vaginal yeast infections primarily affect adult women, but may also affect older girls. In instances, yeast infections may be transmitted to men through sexual intercourse.

WHAT CAUSES YEAST INFECTIONS

Also known as candida vaginal infections, yeast infections are typically caused by a yeast fungus called candida. There are four types of candida. A variety called Candida Albicans causes the majority of vaginal yeast infections.

Small amounts of candida are always present in your body, living in small numbers in the vagina, mouth and digestive tract. The fungus can infect other moist regions of the body as well, such as the skin folds and nail beds.

Several factors can promote an overgrowth of yeast in your vagina. Yeast infections are common in pregnant women because hormonal changes may increase the amount of sugar in the vaginal secretions. Girls may develop yeast infections just before they get their menstrual period for the same reason. The sugar provides the nourishment for the yeast to grow. Similarly, women with uncontrolled diabetes may have an increased risk of developing yeast infections due to a higher sugar level.

Wearing tight-fitting clothing or garments (especially undergarments) made synthetic fibers may increase the likelihood of yeast infections. If you remain in wet clothes, such as a bathing suit or exercise gear, you are also providing an environment suitable for yeast to grow.

Irritating soaps, deodorants or sprays used in the genital area may upset the acid level of the vagina and lead to a yeast infection. Certain medications, including birth control pills and antibiotics, may increase your risk of developing a yeast infection as well.

WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR

Most women can easily recognize the signs of a yeast infection, particularly if they have experienced one previously in their lives. The most common symptoms are a white vaginal discharge and vaginal itching.

Since treatments are available over the counter, it may be tempting to use those treatments without seeing a physician. However, it is important to see your physician if you are:

• Experiencing symptoms for the first time. The symptoms of a yeast infection can be indicative of another type of infection, such as some STDs. Proper diagnosis is important.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding. Some treatments are not recommended for women who are (or may be) pregnant or are breastfeeding.
• Using latex condoms and/or a diaphragm for birth control. Some treatments can interfere with these forms of birth control.
• At risk of diabetes. Recurring yeast infections are a sign of diabetes. If you are having repeated yeast infections and have not recently been screened for this disease, you should be.
• Yeast infections are a common condition. Although they can be annoying and uncomfortable, they rarely result in serious problems. However, symptoms may persist if left untreated. In severe cases, an untreated yeast infection can lead to more serious conditions, such as a lethal blood infection called sepsis.