Items Tagged With Menopause

Print out these frequently asked questions and answers about menopause to discuss with your doctor.

1. Can Menopause Cause a Woman's Voice to Change?

The majority of women do not experience a voice change during menopause, although this may be a problem for some.

2. What Can I Do About the Facial Hair I've Developed As a Result of Menopause?

Although many women do not experience any additional facial hair growth, it can be a problem for some. There are a number of hair removal options available to you, including waxing, depilatories (liquids or creams that remove body hair) and laser hair removal. Check with your doctor or a medical aesthetician to determine the right hair removal method for you and to ensure that it will not harm your skin.

3. Now That I've Begun Menopause, Do I Still Have to Be Concerned About Birth Control?

You will know for sure that you have experienced menopause when you have not had your period for an entire year. Until you have gone one year without a period, you should still use birth control if you do not want to become pregnant. You should continue to practice safer sex techniques with use of latex condoms to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections.

4. My Hot Flashes Aren't As Intense As the Ones My Friends Describe. They're Actually More "Warm" Than "Hot." Is This Normal?

While hot flashes (or flushes) are very common in perimenopause, not all women experience them, and not all flashes are of the same intensity. Hot flashes can be as mild as a light blush or severe enough to wake you from a sound sleep and associated with perspiration (called night sweats). Most hot flashes last 30 seconds to 5 minutes. They usually disappear within a few years after menopause but in some women continue for decades.

5. I'm Perimenopausal and Have Been Told That I Should be Taking Very-Low-Dose Birth Control Pills. Why?

Compared to regular birth control pills, the lower dose of estrogen in very-low-dose pills may be safer for perimenopausal women. (Perimenopause begins several years before your final period.) While regular birth control pills contain 30 to 50 micrograms of estrogen, these low dose pills contain only 20 micrograms.

6. What Are Some Other Benefits of Very-Low-Dose Birth Control Pills?

In addition to preventing pregnancy, the pills can regulate heavy or irregular menstrual periods and may provide protection from ovarian and uterine cancer. The pills may also prevent bone loss, which can lead to osteoporosis. However, women with a history of breast cancer, blood clots, or heart disease, or women who smoke, should not take these pills.

7. How Are Hot Flashes Treated?

While hormone therapy (HT) relieves hot flashes for many women, there are other drug treatments that may offer relief. These include both over-the-counter and prescription therapies. Over-the-counter therapies include various vitamins, ibuprofen products, and soy protein found in foods.

Prescription treatments include:

• Catapres, Catapres-TTS and Aldomet (blood pressure medications). Based on the side effects, these drugs are not recommended unless a woman has hypertension.
• Antidepressants Zoloft, Paxil, Effexor (Note: Paxil has been shown to reduce tamoxifen levels)
• Other hormones, such as Provera and Megace
• Neurontin, an anti-seizure medication that may reduce hot flashes

Because stress can make the symptoms of menopause worse, it is important to learn how to relax.

What Are Some Techniques I Can Use to Relax?

In order to learn how to relax, you need to become familiar with your own breathing patterns and change them in ways that will help you relax. Your breathing pattern is often disrupted by changes in emotion. People who are anxious tend to hold their breath and speak in a high-pitched voice as they exhale. On the other hand, people who are depressed, tend to sigh and speak in a low-pitched voice as they exhale.

Below are a few relaxation exercises. But first, be sure that you have a quiet location that is free of distractions, a comfortable body position, and a good state of mind. Try to block out worries and distracting thoughts.

• Rhythmic breathing: If your breathing is short and hurried, slow it down by taking long, slow breaths. Inhale slowly then exhale slowly. Count slowly to five as you inhale, and then count slowly to five as you exhale. As you exhale slowly, pay attention to how your body naturally relaxes. Recognizing this change will help you to relax even more.
• Deep breathing: Imagine a spot just below your navel. Breathe into that spot, filling your abdomen with air. Let the air fill you from the abdomen up, then let it out, like deflating a balloon. With every long, slow exhalation, you should feel more relaxed.
• Visualized breathing: Find a comfortable place where you can close your eyes, and combine slowed breathing with your imagination. Picture relaxation entering your body and tension leaving your body. Breathe deeply, but in a natural rhythm. Visualize your breath coming into your nostrils, going into your lungs and expanding your chest and abdomen. Then, visualize your breath going out the same way. Continue breathing, but each time you inhale, imagine that you are breathing in more relaxation. Each time you exhale imagine that you are getting rid of a little more tension.
• Progressive muscle relaxation: Switch your thoughts to yourself and your breathing. Take a few deep breaths, exhaling slowly. Mentally scan your body. Notice areas that feel tense or cramped. Quickly loosen up these areas. Let go of as much tension as you can. Rotate your head in a smooth, circular motion once or twice. (Stop any movements that cause pain!) Roll your shoulders forward and backward several times. Let all of your muscles completely relax. Recall a pleasant thought for a few seconds. Take another deep breath and exhale slowly. You should feel relaxed.
• Relax to music: Combine relaxation exercises with your favorite music in the background. Select the type of music that lifts your mood or that you find soothing or calming. Some people find it easier to relax while listening to specially designed relaxation audio tapes, which provide music and relaxation instructions.
• Mental imagery relaxation: Mental imagery relaxation, or guided imagery, is a proven form of focused relaxation that helps create harmony between the mind and body. Guided imagery coaches you in creating calm, peaceful images in your mind -- a "mental escape." Identify your self-talk, that is, what you are saying to yourself about what is going on with you. It is important to identify negative self-talk and develop healthy, positive self-talk. By making affirmations, you can counteract negative thoughts and emotions. Here are some positive statements you can practice.
  • Let go of things I cannot control.
  • I am healthy, vital and strong.
  • There is nothing in the world I cannot handle.
  • All my needs are met.
  • I am completely and utterly safe.
  • Every day in every way I am getting stronger.

Hot Flashes

Hot flashes (or hot flushes) are the most frequent symptoms of menopause and perimenopause. Hot flashes occur in more than two-thirds of North American women during perimenopause and almost all women with induced menopause or premature menopause.

What Is a Hot Flash?

A hot flash is a momentary sensation of heat that may be accompanied by a red, flushed face and sweating. The cause of hot flashes is not known, but may be related to changes in circulation.

Hot flashes occur when the blood vessels near the skin's surface dilate to cool. This produces the red, flushed look to the face. A woman may also perspire to cool down the body. In addition, some women experience a rapid heart rate or chills.

Hot flashes accompanied with sweating can also occur at night. These are called night sweats and may interfere with sleep.

A hot flush is a hot flash plus a visual appearance of redness in the face and neck.

How Long Will I Have Hot Flashes?

The severity and duration of hot flashes varies among women. Some women have hot flashes for a very short time during menopause. Other women may have hot flashes -- at least to some degree -- for life. Generally, hot flashes are less severe as time passes.

Can I Prevent Hot Flashes?

While it may be impossible to completely avoid hot flashes during menopause, there are certain triggers that may bring them on more frequently or cause them to be more severe. To prevent hot flashes, avoid these triggers:

• Stress
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Spicy foods
• Tight clothing
• Heat
• Cigarette smoke

Other things you can do to keep hot flashes at bay include:

• Stay cool. Keep your bedroom cool at night. Use fans during the day. Wear light layers of clothes with natural fibers such as cotton.
• Try deep, slow abdominal breathing (6 to 8 breaths per minute). Practice deep breathing for 15 minutes in the morning, 15 minutes in the evening and at the onset of hot flashes.
• Exercise daily. Walking, swimming, dancing and bicycling are all good choices.
• Chill pillows; cooler pillows to lay head on at night might be helpful.

Talk to your doctor about taking short-term (less than 5 years) hormone therapy. This treatment prevents hot flashes in many women. In addition, it can help other symptoms of menopause, including vaginal dryness and mood disorders. However, even short-term hormone therapy carries some risks, including blood clots and gallbladder inflammation. If hormone therapy is not right for you, there are other treatments that may offer relief. These include both over-the-counter and prescription therapies. It is important to clear any new medications (including over-the-counter) with your doctor before taking.

Nonprescription treatments include:

• Vitamin B complex
• Vitamin E
• Ibuprofen

Prescription treatments include:

• Catapres, Catapres-TTS and Aldomet, blood pressure medications
• Birth control pills
• Antidepressants, such as Zoloft, Paxil, Effexor
• Other hormones, such as Provera and Megace
• Neurontin, an anti-seizure medication

This listing of menopause resources is provided for your reference and is not a complete list of available resources.

The information and opinions provided by these organizations are not necessarily those of The Cleveland Clinic Health System or WebMD.

Alliance for Aging Research
2021 K Street, NW
Suite 305
Washington, D.C. 20006
202-293-2856
www.agingresearch.org

American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway
Leawood, Kan. 66211-2672
913-906-6000
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.aafp.org

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Women's Initiative
601 East St., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20049
800-424-3410
http://www.aarp.org/

American Cancer Society
1599 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, Ga. 30329-4251
800-227-2345
www.cancer.org

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
P. O. Box 96920
Washington, D.C. 20090-6920
800-762-2264
www.acog.org

American Menopause Foundation
National Headquarters
350 Fifth Ave.
Suite 2822
New York, N.Y. 10118
212-714-2398
www.americanmenopause.org

American Society for Reproductive Medicine
1209 Montgomery Highway
Birmingham, Ala. 35216-2809
205-978-5000
www.asrm.org

JAMA Women's Health Information Center
The Journal of the American Medical Association
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://www.4woman.gov/menopause/news.htm

National Cancer Institute
Building 31, Room 10A03
31 Center Dr., MSC 2580
Bethesda, Md. 20892-2580
301-435-3848
800-422-6237 (800-4-CANCER)
www.nci.nih.gov

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
(NHLBI) Information Center
P.O. Box 30105
Bethesda, Md. 20824
301-592-8573
www.nhlbi.nih.gov

National Institute on Aging
Building 31, Room 5C27
31 Center Drive, MSC 2292
Bethesda, MD 20892
301-496-1752
800-222-4225 (TTY)
www.nih.gov/nia

National Library of Medicine's MEDLINEplus
http://medlineplus.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/menopause.html
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

National Osteoporosis Foundation
1232 22nd St., N. W.
Washington, D.C. 20037
www.nof.org

National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC)
8550 Arlington Blvd., Suite 300
Fairfax, Va. 22031
800-994-WOMAN
(800-994-9662)
TTY: 888/220-5446
www.4woman.gov

National Women's Health Resource Center
157 Broad Street, Suite 315
Red Bank, NJ 07701877-986-9472 (a toll-free number)
www.healthywomen.org

OBGYN.net
www.obgyn.net

The Hormone Foundation
8401 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 900
Chevy Chase, MD 20815-5817
1-800-HORMONE
www.hormone.org

The North American Menopause Society
P.O. Box 94527
Cleveland, Ohio 44101
440-442-7550
800-744-5342
www.menopause.org

U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Office of Women's Health
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, Maryland 20857
301-827-0350
www.fda.gov/womens

Women's Health Project
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.whealth.org

Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Women's Health Center (2006).

Menopause  Menopause Resources 

As baby boomers age, more and more women report they've lost their sex drive. But experts say it may just be matter of knowing where to look.

By Colette Bouchez

Has the "free love" generation lost its mojo?

If you talk to baby boomer gals, it seems the answer is yes. Indeed, as millions of women enter perimenopause and then transgress to menopause and beyond, many say they check their sex drive at the door – and most are not happy about it.

"I don't think a day goes by when at least one patient – and usually more – complain that their sex drive is dropping off and want to know what they can do about it," says Laura Corio, MD, a gynecologist and clinical instructor at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

Clinically known as HSDD (hypoactive sexual desire disorder) Corio says she doesn't think more women are affected now than in the past, but she does believe more are coming forward -- prompted, at least in part, by the success male potency drugs like Viagra.

"The man gets a prescription for Viagra and he's ready to rock and roll while she's thinking 'Hey, where's my pill?' If she's not ready to jump in the old van and join him for a ride, there can be real problems," says Corio.

Discovering What's Wrong

While male sex drive is easy to define -- and relatively easy to restore -- that's often not the case for women. Because the female sex drive is multifactorial, the desire to make love is not only influenced by physical issues, but emotional ones as well.

"Part of the desire to make love is clearly physical, but part is also emotional – depression can make a difference, so can any emotional issue in a woman's life; female sex drive is very multidimensional," says Glenn D. Braunstein, MD, an endocrinologist and chair of the department of medicine at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

While emotions are frequently behind a loss of sex drive in younger women, doctors say it is frequently the agingprocess itself that's at when desire changes in women over age 45.

"The very fact that a woman is no longer ovulating regularly, or not ovulating at all, automatically takes her sex drive down a few notches," says Steven Goldstein, MD, professor of ob-gyn and NYU Medical Center in New York City.

Nature's Design for Sex

Indeed, as many women are aware, Mother Nature built in a natural increase in the desire for sex beginning just prior to ovulation, and lasting several days afterwards -- not coincidentally, the only time of the month conception is possible.

Stop ovulating, says Goldstein, and you automatically lose that regularly scheduled boost in your sex drive that has been present since puberty -- and you're probably going to notice.

"There's nothing wrong with you; it's just the way nature works," says Goldstein.

Moreover, around menopause, when there is also less estrogen circulating in your body, that too can bring your sex drive down for the count.