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Menopause
Menstruation is a normal, natural shedding process
of the uterine lining that occurs monthly in all
healthy adult women after puberty.
The parts of the body involved in the menstrual
cycle include the brain, uterus, cervix, ovaries,
fallopian tubes, and vagina.
The ovaries are glands that produce certain
hormones and contain tissue sacs in which eggs
develop.
In response to hormones from the brain an egg in
one of the ovaries matures and travels through the
fallopian tube to the uterus.
If the egg is not fertilized by a sperm, the
thickened lining of the uterus consisting of
blood-filled uterine tissue is shed. This cycle
happens every month.
Menopause is the natural cessation of this cycle
when the ovaries stop making hormones called
estrogen. This typically occurs in women between
the ages of 45 and 60.
Frequently menopause is characterized by hot
flashes, sudden intense waves of heat and
sweating.
In the long term, some women experience problems
linked to the low levels of estrogen found after
menopause. These may include osteoporosis,
increased risk for heart disease, mood changes and
depression.
Hormone Replacement Therapy - HRT is a treatment
for these symptoms of menopause. As the name
suggests, it 'puts back' some of the hormones that
the ovaries have stopped producing.
HRT can be administered in the form of pills,
patches, gels, or implants and is individualized
for each woman in consultation with her physician.
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