HRT Profile 2

Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when her normal menstrual periods have stopped for at least 12 months and she can no longer become pregnant. It is a natural part of female aging. Menopause can occur anytime after the age of 35, but the typical age of onset is in the late 40s to early 50s; when it occurs before the age of 40 years it is called premature ovarian insufficiency/failure.
As menopause approaches, the cyclical production of estradiol and progesterone by the ovaries diminishes and becomes less consistent.
The transitioning into menopause is called perimenopause, and it is a gradual process usually. Hormone levels can fluctuate high to low from one month to the next, with periods and ovulation becoming irregular. A woman may have a period and then go for several months before having another, and some women may find that the frequency and intensity of their periods actually increase during perimenopause.
At the time of the menopause, the ovaries stop functioning and FSH levels rise. The ovaries effectively stop producing oestrogen and progesterone, the woman is no longer ovulating, and can no longer become pregnant. Though this is all part of the normal course of aging, there are some health issues that are associated with menopause and the post-menopausal stage of life:
• Decreased levels of estrogen may lead to an increased risk of osteoporosis.
• The change in the level of estrogen may also be a contributing factor for the development of heart disease.
• Tissues of the vagina tend to thin (atrophy), causing chronic irritation, vaginal dryness, and susceptibility to infection.
• Decreased estrogen level is accompanied with decreased production of collagen and elastin, two proteins responsible for maintaining skin integrity. As these levels decrease, the skin becomes thinner, dryer, and more susceptible to injury.
HRT or hormone replacement therapy can be helpful during the perimenopausal and menopause periods but its use should be discussed with a clinician to ensure the benefits outweigh potential risks.