Menopause Basics - Menopause - The Ups and Downs of Change

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Menopause - The Ups and Downs of Change

It can be challenging to adjust to the changes brought on by menopause. But there are advantages to this time of life.

Elaine, Has Reached Menopause: I don't recognize my body. I don't feel comfortable in my body any more and that's not me.

ANNOUNCER: Elaine Stillerman used to be a competitive body builder. For her the physical changes are the hardest part of menopause.

Elaine, Has Reached Menopause: When I was young, I had a twenty-three and a half inch waist, twenty-four on a on a heavy day. That was my body and now I won't go near a tape measure, I won’t go near a scale.

ANNOUNCER: Physical changes are part of what a woman can expect when she reaches menopause.

Suzanne LaJoie, MD, Obstetrician/Gynecologist: There may be mood changes. There may be changes in sleep which can affect mood and also the hot flashes and, sometimes, at night, there can be night sweats.

ANNOUNCER: For most women, menopause occurs sometime between the age of 45 and 55. The ovaries gradually produce less hormones until menstrual periods stop.

Suzanne LaJoie, MD, Obstetrician/Gynecologist: We won't really say officially you're in menopause until there's been a full year of no periods. Perimenopause is the time beforehand when women are still getting periods. But, during that time, women can still have symptoms, so, a lot of times, you'll see hot flashes or vaginal dryness and mood swings, even though a woman is still menstruating.

ANNOUNCER: Although Elaine has struggled with the changes menopause has brought, she sees advantages to this phase of life.

Elaine, Has Reached Menopause: The bleeding is over, the cramps are over, the dramatic mood swings are over, the acne breakouts, they're gone. And there's still challenge and life to look forward to.