Menopause

Menopause

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  Menopause and Aging ByKerry Wagner
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  Aging  Midlife isa very  Society views broad term youth as a describing when a standard of judging women is between a women’s value to the ages of 45 and society 65  Aging can be a difficult process for some people
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  Negative Affects ofAging  Age discrimination  Increases  Loose capacity to emotional, reproduce physical, and  Children move out financial stress  Death of loved  Balance caring for ones (partner, aging parents and child, sibling, caring for your parent) children  More susceptible to illness
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  Positive Affects ofAging  Retirement  Gain a new outlook  More time to do on life things that you love  Develop new roles in the family (becoming a mother-in-law or grandparent)  Renewed pleasure in long term relationships
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  What is Menopause? The end of a  Ovaries no longer women’s monthly produce enough period estrogen to  Can occur as early continue as 40 or as late as menstruation 60 (average age is  Overall decrease of 51) estrogen in the  A series of body emotional and  No predictable rate physical changes of transition to in a women’s body menopause
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  What happens during menopause?  Changes in a women’s period ◦ Cycles gradually become shorter and lighter until they stop all together  Hot flashes/ night sweats ◦ Decreasing estrogen affects bodies temperature control mechanism  Sleep problems ◦ Waking up early and not being able to go back to sleep ◦ Relationship between change in hormones and bodies sleep mechanism
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  What happens duringmenopause?  Vaginal Changes ◦ Vaginal walls become thinner, more dry, less flexible ◦ Less vaginal lubrication is produced ◦ Vaginal Atrophy- avoidance of sex because of discomfort  Urinary Changes ◦ Leak urine accidently ◦ Increased urine output at night ◦ Urinary Incontinence- inability to control leakage of urine  Changes in sexual desires ◦ Less interest in sex because of decreased hormones
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  What happens during menopause?  Change in Memory and Mood ◦ Memory gaps or inability to concentrate ◦ Menopause does not cause depression but could produce mild/negative mood changes  Abnormal Bleeding ◦ Includes excessive bleeding and light bleeding ◦ Excessive bleeding could be a sign of a more serious problem
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  Hormones Effect onthe Body  Decrease in bone density  Mood swings/negative feelings  Relief of hot flashes and insomnia  Dry eye syndrome- decrease production of tears for proper lubrication  Effects on body may outweigh benefits
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  Medical Options forManaging Menopause Hormone Therapy: Other Options:  Use to be  Selected estrogen considered a miracle receptor modulators- drug that promotes prevent bone loss and youthfulness reduce risk of bone fracture  Long term benefits  Bisphonates- reduce being challenged bone thinning and risk  Hormone therapy of fracture increases women’s  Both have fewer risks risk of breast cancer than hormones and blood clots  But not much information about long term effectiveness and safety
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  Sexuality and Aging Sexual feelings are  Some women determined by a explore women’s relationships with perception of her other women own body rather  Use birth control than age until period stops  Difficulties having completely for two sexual relations years after a divorce or  Changing attitude death of a loved about one sex/overcoming  Lowered sexual obstacles function
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  Preventative Health  Stay Active  Avoid Smoking ◦ Prevent loss of bone ◦ Smoking increases and muscle mass loss of bone density ◦ Include aerobic,  Adequate calcium weight bearing, and and vitamin D strength training workouts intake ◦ Help reverse bone loss and protect against osteoporosis  Eat well ◦ Help prevent and manage chronic health problems
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  Social and PoliticalIssue with Aging  Ageism- society  Elderly women are separates people twice as likely to by age, this be living in poverty separation creates compared to age discrimination elderly men  Ageism causes  Gap in healthcare people to feel coverage ignored, ◦ To young for marginalized, or Medicare and not invisible poor enough for Medicaid
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  Researching Menopause  Moreresearch is needed on basic biology of aging  Not much is known about aging needs of African American women  Studies today are funded by drug company interests
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  Where to findsupport?  Aging can be very  Support groups emotionally and can give women physically draining strength to get  Support groups are through difficult a great way to situations share experiences and concerns  Social engagement can reduce feelings of isolation