Menopause is a natural biological process that marks the end of menstrual cycles. It is diagnosed
when women have no menstruation during 12 normal menstrual periods. The transition period from
normal menstruation and reproductive period to menopause is called perimenopause, which means
“around menopause”.
While menopause is normally observed in the 40s or 50s, in some cases, menstrual irregularity due to
perimenopause may begin to appear from the age of 30. This does not always mean that early
menopause will occur.
In the process of perimenopause, the level of estrogen in the body of the individual, that is, the level
of female hormone, begins to rise and fall unevenly. Accordingly, sleep patterns may be disturbed
due to physical symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness and low energy that the individual may
feel during the menopause period, as well as symptoms that affect emotional health. Many effective
treatments are available to alleviate and relieve these symptoms, from lifestyle adjustments to
hormone therapy.
Early menopause or early ovarian failure occurs before the age of 40 in about 1 percent of women.
Early menopause can occur when a person’s ovaries do not produce normal levels of reproductive
hormone due to genetic factors or autoimmune diseases. However, in many cases, no reason can be
found that can cause this. In cases where this condition occurs, it is recommended to continue
hormone therapy at least until the natural age of menopause to maintain the health and structure of
the brain, heart, and bones.
Postmenopausal Risks

After menopause, people have an increased risk of developing certain medical conditions. Among
these medical conditions, primarily diseases of the heart and circulatory system, that is,
cardiovascular diseases, are observed. A person’s lower estrogen levels increase the risk of
cardiovascular disease.
Heart disease is among the leading causes of death in women as well as in men. Therefore, it is
important to exercise regularly, eat healthy and maintain a normal weight. Individuals should consult
a doctor to learn the steps to take to control high cholesterol or blood pressure .
(Information about menopause is taken from the www.acibadem.com.tr website.)