Menopause is the time in a woman's life when she stops having menstrual periods. The years leading up to this point are called peri-menopause, or "around menopause". Menopause marks the end of the reproductive years that began in puberty.
The average age that women go through menopause is 51 years. Most women enjoy a healthy lifestyle for years afterward.
As menopause nears, the ovaries make less estrogen. One of the earliest and most common signs that menopause may be approaching is a change in your menstrual periods. You may skip one or more periods. The amount of flow may last a shorter or longer time than is usual for you.
Even though periods tend to be irregular around the time of menopause, you should be aware of bleeding that is not normal for you. This could be a sign of a problem. Talk to a doctor if you:
DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) is an enhanced X-ray image of the skeleton that provides the most accurate measurements of bone density available. Bone density tests are used to determine whether patients have osteoporosis, a condition in which bones are weakened and fracture easily. During the procedure, a beam of low-dose X-rays is targeted at the area, usually the lower spine and hips. The energy is measured as it is absorbed by soft tissue and by bone, and computer software then processes the gathered information. Exams are painless and take 10-30 minutes. We offer a bone density scanner conveniently in our office.
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