• Make a special effort to eat well. Choose • Soy (). Some women feel that a heart-healthy diet that is low in saturated eating lots of soy helps even out their Menopause and and includes plenty of fish, fruits, menopause symptoms. It may also help vegetables, beans, and high-fiber grains keep your strong after menopause. Perimenopause and breads. • Yoga or biofeedback to help reduce • Include plenty of calcium in your diet to stress. High stress is likely to make your help your bones stay strong. Get 1,200 symptoms worse. mg a day after age 50 (plus 800 to 1,000 IU of to help your body use the If you have severe symptoms, you may calcium). Low-fat or nonfat dairy products want to ask your doctor about prescription are a great source of calcium. medicines. Choices include:

• Get regular exercise. Exercise can help • Low-dose pills before you manage your weight, keep your heart menopause. and bones strong, and lift your mood. • Low-dose replacement therapy • Limit caffeine, alcohol, and stress. These (HRT) after menopause. things can make symptoms worse. Limiting • . them may help you sleep better. • A medicine called (Catapres) • If you smoke, stop. Quitting can that is usually used to treat high blood reduce hot flashes and long-term health pressure. risks. All medicines for menopause symptoms have If lifestyle changes are not enough to relieve possible risks or side effects. A very small your symptoms, you can try other measures, number of women develop serious health such as: problems when taking . Be • Meditative breathing exercise (called sure to talk to your doctor about your possible paced respiration). Breathing exercises health risks before you start a treatment for may help reduce hot flashes and emotional menopause symptoms. symptoms. Remember, it is still possible to become • Black cohosh. This herb may prevent or pregnant until you reach menopause. To relieve symptoms. But experts don’t know prevent an unwanted , keep using about its long-term safety. You should not birth control until you have not had a period for take it if there is a chance you could be 1 full year. pregnant. If you plan to try black cohosh, © 1995-2010 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health talk to your doctor about how to take it decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. safely. Rev (01/10) PTED 0183 What is menopause? What is Some medical treatments can cause your Do you need tests to diagnose perimenopause? periods to stop before age 40. Having your menopause? removed, , or Menopause is the point in a ’s life when can trigger early menopause. You don’t need to be tested to see if you she has not had a menstrual period for 1 year. have started perimenopause or reached Menopause marks the end of the childbearing What are the symptoms? menopause. You and your doctor will most years. It is sometimes called “the change of likely be able to tell based on irregular periods life.” Common symptoms include: and other symptoms.

For most women, menopause happens around • Irregular periods. Some women have light If you have heavy, irregular periods, your age 50, but every woman’s body has its own periods. Others have heavy . Your doctor may want to do tests to rule out a timeline. Some women stop having periods in may be longer or shorter, serious cause of the bleeding. Heavy bleeding their mid-40s. Others continue well into their or you may skip periods. may be a normal sign of perimenopause. But it 50s. can also be caused by infection, disease, or a • Hot flashes. pregnancy problem. Perimenopause is the process of change that • Trouble sleeping ( ). leads up to menopause. It can start as early as You may not need to see your doctor about your late 30s or as late as your early 50s. How • Emotional changes. Some women have menopause symptoms. But it is important long perimenopause lasts varies, but it usually mood swings or feel grouchy, depressed, to keep up your annual physical exams. lasts from 2 to 8 years. You may have irregular or worried. Your risks for heart disease, cancer, and periods or other symptoms during this time. thinning () increase after • . menopause. At your yearly visits, your doctor Menopause is a natural part of growing older. can check your overall health and recommend You don’t need treatment for it unless your • Feeling that your heart is beating too fast testing as needed. symptoms bother you. But it’s a good idea to or unevenly ( ). learn all you can about menopause. Knowing Do you need treatment? what to expect can help you stay as healthy as • Problems with remembering or thinking possible during this new phase of your life. clearly. Menopause is a natural part of growing older. You don’t need treatment for it unless your What causes menopause? • Vaginal dryness. symptoms bother you. But if your symptoms are upsetting or uncomfortable, you don’t have Some women have only a few mild symptoms. Normal changes in your reproductive and to suffer through them. There are treatments Others have severe symptoms that disrupt hormone systems cause menopause. As your that can help. supply ages, your body begins to ovulate their sleep and daily lives. less often. During this time, your hormone The first step is to have a healthy lifestyle. This Symptoms tend to last or get worse the first levels go up and down unevenly (fluctuate), can help reduce symptoms and also lower year or more after menopause. Over time, causing changes in your periods and other your risk of heart disease and other long-term even out at low levels, and many symptoms. In time, and problems related to aging. symptoms improve or go away. Then you can levels drop enough that the menstrual cycle enjoy being free from periods and birth control stops. concerns. What is menopause? What is Some medical treatments can cause your Do you need tests to diagnose perimenopause? periods to stop before age 40. Having your menopause? ovaries removed, radiation therapy, or Menopause is the point in a woman’s life when chemotherapy can trigger early menopause. You don’t need to be tested to see if you she has not had a menstrual period for 1 year. have started perimenopause or reached Menopause marks the end of the childbearing What are the symptoms? menopause. You and your doctor will most years. It is sometimes called “the change of likely be able to tell based on irregular periods life.” Common symptoms include: and other symptoms.

For most women, menopause happens around • Irregular periods. Some women have light If you have heavy, irregular periods, your age 50, but every woman’s body has its own periods. Others have heavy bleeding. Your doctor may want to do tests to rule out a timeline. Some women stop having periods in menstrual cycle may be longer or shorter, serious cause of the bleeding. Heavy bleeding their mid-40s. Others continue well into their or you may skip periods. may be a normal sign of perimenopause. But it 50s. can also be caused by infection, disease, or a • Hot flashes. pregnancy problem. Perimenopause is the process of change that • Trouble sleeping ( insomnia). leads up to menopause. It can start as early as You may not need to see your doctor about your late 30s or as late as your early 50s. How • Emotional changes. Some women have menopause symptoms. But it is important long perimenopause lasts varies, but it usually mood swings or feel grouchy, depressed, to keep up your annual physical exams. lasts from 2 to 8 years. You may have irregular or worried. Your risks for heart disease, cancer, and periods or other symptoms during this time. bone thinning (osteoporosis) increase after • Headaches. menopause. At your yearly visits, your doctor Menopause is a natural part of growing older. can check your overall health and recommend You don’t need treatment for it unless your • Feeling that your heart is beating too fast testing as needed. symptoms bother you. But it’s a good idea to or unevenly ( palpitations). learn all you can about menopause. Knowing Do you need treatment? what to expect can help you stay as healthy as • Problems with remembering or thinking possible during this new phase of your life. clearly. Menopause is a natural part of growing older. You don’t need treatment for it unless your What causes menopause? • Vaginal dryness. symptoms bother you. But if your symptoms are upsetting or uncomfortable, you don’t have Some women have only a few mild symptoms. Normal changes in your reproductive and to suffer through them. There are treatments Others have severe symptoms that disrupt hormone systems cause menopause. As your that can help. egg supply ages, your body begins to ovulate their sleep and daily lives. less often. During this time, your hormone The first step is to have a healthy lifestyle. This Symptoms tend to last or get worse the first levels go up and down unevenly (fluctuate), can help reduce symptoms and also lower year or more after menopause. Over time, causing changes in your periods and other your risk of heart disease and other long-term hormones even out at low levels, and many symptoms. In time, estrogen and progesterone problems related to aging. symptoms improve or go away. Then you can levels drop enough that the menstrual cycle enjoy being free from periods and birth control stops. concerns. What is menopause? What is Some medical treatments can cause your Do you need tests to diagnose perimenopause? periods to stop before age 40. Having your menopause? ovaries removed, radiation therapy, or Menopause is the point in a woman’s life when chemotherapy can trigger early menopause. You don’t need to be tested to see if you she has not had a menstrual period for 1 year. have started perimenopause or reached Menopause marks the end of the childbearing What are the symptoms? menopause. You and your doctor will most years. It is sometimes called “the change of likely be able to tell based on irregular periods life.” Common symptoms include: and other symptoms.

For most women, menopause happens around • Irregular periods. Some women have light If you have heavy, irregular periods, your age 50, but every woman’s body has its own periods. Others have heavy bleeding. Your doctor may want to do tests to rule out a timeline. Some women stop having periods in menstrual cycle may be longer or shorter, serious cause of the bleeding. Heavy bleeding their mid-40s. Others continue well into their or you may skip periods. may be a normal sign of perimenopause. But it 50s. can also be caused by infection, disease, or a • Hot flashes. pregnancy problem. Perimenopause is the process of change that • Trouble sleeping ( insomnia). leads up to menopause. It can start as early as You may not need to see your doctor about your late 30s or as late as your early 50s. How • Emotional changes. Some women have menopause symptoms. But it is important long perimenopause lasts varies, but it usually mood swings or feel grouchy, depressed, to keep up your annual physical exams. lasts from 2 to 8 years. You may have irregular or worried. Your risks for heart disease, cancer, and periods or other symptoms during this time. bone thinning (osteoporosis) increase after • Headaches. menopause. At your yearly visits, your doctor Menopause is a natural part of growing older. can check your overall health and recommend You don’t need treatment for it unless your • Feeling that your heart is beating too fast testing as needed. symptoms bother you. But it’s a good idea to or unevenly ( palpitations). learn all you can about menopause. Knowing Do you need treatment? what to expect can help you stay as healthy as • Problems with remembering or thinking possible during this new phase of your life. clearly. Menopause is a natural part of growing older. You don’t need treatment for it unless your What causes menopause? • Vaginal dryness. symptoms bother you. But if your symptoms are upsetting or uncomfortable, you don’t have Some women have only a few mild symptoms. Normal changes in your reproductive and to suffer through them. There are treatments Others have severe symptoms that disrupt hormone systems cause menopause. As your that can help. egg supply ages, your body begins to ovulate their sleep and daily lives. less often. During this time, your hormone The first step is to have a healthy lifestyle. This Symptoms tend to last or get worse the first levels go up and down unevenly (fluctuate), can help reduce symptoms and also lower year or more after menopause. Over time, causing changes in your periods and other your risk of heart disease and other long-term hormones even out at low levels, and many symptoms. In time, estrogen and progesterone problems related to aging. symptoms improve or go away. Then you can levels drop enough that the menstrual cycle enjoy being free from periods and birth control stops. concerns. • Make a special effort to eat well. Choose • Soy (isoflavones). Some women feel that a heart-healthy diet that is low in saturated eating lots of soy helps even out their Menopause and fat and includes plenty of fish, fruits, menopause symptoms. It may also help vegetables, beans, and high-fiber grains keep your bones strong after menopause. Perimenopause and breads. • Yoga or biofeedback to help reduce • Include plenty of calcium in your diet to stress. High stress is likely to make your help your bones stay strong. Get 1,200 symptoms worse. mg a day after age 50 (plus 800 to 1,000 IU of vitamin D to help your body use the If you have severe symptoms, you may calcium). Low-fat or nonfat dairy products want to ask your doctor about prescription are a great source of calcium. medicines. Choices include:

• Get regular exercise. Exercise can help • Low-dose birth control pills before you manage your weight, keep your heart menopause. and bones strong, and lift your mood. • Low-dose hormone replacement therapy • Limit caffeine, alcohol, and stress. These (HRT) after menopause. things can make symptoms worse. Limiting • Antidepressants. them may help you sleep better. • A medicine called clonidine (Catapres) • If you smoke, stop. Quitting smoking can that is usually used to treat high blood reduce hot flashes and long-term health pressure. risks. All medicines for menopause symptoms have If lifestyle changes are not enough to relieve possible risks or side effects. A very small your symptoms, you can try other measures, number of women develop serious health such as: problems when taking hormone therapy. Be • Meditative breathing exercise (called sure to talk to your doctor about your possible paced respiration). Breathing exercises health risks before you start a treatment for may help reduce hot flashes and emotional menopause symptoms. symptoms. Remember, it is still possible to become • Black cohosh. This herb may prevent or pregnant until you reach menopause. To relieve symptoms. But experts don’t know prevent an unwanted pregnancy, keep using about its long-term safety. You should not birth control until you have not had a period for take it if there is a chance you could be 1 full year. pregnant. If you plan to try black cohosh, © 1995-2010 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health talk to your doctor about how to take it decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. safely. Rev (01/10) PTED 0183 • Make a special effort to eat well. Choose • Soy (isoflavones). Some women feel that a heart-healthy diet that is low in saturated eating lots of soy helps even out their Menopause and fat and includes plenty of fish, fruits, menopause symptoms. It may also help vegetables, beans, and high-fiber grains keep your bones strong after menopause. Perimenopause and breads. • Yoga or biofeedback to help reduce • Include plenty of calcium in your diet to stress. High stress is likely to make your help your bones stay strong. Get 1,200 symptoms worse. mg a day after age 50 (plus 800 to 1,000 IU of vitamin D to help your body use the If you have severe symptoms, you may calcium). Low-fat or nonfat dairy products want to ask your doctor about prescription are a great source of calcium. medicines. Choices include:

• Get regular exercise. Exercise can help • Low-dose birth control pills before you manage your weight, keep your heart menopause. and bones strong, and lift your mood. • Low-dose hormone replacement therapy • Limit caffeine, alcohol, and stress. These (HRT) after menopause. things can make symptoms worse. Limiting • Antidepressants. them may help you sleep better. • A medicine called clonidine (Catapres) • If you smoke, stop. Quitting smoking can that is usually used to treat high blood reduce hot flashes and long-term health pressure. risks. All medicines for menopause symptoms have If lifestyle changes are not enough to relieve possible risks or side effects. A very small your symptoms, you can try other measures, number of women develop serious health such as: problems when taking hormone therapy. Be • Meditative breathing exercise (called sure to talk to your doctor about your possible paced respiration). Breathing exercises health risks before you start a treatment for may help reduce hot flashes and emotional menopause symptoms. symptoms. Remember, it is still possible to become • Black cohosh. This herb may prevent or pregnant until you reach menopause. To relieve symptoms. But experts don’t know prevent an unwanted pregnancy, keep using about its long-term safety. You should not birth control until you have not had a period for take it if there is a chance you could be 1 full year. pregnant. If you plan to try black cohosh, © 1995-2010 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health talk to your doctor about how to take it decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. safely. Rev (01/10) PTED 0183