Understanding Menopause: Long-Term Effects and What to Expect

Menopause is the permanent end of a woman's fertility. The average age of menopause in the United States is 51 years of age. The effects of menopause may begin well before a woman reaches her fifties.

Menstruation

• According to the Mayo Clinic, menopause occurs one year after a woman's final menstrual period. A woman cannot have children after her menstrual cycles have permanently ended.

Appearance

• Women may experience changes in their appearance after menopause including weight gain, thinning hair and a loss of breast fullness.

Emotions

• Mood swings and sleep disturbances can occur in the years that follow menopause and may require medication.

Complications

• Declining estrogen levels can cause hot flashes and an increased risk of heart disease in post menopausal women. Osteoporosis and urinary incontinence can develop after menopause.

Treatments

• Estrogen medication and low doses of antidepressants can reduce hot flashes that occur after menopause. Biphosphonate medications can reduce bone loss from osteoporosis.