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Written by Karen McKenzie
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The Menopause is a pivotal stage in a woman's life, the end of the
reproductive cycle and the beginning of a new phase with its own
conditions and considerations. Knowing what to expect and understanding
all your options will help to ensure the continuing good health of your
bones.
Throughout your reproductive years, your ovaries secrete estrogen and
progesterone on a cyclical basis. When ovulation finally ceases at the
menopause your ovaries also stop making estrogen: the abrupt
fall in estrogen is the immediate cause of most of the physical and
emotional changes experienced during the menopause.
Every woman's experience of the menopause is different. Common symptoms
include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, loss of libido and
vaginal dryness. Some women find these changes upsetting or irritating;
others are barely troubled by symptoms. Many women actually find it
liberating to be freed from their hormonal cycle: even after the
ovaries stop making estrogen, the adrenal glands carry on for another 5
- 10 years and secrete hormones such as testosterone. Without the
mitigating effect of estrogen on these hormones, a woman can feel
sexier, more energetic and more effective than ever before.
Estrogen stimulates the production of collagen, a structural protein
found in muscles, bones, ligaments and tendons. Reduced cartilage
production following the menopause can make your joints feel stiffer
and your muscles weaker. As estrogen also helps the absorption of
calcium from your food, reduced levels of the hormone may affect the
amount of calcium in your body. Calcium plays an important role in
muscle function so low levels of calcium in your blood can cause cramps.
Less immediately obvious, but of greater long-term significance, is the
loss of bone mass after the menopause and the risk from brittle bones,
fractures and osteoporosis - one reason why women make up around 80 per
cent of osteoporosis sufferers.
Estrogens help to prevent bone mineral loss. Without the powerful
protective benefits of estrogen, you can lose up to a fifth of your
bone mass in the five to seven years following the menopause. This is
why it is particularly important for menopausal and post-menopausal
women to pay close attention to the health of their bones and be aware
of the steps they can take to keep their bones healthy.
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