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ONCE upon a time, menopause was just a name for a phase in a woman8217;s life. Then came the research, pin-pointing of symptoms, analysis a...

ONCE upon a time, menopause was just a name for a phase in a woman8217;s life. Then came the research, pin-pointing of symptoms, analysis and8212; inevitably8212;treatment. And then the bad press about the treatment. So what is a woman to do?

First, get your facts right.

What is menopause?
It8217;s the time in a woman8217;s life when the ovaries8212;repositories of female hormones8212;cease to function. 8216;8216;All women are born with a specific number of eggs in their body. In menopause, the women stop producing eggs or ova,8217;8217; explains Dr Urvashi Jha, senior consultant at Indraprastha Apollo and president of the Menopausal Society of India.

Scientists are still trying to identify the factors that influence this transition.

Average age for onset of menopause?
It hovers around 51, but the exact age is tough to predict. Usually, a woman will undergo menopause around the same age her mother did. The only reliable indicator is the absence of menstruation for 12 months without any other medical reason for the phenomenon.

And the symptoms?
Early symptoms include abnormal vaginal bleeding, hot flashes, and mood changes. And later, vaginal dryness, osteoporosis and heart disease.

Common Complaints:
Hot flashes: Short periods of feeling unbearably hot.
Night sweats: Breaking into a sweat during sleep.
Frequent bladder or urinary tract infections cystitis: Widespread among menopausal women.
Low sex drive: Can be treated with testosterone supplements.
Mood swings: Easy irritability.
Memory lapses: Short-lived problems remembering everyday things.

Osteoporosis: There are no advance warnings, a broken bone is the first sign.

Heart Disease: The risks go up with menopause.

What is the treatment available?
Despite global alarm bells over Hormone Replacement Therapy, it is yet to be replaced. Initial trials of combined HRT concluded that it increases the risk for breast cancer and heart attacks but, says Dr Jha, 8216;8216;This is not conclusive as research is still on on women who had hysterectomies and were put on estrogen8217;8217;.

So does it mean discontinuing treatment?
Yes and no. Tests found that the risks rose significantly only after 5.2 years of treatment. So short-term use to alleviate hot flashes and night sweats may be appropriate. 8216;8216;HRT for the treatment of acute menopausal symptoms, when indicated, continues to be appropriate for short-term use without an apparent increase in breast cancer risks for up to four years,8217;8217; says Dr Jha. 8216;8216;Women who have had hysterectomies can also continue on HRT.8217;8217;

Is there any alternative at all to HRT?
If a woman is on HRT for more than four years, her doctor will probably recommend an alternative treatment incorporating:
Anti-depressants, herbs such as black cohosh, soya foods or high dose vitamins.
Cholesterol-lowering drugs, especially for women at risk of heart disease.
Regular exercise and quitting smoking.