Menopause: what it is, symptoms and treatment options

Menopause is the point when you have gone 12 months in a row without a period, not caused by pregnancy, illness or medication. In the U.S. the average age is about 52. It can also happen earlier, including after surgery that removes both ovaries.

Common symptoms around menopause

• Hot flashes and night sweats (vasomotor symptoms) — the most common.
• Sleep disruption.
• Vaginal dryness and pain with sex; urinary changes.
• Mood changes.
• Changes in sexual desire.

Types of menopause

• Natural menopause — the gradual end of ovarian function.
• Surgical menopause — after both ovaries are removed; symptoms can start suddenly.
• Early or premature menopause — before 45 or before 40; worth discussing with a clinician because of long-term bone and heart health.

Treatment options

Hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for hot flashes and also helps prevent bone loss. For healthy people under 60 or within 10 years of menopause without contraindications, The Menopause Society states the benefits generally outweigh the risks for bothersome symptoms.

Nonhormonal options include an FDA-approved medicine specifically for hot flashes (fezolinetant), certain antidepressants, and cognitive behavioral therapy and clinical hypnosis.

When to talk with a healthcare professional

• Symptoms are affecting sleep, work, relationships or daily life.
• You want to understand whether treatment — hormonal or nonhormonal — fits your health history.
• You have questions about your personal risk of heart disease, stroke, blood clots, breast cancer or osteoporosis.

When to get prompt care

• Any vaginal bleeding after menopause (12 months without a period) should be checked by a clinician.
• Very heavy bleeding (soaking a pad or tampon every hour), or bleeding with dizziness or faintness, needs prompt care.

How Dot can help

Dot helps you log hot flashes, sleep and mood, see what changes over time, and prepare questions for a clinician. For clinical evaluation and prescriptions, Kindr Care is the licensed care layer — Dot itself does not prescribe.

How Dot works · Kindr Care clinical care

Related topics

• Perimenopause
• Postmenopause
• Hot flashes & night sweats
• Vaginal dryness (GSM)
• Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT / HRT)
• Vaginal estrogen
• Nonhormonal menopause treatment
• Estradiol
• Bone health
• Heart health

Sources

1. National Institute on Aging (NIH). What Is Menopause?.
2. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The Menopause Years (patient FAQ).
3. The Menopause Society. The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause 2022;29(7):767–794 (2022).
4. The Menopause Society. The 2023 Nonhormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause 2023;30(6):573–590 (2023).
5. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves Novel Drug to Treat Moderate to Severe Hot Flashes Caused by Menopause (2023).

This page is educational and not medical advice. Dot does not diagnose or prescribe. See our editorial policy.