MANAGEMENT OF MENOPAUSE

Menopause signals a transition from the reproductive stage to the nonr eproductive stage in a woman's life. Common problems that are relative ly acute include hot flushes, menstrual irregularity, and atrophic cha nges in the vagina and the urinary tract. A variety of therapies, incl uding hormone replacement, can be used to treat these conditions. In a ddition, the delayed problems of osteoporosis and arteriosclerotic cor onary artery disease increase in incidence and severity after menopaus e. A number of lifestyle changes are beneficial in these conditions, b oth acutely and to retard the development of several important disease s. The use of hormone therapy and other treatments should be individua lized and fully discussed with each patient. Most importantly, the add itional benefits and risks of each form of treatment, plus the benefic ial lifestyle changes, should also be discussed.