Community Menopause Perspectives Women's Health

Is Menopause Bad For Your Health?

October 19, 2012

By: Wulf Utian MD PhD DSc

Here is a promised summary of what really can happen to the body as a result of menopause. This comes from the established scientific literature; so do not shoot the messenger.

Above all, keep in mind that this is the totality of possibilities. Not everything or anything happens to everybody.

The real menopause effects can be divided into early and late as follows:

The true early effects and potential symptoms
The late-presenting problems

The following summary list of conditions associated with menopause is the worst-case scenario – it is not inevitable that all this will happen to one individual, and progress varies over time.

SITE	PATHOLOGY	SYMPTOMS
Vulva/Vagina	Vaginal atrophy Vaginitis (infections)	Itching, burning Discharge Painful intercourse
Uterus	Utero-vaginal prolapse	Dropping sensation Difficult intercourse
Bladder/Urethra	Altered urethra Infections	Stress incontinence Overactive bladder Urgency & frequency
Skin	Atrophy Androgen effect	Dry skin Easily injured Wrinkles Decreased sensation Acne
Bodyweight	Hormonal effects	Less muscle More fat Increased weight
Hair		Male pattern loss Hair on face Dryness
Vision	Macular degeneration	Dry eye Loss of vision
Hearing		Impaired hearing
Muscles	Reduced mass	Weakness Less balance
Joints		No known menopause effect
Headache		Less migraine
Skeleton (bone)	Increased resorption and decreased formation	Osteoporosis Fractures – hip, spine Backache
Teeth	Jaw resorption	Tooth loss Gingivitis
Heart and Blood vessels	Atherosclerosis	Angina pectoris Heart attack Stroke
Brain		VMS – hot flashes Blue moods Disturbed sleep
Sexual behavior		Painful intercourse Reduced desire Reduced sensation
Breasts		Shrinking Sagging
Voice	Androgen effect	Voice deepens

All these potential changes in the different body parts will develop at different rates. Usually these changes are only very slowly progressive, and the onset of symptoms may take years to appear. Of course they may never happen!

Other symptoms may occur very early.

What the real early and late symptoms are, and why the menopause experience is so variable for different women, is where I will go in my next blog.

In the meanwhile, have a great week.

Wulf Utian MD PhD DSc, Author;
CHANGE YOUR MENOPAUSE – Why one size does not fit all. http://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Menopause-size-does/dp/0982845723/

The views and opinions expressed by Perspectives contributors are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or recommendations of the American Nurses Association, the Editorial Advisory Board members, or the Publisher, Editors and staff of American Nurse Journal. These are opinion pieces and are not peer reviewed.