At least one of every 100 women under age 40 experiences premature ovarian failure for no known reason. Between ages 40 and 45, premature ovarian failure affects an estimated 15 percent of women.
Menopause Linked To Depression
Women faced an increased risk of major depression in the years leading up to menopause, according to a study of 460 women, ages 36 to 45, conducted by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Women who entered perimenopause during the study period had almost two and a half times the risk of depression compared to women who didn’t enter perimenopause.
Based on study findings, researchers estimated that one third of women are at risk for depression at this time of life. They emphasized that depression during these years should not be considered a normal occurrence and needs to be treated aggressively when it occurs.
Heredity, Aging and Bones
Menopause doesn’t cause osteoporosis (men suffer from it too), but women who are postmenopausal face an increased risk of fracture related to lower bone mineral density. A drop in estrogen and other female hormones after menopause is associated with loss of bone mass and can increase the risk of osteoporosis. The risk of fractures as a result of osteoporosis doubles every seven to eight years after age 50. A simple bone density test at the pharmacy can help identify if a potential for osteoporosis exists.
Heredity is known to play a role in fracture risk. For those with a family history of hip fracture, the risk is increased by 50 percent. If the fracture occurred in a parent, the risk increases by 127 percent.
Smoking Bad for Bones
If you want to protect your bones into old age, quit smoking. Research shows that smokers are not able to absorb calcium from foods as readily as nonsmokers. As a result, women who smoke lose bone mass more rapidly, especially after menopause, and have lower levels of bone mineral density.
Smokers also reach menopause an average of two years earlier than women who don’t smoke.
Common Symptoms Post Menopause
Vaginal dryness, urinary problems and painful intercourse are all symptoms reported by 30 to 45 percent of women after menopause.
One study found that one in four women complained of vaginal dryness one year after menopause. By three years post menopause that number had doubled to almost 50 percent.
Vaginal estrogen preparations can significantly improve symptoms.
Keeping Bones Strong
Women who have passed menopause need to be especially vigilant about maintaining bone mass. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help maintain bone mass, but now that HRT is not recommended for long-term use, women need to be sure they’re taking reasonable steps to protect their bones.
Basic strategies include getting the recommended dose of calcium and vitamin D each day. For many women this may mean taking a supplement.
Avoiding smoking and excess alcohol and caffeine consumption will also help protect bones.
Women who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis or who are considered high risk may be prescribed drugs to help preserve and even restore bone density.
Bisphosphonates, a class of medications, work by reducing bone resorption and increasing bone mineral density at both the hips and spine. For women diagnosed with osteoporosis, studies show that bisphosphonates can reduce the risk of fracture of the vertebrae by 40 to 50 percent, and at other sites by 20 to 25 percent.
Bisphosphonates commonly prescribed as oral medications include alendronate (Fosamax) ibandronate (Boniva) and risedronate (Actonel.)
Kerri Musselman, PharmD—Rev. 5/19/10 TNK
