Early Menopause Glossary
Amenorrhoea: Complete absence or stoppage of periods
Angina: A disease marked by brief attacks of chest pain
Anovulation: Failure to ovulate
Benign: Not cancer (non-cancerous)
Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy: The removal of both fallopian tubes and both ovaries
Bioidentical hormone therapy: Some women visit alternative medicine doctors and get a prescription for natural products, which are made from different plant hormones that are like those in a woman’s body. Each prescription is hand-mixed, and the dose can vary from patient to patient
Biopsy: A minor surgical procedure for which a small tissue specimen is removed and examined for the presence of disease
Bladder: A sac-like organ in the pelvic region where urine is stored before it leaves the body
Cancer: A disease of the body’s cells. Cells become abnormal and grow out of control. They can also spread to other parts of the body
Cardiovascular disease: (CVD) disorders of the heart and circulatory system
CAT scan: A special kind of body imaging that is processed by a computer and displayed on a screen for viewing
Cervix: The lower, narrow end of the uterus
Chronic condition: A condition that lasts or keeps coming back over a long period of time
Corpus luteum: The sac remaining after an ovarian follicle has burst
Cystectomy: Surgical removal of an ovarian cyst, usually done along with laparoscopy (see “Laparoscopy”).
D & C (dilation and curettage): A surgical procedure that involves opening the cervix and scraping the uterine lining (endometrium)
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): Blockage of a blood vessel caused by a blood clot
Dysfunctional uterine bleeding: Abnormal uterine bleeding that’s not associated with a tumor, inflammation, or pregnancy
Dysplasia: The growth of abnormal cells. Dysplasia is a precancerous condition that may or may not turn into cancer at a later time
Early Menopause: Menopause, whether naturally or induced, that comes before the average age of normal menopause, when in your 20’s, 30’s, or early 40’s. Also called premature menopause
Embryo: The developing fertilized egg from the time of fertilization until organ development is complete
Endometrial ablation: A surgical procedure in which lasers and electrical currents are used to remove the endometrium
Endometrial biopsy: A sample of endometrial tissue is removed and examined for abnormal cells (See “Biopsy”)
Endometriosis: A condition in which the same kind of tissue that lines the walls of the uterus grows outside the uterus in the pelvic cavity or some other area of the body
Endometrium: The tissues lining the uterus that’s produced every month and shed during menstrual cycle
Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT): The use of estrogen alone for the treatment of menopausal symptoms and prevention of some long-term effects of menopause
Estrogen: A hormone produced in the ovaries affecting the growth and health of female reproductive functions and organs
Fallopian tubes: Tubes located on either side of the uterus that carry eggs from the ovary to the uterus
Fertilization: The moment at which sperm penetrates an egg and a baby begins to grow
Fibroids: Non-cancerous growths that occur most often in the walls of the uterus
Follicle: A fluid-filled area in the ovaries that grows in every menstrual cycle and produces a mature egg capable of fertilization
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH): Produced by the pituitary gland and acts on the ovaries to stimulate follicle growth
Gamete: A sperm or an egg
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH): A hormone produced by the hypothalamus that stimulates the pituitary gland to produce FSH. Sometimes prescribed to shrink fibroid tumors
Hormone: A chemical produced by the body that regulates certain bodily functions
Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG): A hormone similar to LH used to stimulate ovulation during fertility drug treatments. It’s produced in large amounts during pregnancy and is the basis of pregnancy tests
Human menopausal gonadotrophin (hMG): A hormone extracted from the urine of post-menopausal women that contains FSH and LH and is given by injection to induce ovulation
Hyperplasia: An overgrowth of the uterine lining, probably caused by excess estrogen. This is sometimes considered to be a precancerous condition, particularly in women who are near or through menopause
Hysterectomy: Surgical removal of the uterus. Sometimes, the cervix and/or ovaries and fallopian tubes are also removed
Hysteroscope: A thin, lighted tube that is inserted into the vagina to examine the cervix and inside of the uterus
HDL: High density lipoprotein cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol thought to have a cleansing effect in the bloodstream
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): The use of estrogen combined with progestin for the treatment of menopausal symptoms and prevention of some long-term effects of menopause
LDL: Low density lipoprotein cholesterol, the “bad” cholesterol believed to be linked to fat accumulation in the arteries
Kegel exercises: Special exercises to tighten the pelvic muscles. Method used to treat uterine prolapse and urinary incontinence (losing urine when you don’t want to)
Laparoscopy: A surgical procedure that allows the doctor to look inside the pelvic cavity by inserting a tube-like instrument through a small cut in the abdomen
Leiomyoma: The technical term for a fibroid tumor
Ligaments: A band of tissue that can stretch and that supports other parts of the body
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): An imaging technique that allows the soft tissues of the body to be seen
Menopause: The time when a woman stops having her period (menstruating)
Menstrual cycle: The 4-week period each month when an egg develops in the ovary, the lining of the uterus thickens, and the egg is released. If the egg is not fertilized, the cycle is completed when the lining of the uterus is shed through menstruation
Menstruation: The shedding of the lining of the uterus that occurs each month when a woman doesn’t become pregnant. A woman’s “period”
Myometrium: The wall of the womb
Myomectomy: An operation to remove fibroid tumors
Occult ovarian failure: Term describes a lesser form of partial ovarian failure whereby the serum FSH concentration is raised but menstrual cycles persist
Oophorectomy: Surgical removal of an ovary
Oral contraceptives: Pills which usually consist of synthetic estrogen and progesterone that are taken for three weeks after the last day of a menstrual period. They inhibit ovulation, thereby preventing pregnancy
Osteoporosis: A disease in which bones become thin, weak and are easily fractured
Ovaries: Small organs that produce hormones, such as estrogen, and eggs. One ovary is located on each side of the uterus
PAP test: A painless procedure in which cells are removed from the cervix during a vaginal exam, placed on a slide, and examined through a microscope to look for cancer or precancerous conditions
Parathyroid: Glands in the neck which produce a hormone that affects calcium metabolism
Perimenopause: The time around menopause, usually beginning 3 to 5 years before the final period
Phytoestrogens: Estrogen-like substances from a plant. Sources include soy, herbs such as black cohosh, a member of the buttercup family, wild yam, dong quai, and valerian root
Pituitary: A gland at the base of the brain that releases FSH and LH as well as other hormones
Premature menopause: See Early menopause
Progesterone: The hormone that prepares the lining of the uterus (endometrium) to receive a fertilized egg
Progestin: The synthetic form of progesterone
Prolapse: A prolapse womb is one which has sunk into the vagina because the supporting structures have weakened.
Reproductive system: The organs of the body that allow a woman to become pregnant and carry and give birth. These include the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and vagina
Sexually transmitted disease (STD): A disease that can be given from one person to another during sexual contact; for example, syphilis, gonorrhea, or AIDS
Sonogram: An imaging procedure in which echoes from sound waves passing through tissues create pictures of structures deep within the body
Speculum: A metal or plastic instrument the doctor inserts into the vagina to help examine the vagina and cervix
Uterus: The organ where babies grow; the womb
Urinary incontinence: Loss of bladder control
Vagina: The tube-like opening leading away from the uterus to the outside of the body
Vasectomy: In males, the surgical removal of part of the sperm duct to induce infertility
Vasomotor: Menopausal symptoms such as night sweats and hot flushes
Womb: Another name for the uterus
- Bleeding in Early Menopause During early menopause, periods become irregular, but bleeding is quite normal. In most cases, there’s no need for concern. Light spotting may also occur. However, there are some instances where bleeding is not normal during early menopause, and treatment should be sought. Irregular menstrual periods can occur for up to six months in early menopause before
- Hormone Replacement Therapy and Early Menopause Menopause, including early menopause, can affect the quality of a woman’s life for several years, and possibly for the rest of her life. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is designed to greatly improve the quality of a woman’s life, by eliminating, or reducing the symptoms of menopause and early menopause. The unpleasant symptoms associated with early menopause
- Early Menopause Causes What Causes Early Menopause? In some cases, the reason for early menopause is clear: you’ve had your ovaries surgically removed, have a family history of early menopause, or had ovarian damage due to cancer treatments. These are some of the more obvious factors that can contribute to early menopause. Yet, sometimes the causes are less apparent.
- Hormone Tests For Early Menopause There are hormone tests that can easily be performed by your doctor to determine if you’re going through premature, or early menopause. Unfortunately, some doctors instantly rule out menopause in patients who are in their twenties or thirties, without doing any testing. For this reason, it’s important that you know what hormone tests to ask
- Fertility in Early Menopause Many women mistakenly believe that they cannot become pregnant during early menopause. However, pregnancy during early menopause is entirely possible, unless the uterus has been surgically removed by hysterectomy. You are still at risk for pregnancy until you have completely stopped ovulating. A pregnancy that occurs during early menopause is considered a high risk pregnancy, because
- Early Menopause Health Concerns Women who experience early menopause have many health concerns that they should address with their doctors. These health concerns cover physical changes to the body, emotional changes, and the risk of greater health problems in the future. BUY natural herbal supplement, used to help women, overcome the symptoms of menopause. The emotional health concerns that women face
- Early Menopause - the Ways to Prevent In most cases, early menopause cannot be prevented. Early menopause occurs for a wide variety of reasons, including family history, viral infections, surgeries, and cancer treatments. However, some studies show that women can do various things to prevent the possibility of early menopause. BUY natural herbal supplement, used to help women, overcome the symptoms of menopause. Studies
- Emotional Health During Early or Premature Menopause During early menopause, a woman is experiencing both physical and emotional changes. All of these changes are greatly affected by the fluctuation in hormone levels that occurs during early menopause. Women who experience early menopause have the same concerns that women who have natural menopause at average age have. However, they do have a few