From the time of your first period your body cycle is governed by two main categories of hormones, estrogen and progesterone. These originate in the ovaries, and more specifically, from within the follicles (or eggs) within the ovary. Every month one of the follicles matures and ruptures out of the ovary (ovulation). Menopause happens when the ovaries have run out of eggs. You are officially post-menopausal one year after your last ovulation. The average age of menopause is about 51, but it may occur many years earlier and some years later as well. Some women are surgically post-menopausal because their ovaries have been removed during surgery before the eggs have run out.
The most common symptoms one feels at menopause are hot flashes. They have been described as a flushing wave of heat or sometimes alternating between feeling too hot and then too cold. Often these are accompanied by sleep disturbances and night sweats. Middle of the night “throwing off the covers” may be familiar to many. These in addition to the end of your periods are the most obvious manifestations of menopause. But behind the scenes much more than these things are effected in your body. Estrogen has an effect throughout the body, from your skin to your bones to your bladder, urethra and vagina to your blood vessels, nerves and even your brain.
Menopause can effect your sex life and sex drive, your bladder function and control, your bone strength, your mood, memory, cognition, and overall sense of well being. Dr. Vardy has been doing estrogen research since 1996. He is considered an expert in menopausal medicine and treats every aspect of menopause including sexual dysfunction and osteoporosis. In 2004 and 2006 he was arwarded best manuscript by the American Urogynecologic Society for his research on estrogen and the urogenital system.