Understanding the Types of Menopause
Given that the average age for natural menopause is 51, many women find they’re perimenopausal or postmenopausal just as they receive a breast cancer diagnosis. If this is true for you, it may be hard to tell the difference between “natural” menopausal symptoms and those triggered by treatments. If you’ve recently stopped using hormone replacement therapy (HRT), this can complicate matters even more.
If you’re much younger than 50, you’ll probably know that the treatments are causing you to feel like you’re in menopause. However, it can be hard to tell if this menopause is temporary or permanent. The closer you are to age 50, the more likely it is that you’ll be in menopause for good.
Whatever your stage of life, it’s important for you to have a basic understanding of the types of menopause and how they could affect you before, during, and after breast cancer treatment. Read on to learn more about:
- How Menopause Happens Naturally
- How Menopause Can Happen With Breast Cancer Treatments
- Menopausal Symptoms and Hormonal Therapies
- Stopping Hormone Replacement Therapy: “Cold Turkey” Menopause
- Tests to Determine Menopausal Status
