Have you ever had a conversation and gradually realized that you weren’t getting your point across? We often communicate about topics without being clear about definitions. We assume that some things are just understood.
In the medical profession it is essential to lay the foundation for clear communication, and that often starts with finding out what people know—or think they know—about the topic at hand.
I’ve seen this many times with reference to menopause. What exactly is menopause anyway?
Here are a few helpful definitions:
🍁 Menopause (Natural): 12 months after the last menstrual period.
🍁 Menopause (Surgical): Immediate menopause after both ovaries are surgically removed, regardless of age.
🍁 Menopause (Medically Induced): Menopause induced by chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormones or other medical treatments, regardless of age.
🍁 Premenopause: Life before perimenopause and menopause.
🍁 Perimenopause: The years just before and during the time leading up to menopause.
🍁 Postmenopause: The remaining lifespan after menopause.
🍁 Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (also known as premature ovarian failure): Loss of ovarian hormonal function (no or abnormally low estrogen production) often causing infertility, menopausal symptoms, and often leading to early menopause.
Learn more about this important midlife experience that all women go through in The Menopause Menu book.
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Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD is an internal medicine physician who provides telemedicine medical consultation and advocacy support for patients in WA state. Find her at myMDadvocate.
Her new book, The Menopause Menu, is an all-in-one giftbook, medical guide and recipe book for navigating menopause.