Menopause is a normal part of a woman’s life. Often called “the change of life,” it is a series of bodily changes that can last from one to 10 years. Once your body has completed these changes, and you have not had your period for 12 months in a row, you have passed through menopause.

Women usually experience menopause between the ages of 38 and 58; the average age is 51. There is some evidence that women living with HIV may experience menopause earlier. However, the symptoms of menopause appear to be the same for both HIV+ and HIV negative women.

The changes of menopause begin when your ovaries naturally begin decreasing production of the female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone. When you near menopause, estrogen levels drop. You stop having regular cycles and eventually you can no longer get pregnant.

A woman can usually tell she is approaching menopause because her periods start changing. This time is called "perimenopause” and may last several years. During perimenopause hormone levels rise and fall unevenly, and you may experience symptoms such as:

• Increasingly irregular periods:
  • Different in frequency (how often)
  • Different in duration (how long)
  • Different in amount (lighter or heavier)
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Irritability
• Vaginal dryness
• Forgetfulness
• Trouble sleeping
• Fatigue
• Lack of sexual desire
• Skin changes including: thinner skin, wrinkling, and acne
  
  

HIV+ women who experience hot flashes at night may be misdiagnosed as having night sweats that are common with HIV. Vaginal dryness can be mistaken for a yeast infection. It's important to keep track of your cycles and report any changes to your health care provider to avoid a wrong diagnosis or hormonal treatments that may not be necessary.

HIV+ women may experience irregularities in their menstrual cycles even if they're not going through menopause. Speak to your health care provider if you are having any of the symptoms described above to find out if they are related to HIV, menopause, or some combination. It may be helpful to have your hormone levels checked as well.

There are also some serious medical concerns that can develop after menopause, including:

• Osteoporosis (bone loss)
• Cardiovascular (heart) disease
• Urinary incontinence, including more frequent urination or involuntary loss of urine (leaking)

Many women want to replace the estrogen their body is losing because it relieves the symptoms of menopause. However, care must be taken in replacing estrogen. Taking estrogen alone increases the risk of uterine cancer. If a woman has had her uterus (womb) removed, she can take estrogen by itself. This is called estrogen replacement therapy or ERT.

Women who still have a uterus usually take a combination of estrogen and progesterone. This is called hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Although HRT used to be regularly recommended to relieve menopausal symptoms and reduce bone loss, long-term use of HRT is now highly controversial. Research has shown that HRT increases women’s risk for breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke. HRT may be appropriate for a short time to relieve menopausal symptoms that do not respond to other therapies. Estrogen and progesterone are available in patches, creams, and vaginal rings; these may be an alternative to the pill form of HRT and may not carry the same risks.

To figure out if HRT is right for you, speak with your health care provider about all the risks and benefits. When deciding about HRT, it is important to tell your provider about any drugs or other treatments you are taking. HIV drugs can sometimes reduce the effectiveness of hormones, including birth control pills containing estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen can also cause decreased levels of HIV drugs and put you at risk for a rising viral load and HIV drug resistance. (See TWP's info sheet on Hormones and HIV for more info).

There are other therapies available to treat menopausal symptoms. However, these may also have undesirable side effects or interact with HIV drugs. If you choose alternative therapies it is best to consult a skilled practitioner and let your regular health care provider know exactly what you are doing.

Other treatments include:

• Traditional Chinese Medicine (e.g., acupuncture, Chinese herbs)
• Herbal or botanical supplements (e.g., black cohosh, soy, red clover, dong quai, kava, ginseng)
• Antidepressant drugs and/or counseling
• Mindfulness training

Your risk of bone loss, bone fractures, heart disease, and other conditions goes up as you age. HIV+ women may face a higher risk of these diseases if they are experiencing metabolic changes, such as high cholesterol and triglycerides, and glucose (sugar) related problems.

Things you can do to stay healthy after menopause:

• Eat a healthy diet (See TWP info sheet on nutrition)
• Undergo evaluation for bone loss and ask your regular health care provider if you need specific therapy to prevent bone loss:
  • Calcium supplementation (the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that women under 50 take at least 1000 mg of calcium daily and that women over 50 take at least 1200 mg of calcium daily). Calcium supplements may interfere with certain HIV drugs, so be sure to speak to your health care provider before taking.
  • Prescription drugs to prevent bone loss (e.g., Fosamax, Actonel, or Boniva)
• Vitamin D
• Quit or try to cut down on smoking
• Use alcohol moderately (no more than one drink per day)
• Exercise for 30 minutes three times a week (e.g., brisk walking) and muscle-strengthening activities two times a week for prevention of bone loss and cardiovascular disease (See TWP info sheet on Exercise)
• Have a mammogram every one to two years (experts differ on how often women should get a screening mammogram; talk with your health care provider to make the right choice for you)
• Continue to have a GYN exam at least once a year with a Pap smear
• Remind your regular health care provider to check your cholesterol and triglycerides regularly

Each woman experiences the transition or “change” of menopause differently. It is important to remember that menopause is a normal, natural process. Menopause may signal the end of your fertility, but it is not the end of your femininity or sexuality. Some women experience symptoms that are mild and tolerable. For others, the symptoms are so severe that they impact quality of life. Decisions about treatment options are yours to make. Discuss your concerns and questions with your health care provider. He or she can help you weigh the risks and benefits.