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Menopause: Assess your health status and improve self-care 
Menopause is a normal, natural event and part of every woman’s reproductive life cycle. Reduced ovarian function results in lower levels of estrogen and other hormones. Some women experience a variety of changes, while others go through menopause with few symptoms. The process is as individual as each woman.There is a long list of physical changes that you may experience around menopause. The changes may be related to menopause or aging — or both — and may include:
The physical, emotional and social changes of approaching menopause give you a unique opportunity to identify your own strategies for midlife wellness. It’s important to:
How you manage this transition is really in your hands. A healthy lifestyle — eating healthy, adequate exercise, no smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, stress management, annual exams and screening tests — contribute significantly to improved well-being, not just around menopause but throughout life. Managing a healthy lifestyle can be hard work. In addition to regular visits with your primary clinician, the Women’s Wellness Journey at St. John’s Hospital is a health and wellness coaching program that can help you make the changes to live your best life. For more information call 651-326-7122 or visit the Women’s Wellness Journey web site.
Definitions: Perimenopause: A prelude to menopause that can last several years Estrogen production from the ovaries starts to decline and symptoms associated with menopause such as hot flashes and irregular menstrual cycles may start to appear. On average, perimenopause lasts four years and continues, by definition, through the year following your last period. Menopause: A point in time: the time of your last menstrual cycle. However, you cannot know for sure that it was your last period until you have been period-free for one year without being pregnant, breastfeeding or using certain medicines, all of which can also cause menstrual cycles to cease. Natural menopause: Menopause that occurs some time between the ages of 45 and 55. Early menopause: Menopause occurring between 40 and 45. Premature menopause: Menopause before the age of 40. Induced menopause: Menopause caused by a medical or surgical intervention that removes or seriously damages both ovaries. Postmenopause: The stage of life after menopause. It begins with your last period and continues for the rest of your life.
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