Menopause is that time in a woman’s life when hormonal changes cause the menstrual cycle to stop. For most women, it happens between the ages of 45 and 55. The average age of onset in the United States is 51, according to the Mayo Clinic, which defines menopause as 12 months after your last period. At that point, you’re no longer fertile.

Menopause: Reminder of Preventing Chronic Disease

When menopause hits, this should be a time women get serious about prevention. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in American women and the risk for more chronic diseases like osteoporosis, breast and cervical cancer increases after this period in a women's life. 

When women start going through menopause, they should be made more aware of prevention including testing and screening for specific diseases. 

Here are the 6 essential health tests women should get during menopause:

1. Annual Check-Up: Your primary doctor should conduct a thorough physical on you at least once per year. As menopause hits, it's important to also get a physical to understand the state of your body and what symptoms you may experience. This annual physical includes tests that can show any risk factors you have for certain health conditions. 

2. Heart Health: As estrogen levels decrease, cholesterol levels can increase. Research has also shown there is a correlation between severe menopause symptoms and higher risk for heart disease. 

• Have your cholesterol levels checked every 5 years regardless of age
• Post-menopause: have cholesterol and blood pressure checked more frequently
• Blood tests: Evaluate blood sugar
  • C-reactive protein
  • CRP level
  • stress test
  • ultrasound of your heart to assess your heart's overall function and response to stressors like exercise.

3. Bone Health: Early onset of menopause can raise the risk of osteoporosis. Additional risk factors are a history of health conditions like anorexia, rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, or breaking a bone after age 50. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends women bone health issues have the following test:

• Bone Mineral Density Test

Women who have a possible fracture of the spine, or those who have lost more than one-half inch of height in a year, or a total of one and a half inches of height, also should have a bone density test. 

4. Cervical Cancer Screening: After menopause, women need to be aggressive about screening for cervical cancer, as the risk increases. The following tests can help in the early detection of this common cancer among women: 

• Pap Smears
• Pelvic Exams

5. Breast Exams: As menopause hits, if women haven't been getting annual mammograms, this is a great time to start. Talk to your doctor about facts like breast density, family history of breast cancer and other risk factors

• Annual mammogram

6. Colon Cancer Screening: Colon cancer is commonly thought to occur more in men but it affects women almost as frequently. Yearly colon cancer screening tests are essential as menopause begins. 

• Colonocscopy

Prevention is the best strategy for your health after menopause. Take charge of your health now using the many available screening tests. Talk to your doctor about your individual risk factors for cancer and other diseases and decide on the best prevention path from there.