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Dear Friend: Menopause is a natural part of life. It marks the end of fertility and childbearing. Thanks to medical advances, millions of women will live long after menopause. The challenge is to start as young as possible so you can be healthy, independent and vigorous far past menopause. During Menopause Awareness Month, 2003, the National Women's Health Resource Center is encouraging women to learn as much as they can about this normal life stage. Our focus is on the healthy lifestyle practices that women should try to put into place at midlife or before in preparation for healthy aging. We have assembled an online "Take Charge of Your Menopause" kit from the NWHRC's wide-range of women's health information. Included in the kit are: • Questions to Ask, is a list of questions for your health care professional. Print a copy and take it with you to prevent "Why didn't I ask about…?" • Resources: a listing of the leading nonprofit groups and federal agencies where you can learn more about menopause and related topics. For example, the Web site of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, one of the National Institutes of Health, is an excellent source for information about the Women's Health Initiative and its implications for routine use of postmenopausal hormone therapy. • Your Guide to Uterine Health. In addition to a discussion of uterine conditions such as fibroids and treatment options, the guide is an excellent source of information about uterine health during midlife. It includes information on the routine health screening procedures that can help you stay healthy. • Lifestyle Tips. Things you can do to protect your heart and your bones as well as relieving menopausal symptoms. • Information on Menopausal Hormone Therapy. These materials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration present the latest information about the risks and benefits of menopausal hormone therapy. The latest issue of the National Women's Health Report: Women & Depression, also includes valuable material for women approaching menopause. Click here to order your free copy. Sincerely,
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