Physical Development in Middle Adulthood

Question 1

The Climacteric

Answer 1

• Midlife transition in which fertility declines
• Female bodies: reproductive capacity comes to an end (won’t be fertile) which occur in the early and late 50s
• Men bodies: reproductive capacity diminishes, not end

Question 2

Menopause

Answer 2

• When your period stops
• Our culture has traditionally viewed menopause as a disease rather than a natural process
• Menopause is viewed as negative for women due to gender roles such as not viewed attractive
• Controversies on how menopause should be managed

Question 3

Signs of menopause

Answer 3

1. Cessation of periods
   - So your periods will be erratic and irregular
2. Hot Flashes (experienced by 47-95% of Western Women)
   - Get super hot, skin itchy, dry skin
   - It a need to cool down
   - Heavier the women is the better the hot flashes is (better reaction to heavier women)
3. Vaginal Changes
   - Becomes thinner
   - Painful and uncomfortable
   - Women tend to not have sex anymore
4. Drop of Hormone Levels
   - Women’s won’t have enough estrogen

Question 4

Post Menopause

Answer 4

A year after your period

Question 5

Perimenopause

Answer 5

Time period when your period stops

Question 6

Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Answer 6

• Extract hormones from their urine, Premarin: an early drug, like horse pee
• Not prescribe for breast cancer, not recommended over 60

Question 7

HRT Advantages

Answer 7

• Short term management of severe discomfort such as severe hot flashes, vaginal pain during intercourse
• Reduce the risk of osteoporosis, results brutal bones (common bones to break is wrist). Which is more dramatic for women than men
• Reduce the risk of colon cancer. It is the leading cancer for older individuals and it is a slow growing

Question 8

HRT Disadvantages

Answer 8

May increase the risk of: Endometrial cancer, Breast cancer, Heart disease (2003), Stroke (2003), Dementia (2003)

Question 9

Other Health Concerns for Women in Middle Adulthood

Answer 9

1. Breast cancer
   - Detected by a monograph
2. Cervical Cancer
   - Huge percentages of cervical cancer
   - Detecting by a PAP smear
   - Around age 50 for diagnosis
   - 20% of women will occur over age 65

Question 10

The Climacteric and Men

Answer 10

• Decrease in the quantity of semen and sperm after age 40
• More common to find problems with erectile dysfunction
• 20% of men experience some degree of erectile dysfunction by age 60

Question 11

Viagra/Cialis

Answer 11

• Increase blood flow to not have the erectile dysfunction
• Symptoms: Headache, prolong erection, etc.

Question 12

Preventions for Erectile Dysfunction (Mayo Clinic)

Answer 12

1. Walk with your doctor to underlying health conditions
2. See your doctor for regularly
3. Stop smoking, limit or avoid alcohol and don’t use illegal drugs
4. Exercise regularly
5. Take steps to reduce stress
6. Get help for depression, anxiety, Etc.,

Question 13

Some Contributing Factor to Erectile Dysfunction

Answer 13

1. Vascular disease
2. Diabetes
3. High blood pressure
4. Smokin
5. Surgery
6. Nerve damage: stroke
7. Endocrine imbalance
8. Emotional/Psychological issues
   9, Drugs

Question 14

Levinson’s Seasons of Life

Answer 14

• Seasons coincide with Erikson’s stages

1. Construction of a dream
2. Importance of mentorship

Question 15

Construction of a dream

Answer 15

• Establishing a career
• Focus on career but around 30s, start to focus on relationships

Question 16

Importance of mentorship

Answer 16

• Help others with same career
• Give back to the community
• Giving off what you learn as a individual to others
• Looked at it as a transition
• Implied the transition of midlife crisis

Question 17

Vaillant’s Adaptation to Life

Answer 17

• Also built on erikson
• Focus on things in terms of age groups
  — People in 20s
  — People in 30s
  — People in the 40s
  — People in 50 and 60s
  — People in the 70s

Question 18

People in 20s

Answer 18

Will focus on intimate relationships

Question 19

People in 30s

Answer 19

• Will focus on career consolidation
• Establishing a career

Question 20

People in the 40s

Answer 20

Became generative
- Develop the need to give back to the community, people, etc.
- Imply to being a parents and help an guide their children

Question 21

People in 50s and 60s

Answer 21

• Became the keepers of meaning
• Share stories
• Explore ancestry

Question 22

People in the 70s

Answer 22

• Found that they will be spiritual and reflective as a whole
• Which helped them approach death as a positive note

Question 23

Is there a midlife crisis? Levinson vs Vaillant

Answer 23

• Levisons suggest yes due to the age progression
• Lavint suggest no because over the occurs of age there was a slow transition
• There do seem to be gender difference in timing

If there is an transitional crisis going on (that’s a big if)
- Men: more likely to experience transition in the early 40s
- Women more likely to experience the transition in the late 40s or early 50s