Menopause
Menopause is an innate event that usually arises between 45 to 55 years old. This is the transition phase in woman's life once her ovaries impede producing eggs, then her body creates less progesterone and estrogen, and menstruation turns into less recurrent, in time stopping all in all.
Common symptoms include:
- Tachycardia
- Night sweats
- Hot flashes
- Insomnia
- Skin flushing
- Decreased sex role function and sexual stimulation response
- Absentmindedness
- Irregular periods of menstruation
- Mood swings
- Blood spots in-between periods
- Urine leakage, vaginal dryness and infections
- Painful sexual contact
Urine and blood tests could be given to assess changes in the hormonal levels that might signal once a woman is then close up to the menopause or has previously gone throughout menopause. Test examples include Estradiol, LH, and FSH.
Pelvic exam might specify changes in vaginal lining which is caused by decreasing the estrogen levels. The medical doctor might carry out bone density test to examine for decreased bone density levels which arise with osteoporosis.
THE HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY
Some major studies have inquired the risks and health benefits of the hormone replacement therapy such as the risk of acquiring breast cancer, strokes, heart attacks, and blood clots.
Present guidelines hold up the utilization of the HRT for the management of hot flashes. Particular commendations:
- HRT might begin in women who have currently in the menopausal stage.
- HRT must not be utilized in women who started menopause a lot of years ago.
- The medicine must not be utilized for more than 5-7 years.
To decrease the risks of the estrogen replacement therapy as well as then still increase the benefits of the management, your physician might commend:
- Using progesterone or estrogen regimens that don’t have the type of progesterone utilized in the study
- Using lower dosage of estrogen or diverse estrogen preparation
- Regular Pap smears and pelvic exams to distinguish problems untimely
- Regular physical exams such as mammograms and breast exams
There are a few medications accessible to aid with hot flashes, mood swings, and some other symptoms. These consist of low dosages of antidepressants like bupropion (Wellbutrin), venlafaxine (Effexor), paroxetine (Paxil), and fluoxetine (Prozac), which is usually utilized to manage hypertension. Gabapentin is as well efficient for lessening hot flashes.
However, you can manage menopause by not taking any hormonal drugs by:
- Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods
- Eat soy foods
- Dress lightly
- Exercise regularly
- Do Kegel exercises every day to reinforce the vaginal and pelvic muscles
- Practice deep breathing whenever hot flash begins
- Be sexually active
- Try relaxation methods such as tai chi, yoga, or meditation
- Utilization of water-based lubricants throughout sexual intercourse
Postmenopausal bleeding might occur. This is often not anything to be anxious about. Though, the health care provider must constantly check several postmenopausal bleeding. It might also be the early sign of the other problems such as cancer.
Low estrogen levels are as well associated by the long-term effects below:
- Bone loss and osteoporosis in a few women
- Fluctuations in the levels of cholesterol and greater risk for heart disease