Menopause: Symptoms, Causes And Treatments

What is menopause?

Menopause is the transition period in which the woman passes from the reproductive phase to the post-menopausal phase, therefore, menopause (last menstruation) is a fact that occurs during perimenopause.

In the climacteric there is a decrease in ovarian function, causing the menstrual cycle to become irregular and finally to cease completely . Statistically, menopause occurs on average at age 50. Menopause begins around age 40 and lasts until age 65.

Symptoms of menopause

During menopause there is a climacteric stage , with a series of common symptoms that affect women. This period owes its name to the fact that one of the most common symptoms is the sensation of heat waves , a blush popularly known as hot flashes. It affects 60-80% of women.

Hot flashes can occur at any stage of menopause and are characterized as a sudden, intense sensation of heat on the skin, appearing mainly on the upper torso, neck, and face. There is an increase in blood circulating in these regions , causing redness of the skin, and increased sweating can often occur.

Some women may also experience palpitations and a feeling of faintness . However, the intensity of symptoms varies from woman to woman.

Other common symptoms of this period are:

• Changes in menstruation (before complete termination)
• Vaginal dryness and itching, which can lead to pain during intercourse
• Decreased libido
• Decreased breast size and loss of firmness
• Night sweats
• Difficulty to sleep
• Mood swings, with periods of anxiety , irritability, and depression, as well as decreased self-esteem
• Weight gain and slowing of metabolism
• Dry skin and thinner hair
• Decreased elasticity of the skin
• Headaches
• Increase in bone porosity.

Not all women have all of these symptoms. They vary on a case-by-case basis and according to the stage of menopause.

In addition, among the less common symptoms found are: chills, decreased memory, fatigue, urinary incontinence and the appearance of pimples .

Menopause Treatments

Synonym : climacteric.

Menopause is a natural process in the female body and may not need treatment. However, if the symptoms are very uncomfortable, there is treatment to improve the quality of life for women.

Options include:

Hormone replacement treatment

Hormone therapy (popularly known as hormone replacement therapy ) is the most effective treatment for hot flashes , leading to a reduction of up to 75% in frequency and 87% in severity. The replacement can be done with estrogen or a combination of estrogen and progesterone.

However, some types of hormone therapy are linked to various complications, such as an increased risk of breast cancer , colon cancer, cardiovascular disease, and fractures . Therefore, all these factors must be evaluated before deciding on this treatment.

Of every thousand women who take hormone replacement, 17 have breast cancer, as for the other 983 remaining, they have the same risks that they had previously had for the disease.

Ideally, the restart of treatment is done in the so-called “window of opportunity”, which is after the onset of menopausal symptoms that is usually between the ages of 50 and 59 years and lasts for about 7 years. These conditions make it a safer treatment.

Also, replacement should be done only after the patient has had all routine tests and the doctor reviews her medical history . This will help you see if there are any contraindications and what is the best dose of hormones to apply to you.

Ideally, women should continue to monitor their hormone replacement to better monitor their health. If it is no longer needed, treatment should be stopped.

The HRT is contraindicated in women who:

• Have had a heart attack
• Have severe coronary artery impairment
• You have liver disease , because you avoid your operation
• Have had or have breast or endometrial cancer
• Have a history of cerebrovascular disease
• They have a picture of uncontrolled hypertension .

Estrogen application

To alleviate the symptoms of vaginal dryness , many specialists may recommend the topical use of estrogen in the vaginal area. This method is especially useful in women with vaginal atrophy, pain during intercourse, and urogynecological problems.

Non-steroidal drugs

For women who cannot use hormone therapy, there are other medication options. For symptoms such as hot flashes, there are antidepressant, sedative or vasoactive drugs that act on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

They are indicated mainly in cases:

• In which the patient does not want hormone therapy
• In women who experience side effects or have a poor response to hormone therapy
• In women contraindicated for hormone replacement.

Alternative therapies

In addition to the above options, alternative therapies can help a woman at this stage. Here are some:

Phytotherapy: The use of medicinal plants and their extracts can be useful at this stage, during perimenopause, phytoestrogens are the most suitable – natural substances that act as female hormones. The most widely used today are soybeans, red clover and black cohosh. Also, valerian and lemon balm can be used for sleep and anxiety symptoms. But the ideal is to use them with the guidance of an expert. It is also important not to consume them near meals, so that they are properly absorbed.

Homeopathy: Treatment is individualized for each woman. Experts review the main symptoms that bother women at this stage and combine homeopathic remedies that can help. There is an important action of drugs in this period, such as sepia succus, muriaticum lachesis and natrum, in addition to extracts from organs such as Ophorinum and Folliculinum, which are the partial replacement of the extracts of hormones no longer produced by the body. of the woman.

Acupuncture: This ancient Chinese technique can help stimulate different parts of the body. It comprises a set of procedures that allow the precise stimulation of defined anatomical locations through the insertion of metallic filiform needles for the promotion, maintenance and recovery of health , and to avoid injuries and illnesses. The points that are stimulated also vary according to the symptoms that each woman has.

Medications for menopause

Only a doctor can tell you which is the most appropriate medicine for your case, as well as the correct dosage and duration of treatment. Always strictly follow your doctor’s instructions and never self-medicate. Do not stop the medication without consulting your doctor first and do not take it more than once or in quantities much greater than prescribed. Follow the directions on the label.

Living With Menopause

Seek guidance in the health service closest to your home, talk to your doctor. What’s more:

• Drink lots of water , especially after exercise
• Wear light clothing and preferably cool and ventilated environments
• Practice light exercises regularly. Walking, swimming, and dancing help strengthen muscles
• Avoid tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs
• Eat lighter meals more often
• Sunbathe if you don’t want this type of vitamin D deficiency problem .

These measures contribute to improving the quality of life and the prevention of diseases such as breast cancer, osteoporosis, among others. Perimenopause and menopause are not diseases! They are natural events in the life cycle of women and not all have symptoms during this period.

Tips to Relieve Menopause Symptoms

Ending the discomfort that comes at the end of the female fertile period is no longer synonymous with health risks. Here are some ways to ease the symptoms of menopause.

Hormone replacement

HORMONE REPLACEMENT BENEFITS

Good hormonal therapy compensates for the drop in hormones, preventing physical and psychological disorders. Hormone replacement is essential for reducing the symptoms of menopause. The basis of treatment is estrogen replacement , which has the following advantages:

• Helps balance the production and absorption of bone tissue.
• Strengthens the vaginal wall tissue and improves lubrication.
• Increases the elasticity of the walls of the urethra and the efficiency of the excretory system.
• The production of collagen , the substance that gives elasticity and vigor, is stimulated .
• Helps maintain a stable body temperature.
• Improves the cardiovascular system .

DISADVANTAGES OF HORMONE REPLACEMENT

• High price of treatment .
• The treatment is prolonged .
• PMS (Pre-Menstrual Syndrome) in some women.
• The worsening of the possibility of breast cancer in susceptible women.

Hormone replacement therapy should not be started or stopped without medical supervision . The benefits of hormone replacement therapy are obtained only if its use is supervised and continuous.

Diet

There are some foods that can significantly improve menopausal symptoms:

Vitamin E: The effect of vitamin E in reducing the symptoms of menopause has been demonstrated. Many doctors suggest that women going through menopause consume 800 IU of vitamin E per day for a period of three months – a trial period to see if symptoms are reduced. If so, dosing is continued.

Calcium: Daily calcium supplementation helps reduce menopause-related headaches, irritability, insomnia, and depression. Also, calcium deficiencies, which lead to osteoporosis, are more common in postmenopausal women. Osteoporosis is a serious disease characterized by weak bones. Several studies have published that calcium supplementation can delay or even prevent the development of osteoporosis, therefore, calcium is one of the most consumed supplements by women. Consumption of the supplement is typically 500 to 1500 mg per day.

Flaxseed: Helps relieve symptoms of menopause. It is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids , minerals and vitamins. The linseed assists in regulating the intestine, have anti – inflammatory action, increases the activity of the immune system and is a substance that protects against breast tumors, ovarian and prostate.

Changes in lifestyle

Exercise: Sedentary women are more likely to have hot flashes than those who exercise. In one experiment, menopausal symptoms were reduced immediately after the start of aerobic exercise.

Quitting smoking: Smoking can be closely related to hot flashes in women who are going through menopause. Preliminary studies show that many women with hot flashes are smokers. Another study shows that the majority of women seeking hormone replacement are smokers.