Menopause : Symptoms and Treatment
At Greenview medical center we have the Menopausal and Geriatric Gynecology department with team of specialists to address all the issues related to menopause period.
Menopause, also known as the climacteric, when menstrual periods stop permanently that is amenorrhea of 12 months, and they are no longer able to bear children. Menopause typically occurs between 49 and 52 years of age. It may also be defined by a decrease in estrogen hormones and increase FSH level in blood, In those who have had surgery to remove their uterus but still have ovaries, menopause may be viewed to have occurred at the time of the surgery or when their hormone levels fell, Following the removal of the uterus, symptoms typically occur earlier, at an average of 45 years of age.
Menopause – Signs and Symptoms
During early menopause transition, the menstrual cycles remain regular but the interval between cycles begins to lengthen. Hormone levels begin to fluctuate. Ovulation may not occur with each cycle.
The date of the final menstrual period is usually taken as the point when menopause has occurred. During the menopausal transition and after menopause, women can experience a wide range of symptoms.
Normal vs. Menopause
Uterus – Vaginal canal
During the transition to menopause, menstrual patterns can show shorter cycling (by 2–7 days) longer cycles remain possible There may be irregular bleeding (lighter, heavier, and spotting).Dysfunctional uterine bleeding is often experienced by women approaching menopause due to the hormonal changes that accompany the menopause transition. In post-menopausal women, however, any genital bleeding is an alarming symptom that requires an appropriate study to rule out the possibility of malignant diseases.
Menopause Symptoms
Symptoms that may appear during menopause and continue through postmenopausal include:
–Painful intercourse
–Vaginal dryness
–Atrophic vaginitis – thinning of the membranes of the vulva, the vagina, the cervix, and the outer urinary tract, along with considerable shrinking and loss in elasticity of all of the outer and inner genital areas.
Physical Symptoms
Other physical symptoms of menopause include lack of energy, joint soreness, stiffness back pain, breast enlargement, breast pain, heart palpitations, headache, dizziness, dry, itchy skin, thinning, tingling skin, weight gain, urinary incontinence, urgency, interrupted sleeping patterns, heavy night sweats, hot flush.
Psychological symptoms
Psychological symptoms include anxiety, poor memory, inability to concentrate, depressive mood, irritability, mood swings, less interest in sexual activity.
Long Term Effects
Menopause confers:
A possible but contentious increased risk of atherosclerosis. The risk of acute myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular diseases rises sharply after menopause, but the risk can be reduced by managing risk factors, such as tobacco smoking, hypertension, increased blood lipids and body weight. Increased risk of osteopenia, osteoporosis,and accelerated lung function decline.
Women who experience menopause before 45 years of age have an increased risk of heart disease, death, and impaired lung function.
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