Menopause is a physiological period in a woman’s life marked by the cessation of menstrual cycles, as a result of stopping the hormonal secretion of the ovaries. It can rarely appear suddenly. Usually, it is a process of transformation of the body that can last from a few months to three or five years.
Menopause can occur between the ages of 45 and up to 55 years. And yet, this period that heralds the end of fertile life, as a result of stopping the hormonal secretion of the ovaries (estrogen and progesterone), is associated by many women with old age and physiological decline. To be able to relate to menopause as a natural stage of life, we need to know what we are dealing with.
What are the stages of menopause?
The stages that every woman goes through during menopause are:
Perimenopause, also called the transition to menopause. It is the period when irregular menstruation occurs and lasts a maximum of one year after the last period. Menopause is the period of one year after the last menstruation. Postmenopause is considered to be the period that begins two years after the last menstruation.
Menopause symptoms
Confirmed menopause – when a year has already passed since the last period – is preceded by premenopause. Hormonal changes are “to blame” for the discomforts that can occur during this period:
irregular cycles; menstruation more or less abundant than usual; hot flashes; night sweats; migraines; insomnia; sore breasts; bloating; anxiety; mood swings; the accumulation of extra pounds.
All these symptoms can worry us and have the potential to degrade the quality of life. However, it is not mandatory to experience the entire list of pre-menopause symptoms. And up to 20% of women do not experience any of these discomforts.
It is important to know what are the pathologies associated with menopause and what we must do to avoid them. When the woman’s body is no longer protected by the production of estrogen and progesterone, many unwanted conditions can appear.
Cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, vaginal dryness, increased rheumatic pain, high blood pressure, genital and urinary pathologies, increased risk of diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer, in addition to depression, decreased ability to concentrate and memory loss are just some of the conditions associated with menopause.
How can menopause counseling help?
Menopause is a major change in a woman’s life, with an important psychological impact. If it is also accompanied by physical symptoms that affect the quality of life (insomnia, hot flashes, urinary incontinence, vaginal dryness, obesity, decreased sexual desire, anxiety or depression) it is recommended to seek medical advice.
After evaluating the patient and depending on her needs, the doctor can recommend hormone replacement therapy (effective in the short term, especially in premenopause), non-hormonal therapy, treatments for pathologies associated with menopause, even just a healthy lifestyle.
Together with the doctor, the most effective methods of preventing these conditions will be established, whether it is drugs, nutritional supplements, alternative therapies and a healthy lifestyle. The latter is indicated to focus on a healthy, low-calorie diet, exercise, quitting smoking, moderation in alcohol consumption, sufficient sleep.
If you want to know the period when menopause will set in, you can ask your gynecologist to estimate it by recommending a set of tests.
The anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) test is a marker of ovarian function, with which the remaining ovarian reserve is determined. A series of hormonal tests can also be done, which can assess the onset of the transition to menopause.
Menopause management
It is necessary for the menopausal woman to be evaluated and supported by a team of doctors from different specialties, such as: cardiology, endocrinology, gynecology, dermatology, rheumatology, diabetes and nutritional diseases, but also psychiatry.
In the Menopause Management Centers, each woman receives a comprehensive assessment by an entire team. Depending on the predominant pathology, the patient does blood tests, investigations specific to each specialty, breast ultrasound and mammography, transvaginal ultrasound and Babeș-Papanicola cytovaginal examination, and the recommended therapeutic methods are customized according to the pathology of each person. There is also the very important part of counseling on lifestyle changes, encouraging a balanced diet, the importance of regular exercise, restful sleep and relaxation techniques.
Between January and September 2023, 1,653 consultations were registered at the Family Planning Office, with 168 couples requesting prenuptial medical certificates.
Informative material created by Dr. Cornoiu Cristina, family medicine specialist, at the Family Planning Office of the Târgu-Jiu County Emergency Hospital
2023-10-11 10:50:47
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