Menopause - Symptoms & Treatment

Menopause is a standard from a complex syndrome of physiologic changes, called the climacteric which caused by declining ovarian function that occurs during menopause, a woman's body slowly makes less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Menopause, or the “change of life,” is different for each woman. Hormone therapy is used to reduce the signs and symptoms of menopause. But hormone therapy for long term period may develop the serious health problems such as breast cancer, heart disease and stroke. Estrogen therapy is also effective for short-term.

Menopause occurs in three forms:

• Physiologic menopause, the normal decline in ovarian function due to aging, begins in most women between ages 40 and 50 and results in infrequent ovulation, decreased menstrual function and, eventually, cessation of menstruation.
• Pathologic menopause, the gradual or abrupt cessation of menstruation before age 40, occurs idiopathically in about 5% of women in the United States.
• Artificial menopause may follow radiation therapy or surgical procedures such as oophorectomy.

Sympoms of Menopause

Menopause have irregular menstrual periods, sometimes it can be heavier or lighter than usuall Many menopausal women are asymptomatic but some have severe symptom. Artificial menopause produces symptoms within 2 to 5 years in 95% of women. Menstrual bleeding after 1 year of amenorrhea may indicate organic disease. the symptoms are include are :

• Mammary system - Breast size decreases due to decreasing size of mammary glands and ducts.
• Urinary system - Atrophic cystitis due to the effects of decreased estrogen levels on bladder mucosa and related structures may cause pyuria, dysuria , and urinary frequency, urgency, and incontinence.
• Integumentary system - The patient may experience loss of skin elastidty and turgor due to estrogen deprivation,loss of pubic and axillary hair and, occasionally, slight alopeda.
• Autonomic nervous system - The patient may experience hot flashes and night sweats (in 60% of women), vertigo, syncope, tachycardia, dyspnea, tinnitus, emotional disturbances and compulsive, manic, or schizoid behavior.
• Musculoskeletal system - Menopause may also induce atherosclerosis, and a decrease in estrogen level contributes to osteoporosis.
• Cardiovascular system - Ovarian activity in younger women is believed to provide a protective effect for the cardiovascular system, and the loss of this function at menopause may partly explain the increased death rate from myocardial infarction in older women.

Treatment of Menopause

Treatment of Menopause show below the listed are :

• Try to keep track of when hot flashes happen—a diary can help. You might be able to use this information to find out what triggers your flashes and then avoid it.
• When a hot flash starts, go somewhere cool.
• The oral route is preferred for estrogen-progestin therapy.
• If night sweats wake you, try sleeping in a cool room or with a fan on.
• Dress in layers that you can take off if you get too warm.
• Use sheets and clothing that let your skin “breathe.”
• Have a cold drink (water or juice) when a flash is starting.