What is Menopause and Treatments?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
What is the meaning of Menopause and treatments?
Menopause is a condition that marks the end of the menstrual periods in women. Menopause usually occurs due to the lack of hormones in women due to aging. The woman’s ovaries, therefore, do not release eggs, and the woman cannot become pregnant. Menopause usually occurs between the age of 45 and 50 years and is a natural biological process. If a woman has missed her periods for 12 months consecutively, then she is said to have reached menopause. Some of the symptoms associated with menopause include vaginal dryness, loss of libido, hot flashes, loss of sleep, headache, etc. Some women may suffer from serious bone problems due to menopause. Women need to take special care of themselves during menopause and may consult their doctor in case of severe symptoms. The doctor may suggest treatment of menopausal symptoms by hormone replacement therapy. But in some cases, it may have negative effects such as the risk of cancer. We will be explaining in detail menopause and treatments through this article.
- What are the different stages of Menopause?
- What are the causes of Menopause?
- What are the symptoms of Menopause?
- What are the complications of Menopause?
- How to diagnose Menopause?
- What is the treatment for Menopause?
- What are the home remedies for Menopause?
What are the different stages of Menopause?
The three different stages of menopause are:
Perimenopause:
- This phase normally begins many years before menopause, when the ovaries slowly start making less estrogen (female sex hormone).
- This stage lasts till menopause when the ovaries stop releasing the female eggs.
- The estrogen levels fall sharply in the last 1 or 2 years of this stage and many women start developing menopausal symptoms.
Menopause:
- When a woman has not had her menstrual period for at least one year, the condition is known as menopause.
- The woman’s ovaries have stopped releasing eggs and producing most of the estrogen.
Postmenopause:
- This stage occurs years after menopause.
- The symptoms of menopause like hot flashes (a sudden feeling of heat with a red, flushed face, and sweating) usually ease.
- The health risks associated with the loss of estrogen increase as your age increases.
(Know more about- What is Hormonal Imbalance in Females? )
What are the causes of Menopause?
The causes of menopause include:
- Reduced production of estrogen and progesterone (female sex hormones) by the ovaries
- Bilateral oophorectomy (surgery for the removal of the ovaries)
- Chemotherapy and radiation therapy (treatments for cancer)
- Primary ovarian insufficiency (premature menopause due to the failure of the ovaries in producing normal levels of the female reproductive hormones)
- Ovarian ablation (the ovary function shuts down) due to surgery, radiotherapy, or hormone therapy, in case of women having estrogen receptor-positive tumors (estrogen receptors are present on the surface of the cell binding to the estrogen)
- Pelvic (area below the stomach) injuries that destroy or damage the ovaries
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What are the symptoms of Menopause?
The early symptoms of menopause include:
- Lighter or heavier menstrual periods
- Reduced frequency of menstruation
- Night sweats (heavy sweating during the night)
- Hot flashes (a sudden feeling of heat with a red, flushed face, and sweating)
- Flushing (rapid reddening of the face, neck, or upper chest)
Other symptoms of menopause include:
- Vaginal dryness
( Know more about- What are the causes of Vaginal Dryness? )
- Loss of libido or sex drive
( Know more about- Home Remedies to increase Sexual Stamina )
- Frequent urination
- Decreased sleep (insomnia)
- Weight gain
- Difficulty in concentrating
- Memory problems
( Know more about- What is Dementia? )
- Dry mouth, skin, and eyes
- Headache
- Pain or stiffness in joints
- Urinary tract infections
- Increased stress or irritability
- Hair loss
( Know more about- What is Hair Transplant? )
- Increased hair growth in areas like the face, neck, upper back, and chest
- Skin changes
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Loss of fullness of breasts
( Know more about- What is Breast Reduction Surgery? )
What are the complications of Menopause?
The complications associated with menopause are:
- Diseases related to the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular diseases)
- Osteoporosis (a condition in which the bones become weak and brittle leading to an increased risk of bone fracture)
- Urinary incontinence (involuntary urine leakage)
- Reduced libido (desire for sexual activity)
- Discomfort during sexual intercourse
- Weight gain
- Increased risk of breast cancer
( Know more about- What is Breast Cancer Treatment? )
How to diagnose Menopause?
- Physical examination: The doctor will examine you physically. Generally, the signs and symptoms of menopause are enough to diagnose female menopause.
- Blood tests: The doctor may recommend blood tests in certain conditions to check the levels of:
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estrogen (estradiol): The FSH levels increase and the estrogen levels decrease during menopause.
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) can lead to symptoms similar to those seen with menopause.
- Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH): This hormone is formed in the reproductive tissues. Its levels help the doctor in knowing about the reserve of eggs in the ovaries.
(Know more about- What is Hysteroscopy? )
What is the treatment for Menopause?
Menopause is a natural process and if it occurs at the right age, then no treatment is required. However, some women may require treatment to reduce the severe symptoms associated with menopause, which may include:
Hormone replacement therapy or menopausal hormone therapy:
- Medications are prescribed by the doctor to replace the hormones that your body may not be making anymore due to menopause.
- Certain medications may help in relieving hot flashes and vaginal symptoms.
- Some medications may also help in making the bones stronger.
- The drugs may have side effects like increased risk of breast cancer or heart disease. Therefore, the medications are prescribed at the lowest dose possible for a short period of time.
Topical hormone therapy:
- An estrogen cream, gel, or insert may be prescribed to put in the vagina.
- This helps in relieving vaginal dryness.
Non-hormonal medications:
- Antidepressant drug paroxetine can help in the treatment of hot flashes.
- A nerve drug called gabapentin and a drug used for the treatment of high blood pressure, known as clonidine also helps in relieving hot flashes.
- Some medications are known as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) that help the body in using its estrogen for the treatment of hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
Medicines for osteoporosis:
- Certain medications or vitamin D supplements may be prescribed to keep the bones strong.
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What are the home remedies for Menopause?
Certain lifestyle changes can help a woman in dealing with the symptoms of menopause. These changes include:
- Drink cold water, dress in layers, and sit or sleep near a fan if you are having hot flashes.
- Exercise regularly to help in getting better sleep and prevent conditions like diabetes, osteoporosis, and heart diseases.
- Use a vaginal lubricant or moisturizer to relieve vaginal dryness.
- Do Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and prevent leakage of urine.
( Know more about- What is Kegel Exercise? )
- Quit smoking to prevent early menopause and hot flashes.
- Limit alcohol consumption to lower the risk of developing breast cancer and help in getting better sleep.
- Stay mentally active to prevent problems with the memory.
- Eat a well-balanced diet to relieve hot flashes.
- Practice yoga, meditation, deep breathing, etc. to help you in relaxing.
We hope we could answer all your questions about menopause and its treatments through this article.
If you want to get more information about menopause and treatments, you can contact Gynecologist.
We only aim to give you information through the article. We do not recommend medication or treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.
