Menopause in women: age, causes, symptoms, treatment

Published: 09.29.2021 13:50:00 Updated: 09.29.2021

Menopause in women is the age-related decline in ovarian function and the gradual decline of childbearing function. The average age of onset of this condition is considered to be the period from 45 to 55 years, and menopause lasts 15-18 months. Changes in the body affect not only the reproductive organs, but can also lead to the development of many serious diseases. Therefore, women of the appropriate age at the first symptoms of hormonal changes are recommended to be observed by a gynecologist-endocrinologist and undergo regular diagnostic procedures.

Causes of menopause

This condition is considered physiological and occurs due to natural age-related changes.
The fact is that, unlike male sperm, the number of eggs that mature in a woman’s ovaries is limited and is determined at birth. With each menstrual cycle there are fewer and fewer of them. When there are no eggs left, pregnancy becomes impossible, and the body “turns off” the functions responsible for conceiving and carrying a child. In addition, the ovaries stop producing estrogen, which is responsible for egg implantation and prepares the uterine vessels for feeding the fetus. Due to hormonal changes that occur during menopause, the thickness of the endometrium (the inner mucous layer of the uterus) becomes smaller, as a result of which a woman loses the ability to bear a pregnancy.

This physiological process may speed up. Risk factors for early menopause include an unhealthy lifestyle, intense physical activity, chronic stress, chronic endocrine diseases (diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism), unfavorable environment, hereditary predisposition, rare sex life, excess weight, poor nutrition and diets.

Menopause in men (andropause) is characterized by a decrease in the production of the male sex hormone - testosterone. The age of its onset also occurs at 45-50 years, and the duration ranges from 2 to 5 years. Childbearing function, like that of women, fades away.

Medicines

Several drugs are used to treat major bleeding. They differ in their effects and effects on the body, so they must be prescribed by a doctor.

1. Oral contraceptives. Some women doubt whether these drugs can stop bleeding. After all, they do not belong to the group of hemostatic tablets. But since almost all oral contraceptives are hormonal, in some situations they are quite capable of coping with the task.
2. Duphaston. Hormonal pills that help stop bleeding. The advantages include the fact that Duphaston does not affect blood clotting in any way.
3. Dicynone. A homeostatic drug that increases blood clotting and thereby reduces blood loss.
4. Vikasol. It is an artificially created vitamin K, it affects blood clotting, due to which it stops blood loss.
5. Transekam. It comes in the form of tablets or injections. Belongs to the group of hemostatics, it helps stop bleeding well.
6. Aminocaproic acid. Increases blood clotting by dissolving blood clots and clots.

The attending physician will select a drug for the treatment of heavy menstruation

Most of the prescribed drugs affect blood clotting, so you should not start using them without a doctor’s prescription. After all, if you have any diseases associated with the circulatory system, then you can worsen your condition. And most women over the age of 50 have venous dilation.

Types of menopause

According to the age of onset, menopause can be premature (up to 40 years), early (40-45 years) and late (55-60 years).
Any such deviation from the average age of 45-55 years is considered a pathology and indicates the presence of serious diseases in the body. Pathological menopause is a condition when hormonal changes are accompanied by severe disturbances in the endocrine, cardiovascular, nervous systems and psychological state of a woman.

Artificial menopause occurs after removal of both ovaries (oophorectomy) during radical treatment of severe gynecological diseases, after chemotherapy or radiation therapy and as a result of primary ovarian failure (inability to produce estrogen).=

Stages of menopause

You can talk about the onset of menopause as soon as its first symptoms appear. However, the decline of reproductive function occurs slowly and is divided into three stages:

• premenopause, when periods are still present, but the cycle becomes longer or less regular, and ovarian function decreases. These processes last about 2 years;
• menopause, when 12 months have passed since the date of the last menstruation;
• postmenopause, which is characterized by increasingly serious changes in the body and complete cessation of ovarian function.

The duration of these stages, as well as the clinical manifestations of menopause, depends on the individual characteristics of the woman, her lifestyle, general health, and heredity.

Early, artificial cessation of menstrual flow

If a woman is experiencing menopause, then menstruation should not resume. Restoration of ovarian function is possible only with therapeutic menopause.

As mentioned above, periods during menopause stop at the age of 49-52 years. But there may be cases when cyclic bleeding stops much earlier. In medical practice, there are patients 38-42 years old who experience early manifestations of menopausal syndrome. There may be several reasons for this:

• Genetic predisposition. It is worth clarifying when menopause began in the mother or grandmother (more often it is the female line that is taken). In most cases, the trend continues for several generations.
• Wrong lifestyle. If a woman smokes, drinks alcohol, or leads a promiscuous sex life, this accelerates the aging processes occurring in her body. This can also include numerous abortions or miscarriages.
• An artificial disorder caused by poor health.

Research has proven that the risk of early menopause increases in twins.

Artificial menopause

Stopping the production of estrogen, which is responsible for the maturation of eggs, is possible as a result of dysfunction of the ovaries. Its reasons are:

• surgical operations involving the removal of the uterus or ovaries (subsequent hormone replacement therapy is required; the functions of the missing organs are not restored);
• taking medications that stop the normal functioning of the female reproductive system (after their withdrawal, after some time the body recovers on its own);
• carrying out radiation and chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer (the damage done is assessed, recovery is possible).

In most cases, normal ovarian function (with minor damage caused) is resumed 6-12 months after the cessation of medical manipulation. The woman returns to normal life. But regular inspections by specialists are necessary to monitor the progress of processes.

Remember, you can start taking any medications only as prescribed by your attending physician who has conducted a comprehensive examination. Otherwise, the harm from uncontrolled self-medication can be colossal.

Symptoms of menopause

A decrease in the functioning of the ovaries, which are responsible for a number of functions in the female body, and, in particular, for a decrease in the level of estrogen in the blood, causes various pathologies in the body.
As a result, a woman’s quality of life after menopause, her performance and daily activity decrease. The main signs of the onset of menopause are changes in the menstrual cycle and the so-called “hot flashes”.

Hot flashes during menopause are caused by changes in the level of sex hormones due to decreased ovarian function. Hot flashes appear as a sudden feeling of increased temperature, which is replaced by a feeling of cold. This is accompanied by increased sweating and goosebumps.

It is the restructuring of hormonal levels that determines other disorders that develop during this period of a woman’s life. In terms of intensity and frequency, hot flashes can be mild (up to 10 times a day without other pronounced menopausal symptoms), moderate severity (other symptoms are added to the hot flashes) and severe (more than 20 times a day with a significant deterioration in health and a sharp decrease in ability to work).

Menstruation during menopause becomes less abundant, and the cycle lengthens. After about 2 years, menstruation stops completely.

A woman can guess about the onset of hormonal changes by other early signs of menopause:

• physiological: increased heart rate, headaches, surges in blood pressure, disruption of the genitourinary system and gastrointestinal tract, dry vagina and skin, brittle nails and hair;
• endocrine: decreased libido, weight gain;
• neurological: sudden mood swings, depression, aggression, anxiety, fatigue, muscle weakness, sleep problems, memory problems, speech confusion.

Men's menopause usually proceeds more calmly than women's. Its manifestations, in addition to the symptoms observed in women, include erectile dysfunction, loss of body hair, breast growth, and decreased muscle mass.

How to stop bleeding

The beginning of any treatment should occur under the supervision of a physician. Even if you subsequently reduce the amount of menstruation using folk remedies, you need to start with a normal examination and diagnosis. It is more important for you to determine the real cause of the bleeding and begin to treat it, rather than try to cope with heavy menstruation without understanding why it started.

Some of the diseases that cause heavy periods are treated with pills or injections. Others may require surgery to treat.

Cold compresses will help reduce bleeding

If you suddenly experience heavy bleeding from the vagina or uterus, you should call an ambulance as soon as possible, and while it is on the way, do the following:

• lie on your back and place your legs above your head to reduce blood flow to the abdominal area;
• apply cool compresses to the skin in the abdomen (put ice or frozen food in a towel, apply the towel to your abdomen for 10 minutes, then take a five-minute break);
• drink water to prevent dehydration;
• You can drink water with honey and lemon, as they are believed to have hemostatic properties.

Tests for menopause

Laboratory tests include blood tests to determine levels of several hormones:

• estradiol is produced by the ovaries and is responsible for the development of eggs and menstruation; during menopause, its concentration decreases;
• Anti-Mullerian hormone is produced by the follicles themselves and regulates their development. By its level, you can determine the supply of full-fledged eggs and, accordingly, the possibility of getting pregnant;
• inhibin B is produced by the ovaries, and a decrease in its concentration in the blood indicates a weakening of ovarian function;
• follicle-stimulating hormone controls the release of estradiol;
• luteinizing hormone affects ovulation processes; its level increases with ovarian pathologies;
• prolactin is responsible for the regulation of menstruation, and in their absence, its concentration decreases;
• thyroid-stimulating hormone: its level is determined to exclude thyroid deficiency (hypothyroidism), which manifests itself with similar symptoms.

Among instrumental examination methods, pelvic ultrasound is used for the differential diagnosis of other diseases, the symptoms of which resemble menopausal changes.
Other examinations (ultrasound of other organs, mammography, general and extended biochemical blood tests, urine tests, smears for the presence of cancer cells) are prescribed in case of complicated menopause or suspicion of concomitant disorders.

Why do you need to know these values?

To prepare for menopause. In addition to prescribing replacement therapy, a woman should introduce calcium-containing foods into her diet: cottage cheese, fermented milk products, cheese to prevent osteoporosis. You need to undergo a gynecological examination: take a smear for oncocytology, do an ultrasound of the pelvic organs and mammography. You should donate blood for sugar and cholesterol levels. Adjust your diet, move more, follow a sleep and rest schedule. Your doctor may prescribe vitamins or supplements to relieve menopausal symptoms.

Obstetrician-gynecologist of the highest category. Chernovskaya Rosa Uranovna

Treatment for menopause

Therapy is necessary in case of a serious threat to health and is prescribed individually.
Its goal is to reduce symptoms, reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases and improve quality of life. The most effective treatment for menopause is considered to be taking medications containing estrogen. This replacement therapy eliminates hormone deficiency in the blood.

Other drug treatments include:

• antidepressants and sedatives to reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes;
• antihypertensive drugs for hypertension (high blood pressure);
• drugs that increase bone density;
• vaginal medications to reduce vaginal dryness.

In case of psycho-emotional disorders, it is recommended to seek help from a specialist.
Author:

Pugonina Tatyana Alekseevna, Therapist