No matter how much humanity seeks to bypass it, meeting with it is inevitable anyway. It's about old age. This natural process is characteristic of all living organisms, but the fair sex is most afraid of it. Aging is most clearly seen when a woman enters the menopausal period. The age at which this happens varies, but in most cases it is 48-50 years old.
Why does it occur?
There is a menopausal period, primarily because the normal functioning of the ovaries stops. From about 45-46 years old, the volume of hormones they produce (and primarily progesterone, estradiol, androgens) begins to decrease, and in 5 years it reaches zero. At times, the level of gonadotropins increases. Only a few follicles remain in the ovaries, so there is no menstruation, and, accordingly, pregnancy becomes impossible. At the same time, the type of organs is also changing. Due to the increase in connective tissue, the ovaries becomesmaller and wrinkled. Due to the sharp decrease in estrogen during the menopausal period, various pathologies may occur in other tissues of the female body.
Menopausal syndrome and its symptoms
Unfortunately, the menopausal period does not pass without a trace. The consequence of the extinction of the reproductive function and the development of the aging process is the emergence of a multifactorial disease. It's called the menopausal syndrome. Its most typical symptom is the so-called flush. This feeling of intense heat and sweating at the same time. It is not difficult to explain its appearance: with a change in the hormonal background, the functionality of the thermoregulation center in the hypothalamus also significantly decreases, as a result of which the temperature rises sharply and causes the vessels to expand. The fever is most often felt at night. A mild course of a climatic symptom occurs when the number of tides does not exceed 10 times a day, and a complex one - 20 or more. In addition, the menopausal period may be accompanied by other symptoms, in particular:
- neurovegetative (headache, dry skin, drowsiness, swelling of the extremities, allergic reactions, convulsions, dermographism, etc.);
- endocrine-metabolic (thirst, diabetes, joint pain, genital atrophy, joint pain, etc.);
- psycho-emotional (irritability, tearfulness, fatigue, obsessions, depression, memory impairment, changes in mood and appetite, etc.).
Diagnosis
Diagnosing menopausal syndrome is sometimes quite difficult, and therefore patients often end up in neurology, therapy, and even psychiatric hospitals. Complaints of patients about hot flashes, as well as a blood test for hormones, help to establish an accurate diagnosis. Thus, the level of estrogen will be significantly reduced, and FSH increased.
Correction
As noted by doctors, it is still possible to correct the menopausal period. Treatment may or may not be hormonal. The first, as experience shows, is more effective and helps to safely relieve symptoms. It is called estrogen-progestin therapy (HRT). Of course, the use of such treatment must be agreed with the doctor, because it has a number of contraindications, in particular:
- kidney failure;
- thrombophlebitis;
- endometriosis;
- breast cancer;
- uterine bleeding;
- coagulopathy and others.
In addition, the drug must be correctly selected. The patient must be regularly examined, follow the regimen and rules of hormone therapy. The treatment period should be at least 1-2 years.
