Aging is an inevitable stage in everyone's life. Organs gradually reduce their functionality, body parts are physically degraded, the process of withering of the body begins.
One of the signs of aging in women are menopause and menopause. During this period, the release of gonadotropic hormones into the blood is significantly reduced, which is the main reason for the natural cessation of menstruation.
Menopause: definition and types
Menopause is the result of very complex processes that occur in a woman's body. This stage is accompanied by a complete or partial fading of ovarian function, which indicates the cessation of the woman's reproductive capabilities.
Depending on what causes this process, there are pathological, physiological and artificial menopause.
Premature or pathological menopause may be a consequence of diseases of the female genital organs. For example, tumors can causepathological changes, symptomatically resembling the menopausal syndrome. At the same time, age is not perceived as an important characteristic, since the disease can lie in wait even at the age of twenty.
Artificial menopause usually occurs when exposed to the body from the outside: surgical intervention in the genitourinary system, chemical and radiation therapy, pronounced stress or traumatic effects. The most common cause of artificial menopause is the removal of the organs of the reproductive system (ovaries or uterus).
Physiological menopause, unlike other forms, is a normal process that concludes the childbearing period.
The female hormone estradiol, which is necessary for menstruation and pregnancy, during the reproductive activity of the body is produced mainly by the ovaries. Over time, the reproductive system loses its ability to produce hormones, and this function is partially taken over by the adrenal cortex. Since the level of estradiol production is unstable, menstrual cycles fluctuate for some time, and with a critical decrease in the hormone they disappear altogether, menopausal syndrome sets in. Age in this case plays an important, but not decisive role. For most women, natural aging occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. But this unpleasant moment can be delayed by adhering to several important rules:
- lead a he althy lifestyle;
- minimize the intake of fatty foods and alcohol;
- exercise;
- spendat least two hours a day in the fresh air;- avoid stress.
Age Range
Climax and menopause characterize the stage of transition of the female body from the reproductive period to the moment of complete cessation of menstrual bleeding. This is a kind of stage (this is how “menopause” is translated from Latin), on which every woman steps at a certain moment. Contrary to popular belief, women do not go through menopause at the same time. The age range can vary and depends on lifestyle, environmental factors, hereditary predisposition. Statistics say that menopause normally occurs between 45-55 years of age. It is this age that is the starting point for the extinction of female sexual functions. The appearance of menopause before the age of forty-five is considered early and requires attention to the state of a woman's he alth.
It is known that the main causes of menopause are age-related changes in the female body, but in the modern world, menopause can occur much earlier than the due date. Such a pathology may be due to a single negative factor or their combination.
For example, non-smokers and women who do not abuse alcohol have an average reproductive age of 2 years higher. The food that a woman consumes is also important. To preserve youth, a special diet is needed, which includes vegetables and fruits and excludes fatty, overly s alty and smoked foods.
Psychological factors also play a rolelast role. Many women who have suffered a strong emotional shock face manifestations of menopause at a fairly early age. The first signs of menopause at 40 are not a terrible myth. Due to the constant emotional stress that lies in wait at every turn, such situations are not uncommon for a modern woman.
Stages of menopause
Doctors call menopause a certain chain of physiological events that stretch out in time.
Hormonal changes in the body are divided into three main periods:
1) Perimenopause is the process immediately preceding menopause. It starts at the age of 40-45 and lasts from three to five years.
The symptoms of the period are characterized by hormonal changes in the body: the follicle-forming function of the ovaries is gradually depleted, which leads to a disruption in the production of sex hormones. During premenopause and menopause, the discharge is meager, and the interval between cycles is two to three times the allowable. The ovulation stage with the release of the egg is first reduced in time, and then completely disappears from the cycle, excluding the possibility of becoming pregnant. Despite changes in the functionality of the ovaries, the structure of the uterus does not undergo key changes, and its endometrium retains its inherent properties.
2) Perimenopause is the period when menstruation stops. It lasts up to 12 months from the moment of the last menstruation. At the same time, the restructuring of the whole organism begins.
3) Postmenopause is the final stage of hormonalrestructuring of the female body, which originates from the 13th month after the cessation of menstruation and indicates a complete loss of the ability to bear children.
During this period, the body is most susceptible to the formation of abnormal cells in tissues, which is the main cause of cancer. In addition, due to age-related changes, the development of diseases that were not observed before is possible. In this regard, constant monitoring of the production of hormones and the general he alth of women is needed. Examination is recommended to be carried out at least 2 times a year.
Symptoms
The main signs of menopause testify to the beginning of age-related changes in the reproductive system of a woman. At the age of 40, the symptoms are practically no different from the symptoms of timely menopause.
The main symptoms of menopause:
1) Violation of the menstrual cycle or lack of menstruation. Due to the decrease in the level of sex hormones, the ability of the ovaries to reproduce the ovulation process is significantly reduced. This leads to the loss of reproductive functions.
2) Hot flashes - a sudden burning sensation in the chest that spreads to the whole body. Hot flashes are often accompanied by excessive sweating and trembling, followed by chills. The frequency of the tides is 1 time in 1-2 hours, the duration is from 3 to 10 minutes.
3) Irritability, insomnia and depression are the result of hormonal changes in the body.
4) Dryness in the vagina. due to hormone deficiencyless secretory lubrication of estrogen, causing the vaginal mucosa to dry out.
5) Loss of sexual desire and interest in a partner. Dryness in the vagina causes discomfort during intercourse, the woman does not get pleasure, therefore, begins to associate sex with torture. She stops showing sexual activity and reacts with irritation to the man's initiative.
6) Urinary incontinence occurs due to a sharp decrease in the muscle tone of the genitourinary system. Especially often, such processes occur during coughing, sneezing, laughter and other sudden stresses, which causes moral discomfort in women.
7) Lack or increased appetite. Due to fluctuating hormone levels, taste preferences and the required dosage of food can fluctuate. Sometimes a woman has an all-consuming feeling of hunger, and sometimes there is no appetite at all.
8) Significant change in body weight.
9) The feeling of chronic fatigue is characteristic of almost all women who go through this stage - the menopausal syndrome. Age is not of paramount importance.
10) Blood pressure fluctuations.
The presence of the above signs can unmistakably indicate one thing - the menopausal syndrome has come. Age in this case has no clear boundaries, and can vary from 40 to 55 years.
It has been observed that in half of the cases, the menopausal syndrome begins to appear long before the onset of the first signs of menopause: there are problems with conception, andthen bearing a child, there is a frequent violation of the menstrual cycle, sexual desire is dulled.
Complications of menopause: bleeding and comorbidities
It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the hormone estrogen for the female body. It is not only responsible for the reproductive function of a woman, but also affects the work of all vital systems.
Menopause, with symptomatic reviews all over the Internet, is a trial period during which the body adapts to new conditions.
Estrogen deficiency during this period causes not only pathological changes in tissues and organs, but also leads to psychological disorders due to vegetative-neurotic disorders. It can contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, stroke, coronary disease and hypertension.
During menopause, a woman's body's immune defenses decrease. This can lead to the development of autoimmune and infectious diseases.
Bleeding during menopause is not normal, but about 40 percent of women have experienced this pathological manifestation at least once.
Climacteric bleeding is inherent mainly in women with early menopause. They are caused by a sharp fluctuation in the production of hormones and a violation of ovulation. The endometrium of the uterus is subject to pathological changes, as a result of which bleeding of varying degrees of intensity may occur.
During this period, a thorough examination and constant medicalobservation, as bleeding may indicate the development of malignant neoplasms in the uterus.
Severe menopausal bleeding is treated in hospital with hormone therapy.
Diagnosis of menopause
Symptomatic manifestation of menopause occurs in each woman individually, depending on the characteristics of the organism.
Among external signs, it is worth noting menstrual irregularities, the appearance of headaches, hot flashes, excessive irritability, mood changes and decreased sexual activity.
Lab signs of menopause - decreased estrogen production and increased follicle-stimulating hormone.
To confirm the beginning of the period, you need to contact a gynecologist, as well as an endocrinologist and conduct a laboratory test.
The most simple laboratory method for determining menopause is the menopause test. It looks and feels like a pregnancy test.
For its implementation, it is necessary to use the first morning urine, as it contains the highest level of hormones. The presence of follicle-stimulating hormone in the urine will indicate the onset of menopause.
The test should be carried out at the first external signs of menopause. If at the same time the cycle is regular, it is necessary to do the test in the first days of the cycle and repeat the procedure in a week. With an irregular cycle, the test period is notimportant. If the result of 2-3 tests is positive, you need to see a doctor who will conduct additional diagnostics and make appropriate appointments.
Menopausal Syndrome: Therapy
The symptoms of menopause can be expressed in varying degrees of severity, therefore, the drugs for menopause differ in their composition and effects on the body.
Even if the process of hormonal adjustment proceeds according to a normal schedule and pathologies do not appear, additional support for the body is required. In this case, it is necessary to take vitamin and mineral complexes that normalize metabolic processes in the body.
Vitamin complexes such as Menopause and Menopace have proven themselves well. They include multivitamins with micro and macro elements, which are sources of energy for the body, strengthen bones and the nervous system, and prolong the life of the ovaries.
During menopause, symptomatic drugs are also needed to relieve external symptoms (sedatives, sleeping pills, lowering blood pressure).
To mildly reduce the symptoms of menopause, non-hormonal herbal remedies are used, for example, the biologically active food supplement ESTROVEL® capsules - a complex of phytoestrogens, vitamins and microelements, the components of which act on the main manifestations of menopause.
Medications for menopause in women can be homeopathic. They are designed to restore the hormonal background, activate the activity of the ovaries and resume the production of the hormone.estrogen. The most effective drugs: Estrovel, Isoflavone, Klimaksan and Klimaktoplan.
To mildly reduce the symptoms of menopause, non-hormonal remedies based on plant components are used, for example, the biologically active food supplement ESTROVEL® capsules - a complex of phytoestrogens, vitamins and microelements, the components of which act on the main manifestations of menopause. ESTROVEL® contains vitamin K1 and boron to help reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
If the medicine is positively perceived by the body, menopause will be postponed, and all symptoms associated with menopause will be temporarily eliminated.
In case of severe complications during the menopausal period (obesity, exacerbation of cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis), hormone replacement therapy is prescribed, including taking drugs containing estrogen. These are such drugs: Hormoplex, Proginova, Premarin and Estrofem.
In addition, there are drugs used for combination therapy, which are designed to eliminate discomfort at the initial stage of menopause and stabilize the menstrual cycle. Among such funds, one can single out the preparations Klimonorm, Klimen, Femoston and Divitren.
When a woman has menopause, pills and other types of medications are recommended to be taken only after consultation with the doctor. Self-medication can aggravate symptoms and cause permanent changes in the body.
Folk remedies that restoresexual function during menopause
Hormonal therapy is undoubtedly effective, but it has a number of contraindications and is not available to everyone. In this case, phytotherapy comes to the rescue. In the piggy bank of traditional medicine, you can find recipes for tinctures and decoctions that can significantly alleviate the symptoms of menopause. The components are easy to find in any pharmacy, and their cost is much lower than traditional medicines.
The most popular folk remedy for menopause, relieving hot flashes, is based on just three components: sage leaves, valerian roots and horsetail grass. To prepare a decoction, you need to take 2 tsp. each component, pour 3 tbsp. boiling water and insist for two hours. Take 1/3 cup thrice daily.
Another folk remedy for menopause, which helps to minimize its pathological symptoms, is rowan tincture. To prepare it, you need to grind 200 g of fresh berries, then pour them with 1 liter of cognac. The period of infusion is 2 weeks. It is necessary to take the remedy for 1 tsp. 3-4 times a day. Since mountain ash is a natural energy source and a storehouse of nutrients, taking the tincture will have a positive effect on the work of the whole organism.
An excellent remedy for hormonal balance during menopause is a tincture from the root of the red brush. To prepare the medicine, you need to take 50 g of rhizomes and pour 1 liter of vodka. After a week of infusion, take 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day.
Diet andmenopause lifestyle
In today's world, many women experience menopausal syndrome quite early. The manifestations of the first signs depend on the rhythm of life, nutrition, physical and emotional stress.
A fairly common cause of menopause is bad habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol, unhe althy diets, rigid diets, and a sedentary lifestyle.
A number of changes occur in the body during menopause, and diet and lifestyle changes are essential to keep it toned.
First of all, you should normalize nutrition. It is especially important to reduce fat intake, as during this period a woman can quickly gain excess weight. Foods that contain "hidden fats" should be excluded from the diet. You should also avoid fast food. Food is best consumed stewed or boiled, ideally steamed.
With a decrease in estrogen in a woman's body, the amount of calcium decreases, which leads to osteoporosis. Therefore, a woman during this period should eat fish, eggs, low-fat dairy products.
With menopause and menopause, a woman may experience irritability and insomnia caused by a lack of magnesium. Therefore, a woman should eat buckwheat, barley, seaweed, hazelnuts, pistachios, peanuts, cashews, walnuts and pine nuts, as well as almonds.
Vitamins during menopause are an integral part of a woman's diet. They areincrease the body's resistance and immune defense. A priority place in the diet should be given to fruits, vegetables, cereals and nuts. It is these products that contain the greatest amount of nutrients needed by a woman during menopause.
In addition to nutrition, you need to reconsider your lifestyle: spend more time outdoors, sleep at least 7 hours a day, avoid stressful situations if possible.
Pregnancy after menopause
The main role in a woman's life is procreation, that is, bearing and giving birth to a child. The most favorable period for this is in the range from 20 to 35 years. It is at this age that a woman is fully formed physically and morally, all her organs work at full capacity, the body is ready to provide the unborn child with all the necessary elements for normal development.
Pregnancy at a later age may carry the risk of abnormal fetal development. Despite this, many women decide to have a baby even in menopause.
Since the hormones estrogen and progesterone are responsible for the processes of conception and fetal development, with a reduction in their production, the likelihood of conception is reduced. But this does not mean a complete loss of reproductive function. Modern drugs for menopause in women allow you to conceive and bear a child for two years after the onset of menopause. But is this risk justified?
With the onset of menopause, a number of changes occur in the female body thatadversely affect the development of the fetus: chronic diseases are exacerbated, the emotional state is unstable, the internal reserves of the body are running out. In this case, pregnancy and childbirth will be a serious test for both the woman and the child.
