Involution is a fairly broad concept that covers both the entire human body as a whole and its individual organs. Many, not understanding the meaning of this word, try to interpret it as a disease when a certain organ refuses to work or hair and teeth fall out. This is far from true. We hurry to understand in more detail.
The concept of involution. What is it?
This term applies to different areas of our lives. Each dictionary interprets it differently, here are a few examples:
1) from the point of view of personality development, this is the withering of its basic qualities;
2) on the part of sexuality - a decrease in the partner's sexual desire for the opposite sex;
3) when it comes to he alth - the deterioration of his condition, the emergence of problems in the work of organs;
4) psychologists interpret involution as the extinction of a person's mental functions.
Therefore, it is necessary to understand that involution is a whole complex of ideas that can relate to absolutely different areas of our life.
Involution of mammary glands. Are all women at risk?
Doctors give this question unambiguouslypositive answer. Only the age of such changes in the female body will be completely different for all the fair sex. Of course, there are certain limits, i.e. mammologists talk about 35-40 years, but this figure fluctuates for many reasons. This process is a kind of degeneration of tissues in the breast in women. In fact, the involution of the mammary glands is the time during which the functional glandular components of this part of the body lose their direct function (in childbearing age they are responsible for breastfeeding). It begins gradually, mainly from the lower part of the mammary glands. Here the process is faster. By the way, during involution, functional elements not only fade away, but subcutaneous fat also grows.
Are there fat involutional changes?
Yes, of course. In general, involution is a combination of two processes: fat and fibrous. In a he althy female body, they will proceed simultaneously. But there are cases when fatty involution prevails. Then, adipose tissue actively grows in the breasts of the female representatives between the glandular components, which will eventually replace these areas. Therefore, they say that after 40 years, the bust can become sagging, because the tissues become thinner. On your own, you are unlikely to detect such changes. They are visible only with the help of special medical equipment, with the simultaneous consultation of an experienced doctor in this matter.
Those places in the chest that have already undergone transformation will be on the x-raylight enough. Fat involution can be both a completely natural process and a serious problem. Here it is necessary to analyze several main points: did the woman give birth, what is her age, does she have hormonal problems and diseases of the endocrine system. Reliable answers to these questions will help the doctor to draw the right conclusions and, if necessary, prescribe competent treatment. The age of a woman is generally divided into three stages:
- from puberty to 45 years old - the active phase, when he althy women have a childbearing function;
- 45 to 50 years - a time of significant change when menopause sets in;
- after 50 years - the senile stage of development.
All this suggests that at the moment when the active phase prevails, a woman gives birth and breastfeeds, she simply should not face involutional changes. Later, this is considered the norm. Therefore, doctors strongly recommend female representatives who are used to carefully monitoring their he alth to examine this area of \u200b\u200btheir body twice a year. Fat involution is not so dangerous if detected in the early stages of its development, since correctly prescribed drugs can regulate the hormonal background and stop this process.
Another type of breast involution
This type of tissue change in a woman's breasts is much rarer than the one described above.
But still it has a place to be, so your education in this regard will not hurt. fibrousinvolution is the replacement of glandular lobules in the mammary gland with connective tissue. At the same time, the appearance of fatty deposits was practically not detected. In this case, extensive areas of dense tissue of the connective type can be preserved in the chest. There are also quite coarse fibrous bands.
The doctor examines the mammary glands for a long time, so as not to confuse the skin folds that appear in sagging flabby breasts with fibrotic manifestations. Usually they should not cause alarm. Fibrous involution of the mammary glands is a natural process for women whose age has approached menopause. Otherwise, when the childbearing period continues, there is a serious reason to visit the doctor.
Fibrofatty involution as the most common change in menopausal women
When women talk about such a condition in adulthood, when the process proceeds slowly, starting from the deep and lower parts of the breast and ending with its upper square, then this is the absolute norm of aging of her body. Another thing is when such changes are revealed during a thorough ultrasound and examination by a competent mammologist in young ladies who, as they say, are in their prime, are able to have children and must breastfeed them.
Even sadder if the formations of this nature are focal. Naturally, it already makes sense to talk about some kind of pathology, hormonal failure and disruption in the work of the patient's endocrine system. It also makes sense for an adult woman to consult a doctor regularly when she is diagnosed with menopause.fibro-fat involution. Two examinations a year will be enough to exclude the formation of benign and malignant tumors in the breast, which is why this age has been so dangerous lately for the entire female population.
Involution as a process occurring in the uterus - is it a disease?
No, this is a natural stage in this body, which is conceived by Mother Nature herself. It can be divided into two types: postpartum and menopausal. In the first case, changes in the female body occur according to a certain schedule, that is, after the birth of a child, the uterus must restore its previous size. This lasts for about 2 months and occurs due to a decrease in the amount of certain hormones in a woman's body: progesterone, estrogen and oxytocin (which is produced during breastfeeding). Involution of the uterus after childbirth can be delayed or disrupted for several reasons:
- the number of births - the more there are, the longer this process;
- bearing twins or more;
- age after 30 years, in a woman who has given birth, the uterus contracts much more slowly;
- arising complications: inflammation, bleeding, etc.;
- no natural breastfeeding.
Also, involutional changes can cover the uterus of a woman whose childbearing age has come to an end (climacteric involution).
The danger of involutionary processes
In this situation, the doctor will always pay attention to the age of the woman who came to him forinspection. The patient must clearly understand that involution is a pathology only if she is young. And for ladies of mature age, whose reproductive function is completed, this is an absolutely natural process that prepares the body for menopause. The main task of a mammologist is to exclude any inflammatory diseases, as well as formations of a different nature. Therefore, the fair sex should take note of the scheme for visiting this specialist:
- Starting from the age of 36 - once a year.
- After 50 years - 1 time in 1, 5-2 years.
Involution of lactation - myth or reality?
Only those women who have fully experienced the joy of motherhood, thanks to breastfeeding, will understand what is at stake. Of course, here the meaning of the concept of involution is slightly different - after all, it is rather not the withering of feeding functions, but its temporary cessation. WHO experts advise feeding a child up to 2 years old, it is by this age that mother's milk will provide him with all the necessary vitamins and minerals for further full growth and development. And by the age of 24 months, the breasts of a nursing woman are able to complete their mission without any special consequences for her.
Remember, dear ladies, involution of the mammary glands is not a sentence, you just need to turn to a competent specialist in time, who, thanks to modern medical preparations, will be able to regulate the functioning of the body and stop this process.
