Menopause

Menopause:

It is not a medical problem. Natural process, menopause is developed with physical changes, hormonal and psychosocial changes in live. It is occurred when woman has not had menstrual periods for a year.

Hormone therapy is used to reduce the signs and symptoms of menopause. But hormone therapy for long term period may develop the serious health problems such as breast cancer, heart disease and stroke. Estrogen therapy is also effective for short-term.

Causes : It is natural process. Hormones may regulate menstruation cycles during the reproductive years. Ovaries may produce less progesterone and estrogen or less egg are fertilized from ovaries. After the age of 30, you have not had menstrual periods and no become pregnant. It is long procedure; therefore it can be divided into perimenopause and postmenopause.

Perimenopause: Perimenopause is started when you feel mild signs and symptoms of menopause. Levels of hormone may go up and down and you have variations and hot flashes during menstrual periods. Menstrual periods may be irregular, lighter or heavier. This type of menopause can be occurred for last four to five years.

Postmenopause: if you have not had menstrual periods for last one year, you are affected with postmenopause. In this type, less progesterone and estrogen are made by the ovaries and eggs are not fertilized.

Signs and symptoms:

Irregular menstrual periods: women with menopause, have irregular menstrual periods, sometimes it can be heavier or lighter than usually. The first sign of menopause is no menstrual periods for last 12 months.

Hot flashes: Blood vessels may be expanded quickly due to lack of estrogen. It can cause high temperature of skin. You may experience warm that moves chest to shoulder and head. You may experience excessive sweating, chilled and weak. Red blotches can be appeared on the neck, chest and arms. Hot flashes can be transmitted to one person to another.

Night sweats and disturbances during sleeping: You may experience sleep disturbances and night sweats. Your health is affected due to sleep disturbances and night sweats.

Emotional and cognitive changes: women with menopause may experience decreased memory, irritation, less concentration and excessive fatigue.

Diagnosis:

Doctor can be diagnosed menopause by appearance of signs and symptoms of menopause. Women, who have hot flashes and irregular menstrual periods, see the health care providers. Blood tests will be recommended to check the level of estrogen and follicle-stimulation hormone. Menopause is associated when the level of estrogen is decreased and a level of follicle-stimulation hormone is increased.

Treatment:

Low-dose antidepressants: Antidepressants such as Venlafaxine may be reducing the signs and symptoms of menopause. Other drugs such as paroxetine, sertraline, fluoxetine may be helpful to decrease the symptoms.

Selective estrogen receptor modulators: These drugs contain reloxifene. In case of postmenopausal, they are effective to increase the levels of estrogen. These drugs are not recommended in case of patients who have history of blood clots.

Hormone therapy: Hormone therapy is effective to decrease the symptoms of menopause. Sometimes, estrogen therapy is given to reduce the symptoms such as vaginal discomfort and hot flashes.

Clonidine: Clonidine is a pill; it can be used to reduce hot flashes. It is also helpful to treat hypertension. There are side-effects of clonidine such as drowsiness, constipation and dizzness.

Vaginal estrogen: Vaginal estrogen is available in form of ring, tablet or cream. This is used to relieve vaginal dryness and discomfort with intercourse. Use vaginal estrogen in form of cream on the affected area and get relief from pain.