Definition
Etymological, the term menopause means “cessation of rules.” Menopause or climacteric is a normal physiological process that marks the end of the fertile period. The cessation of ovarian function and secretion of female hormones – estrogen and progesterone – causes cessation of menses.
According to the Dictionary of Medicine Flammarion, “menopause is the time of the climacteric woman normally between 50 and 55, characterized by suppression of ovarian function and the total disappearance of menstruation. It is recognized that menopause installed where there were no rules for a year. After the surgical removal of ovaries (castration) in a woman yet settled, which follows the menopause is called artificial. ”
Menopause is preceded by a long transition period that begins at the age of 40 years and in which appear the first biological changes. This transition corresponds to the premenopausal and perimenopausal.
- The premenopausal means the period during which hormonal fluctations produce menstrual irregularities. It can vary from months to several years, it usually lasts 5 years.
- Perimenopause is the “period of one year immediately prior to menopause during which begins endocrinological signs characterizing biological and clinical approach of the menopause.” (Definition of Lucien Chaby extracted from his book on Menopause, Collection Dominos, Flammarion)
Symptoms of menopause
The bone changes are cardiovascular events with the two major medical problems of menopause. The reduced bone mass in women from the age of 30 years and postmenopausal estrogen deficiency accentuates this phenomenon. In the early years after menopause, bone mass decreases annually by 2.5% for 3 or 4 years to reach 0.75% next year.
For most women, the entry into menopause occurs by menstrual irregularities sometimes accompanied by mood disorders and hot flashes, before final adoption of rules. Hot flashes are a symptom that best characterizes the entry into menopause. They appear in nearly 50% of women. These are sudden sensations of heat rising from the top of the body to the face, followed by significant sweats and chills. Their duration is short (rarely more than a few minutes).
Estrogen deprivation is responsible for other manifestations of menopause:
- Tingling, muscle and joint pain, headaches, palpitations, dizziness,
- Neuropsychiatric events: sleep disturbance, fatigue, nervousness, irritability, loss of confidence, anxiety, memory loss, concentration difficulties,
- Sexual disorders: dyspareunia, vaginal dryness,
- Weight problems,
Treatment for menopause
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
HRT is offered to premenopausal women for whom menopause or cause significant discomfort. It is particularly indicated for women with early menopause and / or surgery. It is also recommended for women at risk of osteoporosis or cardiovascular disease increased.
Over 1.7 million French benefit from hormone replacement therapy (HRT) which is
17% of postmenopausal women. Considering women between 50 and 65, one out of three deals.
The THS is to supply the body with the missing hormones that are no longer producing ovaries namely estrogen and progesterone. It acts on the endometrium in the same way as did the ovarian hormones before menopause.
The administration of such treatment requires an assessment prior to the well-known hormonal status of the patient and assess the lack of information-cons.
The non-hormonal treatments
Many menopausal women can not for reasons gynecological or general benefit from this therapy. Others fear the treatment.
Many non-hormonal products are active on hot flashes. The herbal medicine and homeopathy are particularly interesting as a new drug, raloxifene. Nutrition also plays an important role during menopause.
Among the alternative treatments, isoflavones, more known as phyto-estrogens, are a good alternative. These effects have been noted in epidemiological studies on Asian women who had a lesser symptoms of menopause than Western women. Because of this difference: the Asian populations consuming soy in large quantities. Soy is rich in isoflavones. The intake of two doses of 76 mg of isoflavones per day showed a significant reduction in hot flashes from the first month of treatment (source: General – News therapeutic, No. 2170, 25/01/02).
The menopause
There are two cases of menopause:
- When a woman has undergone ovary removal, or oophorectomy,
- When menopause occurs earlier among women treated for example against breast cancer (chemotherapy).
Tags: Menopause, perimenopause, premenopausal, symptomps, treatment
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