A characteristic sign of climacteric syndrome. Menopause syndrome: how it manifests itself, diagnosis, treatment

A woman's body, in particular, her reproductive system, has a number of features. Upon reaching the fair sex 45-50 years, there is a gradual loss of fertility. This is a natural process that develops against the background of the restructuring of the work of the gonads and the central nervous system. All women experience menopause in different ways. Changes in the reproductive cycle are gradual. After 55 years, the reproductive structures completely lose their natural function, physiological amenorrhea occurs.

In some cases, such restructuring is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms, which are combined into climacteric syndrome. Natural transformations taking place in the body cause serious discomfort to patients. In addition to changes in the normal mental and emotional state, vegetative disorders also occur, as well as failures in the work of the cardiovascular and endocrine systems s. Similar problems are diagnosed in 30-50% of women in menopause. It is important to distinguish normal clinical signs of menopause from pathological manifestations. To do this, you will need to visit a doctor and undergo a comprehensive examination.

Symptoms of the climacteric syndrome

The appearance of the restructuring of the genital organs is accompanied by some peculiarities. All patients are prone to mood swings during this difficult period, which is associated with the influence on the psyche of hormones. However, not only the intensity of symptoms is important, but also their combination with vegetative manifestations. TO clinical signs climacteric syndrome in women include:

Sleep disorders as well as cognitive problems accompanied by memory impairments.
Anxiety, depression and the appearance of constant self-doubt.
Significant mood swings not associated with the phase of the cycle, exposure to stress and other environmental factors.
Fatigue, dizziness and migraines.
Changes in the genital organs are provided by the restructuring of the hormonal background. Frequent complaints of dryness of the vaginal mucous membranes, itching and discomfort during coitus.

The most significant and alarming are vegetative manifestations of pathology. Premenopausal syndrome, that is, disruptions that occur at an early stage of adjustment, rarely lead to the appearance of such symptoms. Disorders of the internal organs indicate a serious malfunction in the regulation of their activity by the central nervous system. The clinical picture in such cases includes:

Formation of vegetative-vascular dystonia (VVD), which is accompanied by pressure drops and unexplained chest pain.
Intense sweating and constant hot flashes. This symptom accompanies the normal course of menopause in some women, however, with pathological expression, it brings significant inconvenience.
Numbness of the fingers, a change in the nature of tactile sensations, convulsive contractions, which most often affect the muscles of the legs, and at night.

Adopted a kind of classification of the manifestations of VSD with an ailment. It allows you to differentiate the severity of the pathological climacteric syndrome. The basis is the frequency of "hot flashes" in women per day:

In mild form, there are no more than 10 "attacks" during the day. Half of women with this disease face a similar problem.
The second degree of severity is characterized by a greater intensity of clinical manifestations. There are 10 to 20 hot flashes in a 24 hour period. This form occurs in 30% of patients.
Severe climacteric syndrome is diagnosed in only 17% of women. It is accompanied by a high intensity of symptoms. The frequency of hot flashes reaches 20 per day.

Causes of occurrence

The pathogenesis of the disease is associated with the development of hormonal changes in the woman's body. The function of the gonads is controlled by the hypothalamus - a special part of the brain that acts on the pituitary gland. The latter produces protein compounds that stimulate the gonads. The ovaries normally respond with the release of hormones. In the process of aging, there is a restructuring of the genital organs. However, the hypothalamus is still trying to stimulate their natural function. The ovaries cannot produce the proper amount of biological compounds, which leads to the absence of menstruation and the loss of a woman's ability to bear children. Moreover, in many cases, the onset of menopause occurs in a mild form. The following unfavorable factors contribute to the development of climacteric syndrome:

Constant exposure to stress negatively affects the functioning of the entire body, including the function of the ovaries and the central nervous system.
Heavy physical activity also does not contribute to a woman's reproductive health.
Endocrine disorders, such as diseases of the thyroid or pancreas, affect metabolic processes. This creates favorable conditions for further failures.
History of pelvic inflammatory disease. Problems preceding menopause affecting the uterus, oviducts, or directly the gonads also contribute to the formation of climacteric syndrome.
Alcohol abuse and smoking negatively affect many organs, including the genitals.

Diagnostic methods

As a rule, confirmation of the disease is not difficult. However, a doctor's consultation is required for correct treatment. Diagnostics is carried out in a comprehensive manner, based on the collected anamnesis. Parameters such as the regularity of the sexual cycle, as well as the presence and frequency of menstrual bleeding, are important. Confirmation of climacteric syndrome in women requires the exclusion of ailments that are similar in symptoms. This will require an examination of the patient, bacteriological tests and blood tests. The most indicative in this case are hormonal studies. It is also of great importance to consult a psychotherapist who will help to cope with possible cognitive and sleep disorders.

Pathology treatment

Since menopause is a natural process, therapy is limited to alleviating this condition and correcting symptoms. Changing a woman's lifestyle is of paramount importance. Clinical guidelines include, first of all, giving up bad habits. Alcohol and cigarettes lead to an even greater imbalance in the functioning of the genitals and the central nervous system. Moderate physical activity has a positive effect. They help prevent the development of complications associated with malfunctioning of the cardiovascular system.

Recommendations for menopausal syndrome also apply to diet. The diet needs to include foods rich in fiber. This is due to their normalizing effect on the gastrointestinal tract. There is a direct link between the balance of microflora in the digestive system and the reproductive system. This is due to the peculiarities of their anatomical location in the fair sex. Eliminating fatty, fried and salty foods from the menu will also have a beneficial effect on the course of menopause.

Medical support for women in this difficult period is reduced to the use of drugs based on estrogens and progestogens. They allow you to fight the vegetative-vascular manifestations of climacteric syndrome, which are associated with hormonal changes. The use of these funds is possible only when prescribed by a doctor, since only patients with a severe severity of the disease need to take medications. As symptomatic therapy, various tranquilizers and antipsychotics are used, which help to improve the general condition of patients.

Traditional methods of treating menopausal syndrome are mainly reduced to the use of decoctions based on herbs that have a sedative effect. These include motherwort, valerian and mint. These plants help combat anxiety and stress that women suffer from during menopause.

To date, hormonal therapy for the manifestations of climacteric syndrome is the main option in the fight against the problem. Moreover, with a mild clinical picture, local remedies are used. For instance, nice results shows the use of vaginal suppositories and ointments to reduce the manifestations of atrophic changes in the mucous membrane. Such drugs do not have such a significant number of contraindications and side effects as systemic drugs.

However, despite all the benefits of hormone replacement therapy, there are alternative treatments for menopausal syndrome. They are often used as an adjunct to medication support. For example, red clover extract is used as a source of estrogen, which contains a large number of isoflavones. Soy has a similar therapeutic effect. Despite the widespread use of these methods, they have not been proven to be effective, although some women have noted a decrease in vaginal symptoms. If there are contraindications to the use of hormonal drugs to combat the vasomotor manifestations of menopause, agents from the group of serotonin reuptake inhibitors are used, such as "Fluoxetine".

Possible complications

The unpleasant consequences of the disease most often include both significant lesions of the genital organs and cognitive disorders. If symptoms are ignored, women suffer from chronic insomnia, depression and extreme stress, which only exacerbate the course of menopause.

Prophylaxis

Preventing the development of unpleasant symptoms comes down to adhering to the principles of a healthy lifestyle. Regular visits to the gynecologist also contribute to the easy course of menopause. Identifying problems at an early stage favors their faster and smoother course. Self-medication is dangerous, so if unpleasant symptoms appear, you need to see a doctor.

How can you improve your quality of life in this troubled for female body period.

Premenopausal period: symptoms and solutions

Dominik Fraden-Reed, physician, specialist in the prevention of aging, explains what premenopause is, what are its main processes and phenomena, and how you can improve your quality of life during this troubled period for the female body.

Premenopause and menopause

Let's start with the terms. Menopause, also known as menopause, occurs when a woman has no periods all year round... This is preceded by a rather long period, which is characterized by the extinction of hormonal function and, often, by an imbalance between different hormones.

Premenopause begins, on average, between 45 and 50 years, while the average age of the onset of menopause is 51 years. However, I have been approached by women who developed premenopausal symptoms after 40 years.

Often premenopause makes itself felt by the irregularities of the menstrual cycle: too short, two in a month, or suddenly a month or two "drop out". Many women experience chronic fatigue, sleep problems, mood swings, or depression. What hormones are “not playing by the rules” and how do we feel about it?

Follicle-stimulating hormone, or FSH

Its number is increasing ... There are still eggs in the ovaries, but ovulation can be difficult- the body acts as if ovulation is normal and estrogen levels rise. During the first period of premenopause, estrogen remains at a good level, sometimes even too high.

Estrogen

Estrogen levels depend on the phase of the menstrual cycle. Usually, when a woman enters premenopause, its level is about 200-300 picograms per milliliter.... But as menopause approaches, estrogen levels crash. up to 20-30 pg / ml... This causes women to experience hot flashes. And when estrogen levels drop to 11, menopause ensues.

Progesterone

When there is no more ovulation, women’s progesterone levels also decrease. During the first few years of premenopause, you may have estrogen normal or too high, and progesterone low, in any case, the predominance of estrogen gives you the feeling that you are sexy, happy, full of life - and these sensations can go off scale.

But since at the same time you are experiencing a decrease in progesterone, the hormone responsible for a calm and relaxed state, the output can be nervousness, anxiety, and impatience.

Thyroid hormones

The thyroid gland often creates problems when the sex hormones are imbalanced. Progesterone - best friend thyroid gland, so if its level decreases, then the level of thyroid hormones also decreases. As a result, we have problems in the form of fatigue, hair loss, and skin problems.

Cortisol

Cortisol, or hydrocortisone, is a stress hormone that is produced in the body from progesterone at night... If your progesterone level decreases and, at the same time, you are in a state of stress, as often happens when children leave school, go to college, parents get old or get sick, your spouse is also experiencing a crisis, then you will have insomnia, because your condition is aggravated by production cortisol.

Symptoms of premenopause

There will be less and less estrogen in our bodies as there are fewer eggs in the ovaries.... During this period, symptoms of the second group begin to appear, which include hot flashes and profuse night sweats.

General state

The earliest symptoms of premenopause are insomnia and fatigue. b, due to a decrease in progesterone levels.

Mood

Some women become very sensitive.... Some people tell me: “I have become terribly irritable, I cry over trifles - what's wrong with me? I have no patience, I am frustrated by my family. " I answer: "It's not you, it's your hormones."

Young women have a good balance of estrogen and testosterone, but this balance is disturbed with the onset of menopause., which leads to sudden mood swings.

Weight gain

Weight gain is another common symptom, especially in the abdomen and thighs.... It happens due to hormonal imbalance which leads to insulin resistance. It affects the body's ability to burn calories and leads to fat storage.

Elevated cortisol, the stress hormone, has the same effect.

Skin and hair

Some women develop acne during the premenopausal period, even if they have never had a skin problem before. This is due to a decrease in female hormone levels and an increase in cortisol levels. Skin is also sensitive to blood sugar.

Due to changes in metabolism, premenopausal women often have high blood glucose levels, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, all of which can trigger acne.

During premenopause, hair follicles become very sensitive and may begin to fall out..

Joints

There is such a phenomenon as "cold shoulder" - female hormones are also responsible for the elasticity of the joint v. And now, when their level drops sharply, some women have a problem with the shoulder, most often the joint, it hurts and becomes inflamed.

Thrush

Since hormones maintain a healthy state of the mucous membrane, a decrease in their level, respectively, leads to greater dryness and less reliability of the mucous membrane, a decrease in the amount of useful microflora, thus, the mucous membrane becomes vulnerable to pathogenic flora.

Help and Panacea

I must say right away that I do not prescribe synthetic progestins and always approach hormone therapy very carefully, prescribing minimal doses. I am a supporter of a natural approach and, where possible, I try to offer natural remedies and supplements.

You can improve your condition with supplements. The only thing I always advise is to contact good specialists because self-medication can end badly. Medicines that contain both estrogen and progesterone can only be used when the levels of both hormones decrease, but in the first phase, you only need to take progesterone, because estrogen is already produced by the ovaries, it is not necessary to increase its level even more.

For example, to support progesterone, I recommend using evening primrose oil at bedtime, especially during the second half of your menstrual cycle. An excellent preparation is the Norwegian Serenol made from bee bread (bee bread) - it is very good for both mood swings and hot flashes.

There is also the supplement Cortisol Calm - a combination of Ayurvedic herbs. With menopause approaching and more and more symptoms appearing, I advise Relizen, a Swedish herbal remedy, about a million European women use it and 93% of them report improvement in their condition.

It is also helpful to support our neurotransmitters - substances that transmit impulses from neurons to neurons, because many symptoms are associated with mood. I recommend supplementing with theanine (L-theanine), an amino acid derived from the active ingredient in green tea that is responsible for relaxation.

Recent Scientific research have shown that theanine stimulates alpha brainwaves, promoting an active but calm state. I recommend theanine for those with sleep problems.

In our culture, menopause is something of a shame. I have been to other countries, for example, in Senegal, where this phenomenon is not treated with a negative attitude. Therefore, I think that attitudes towards menopause can and should be changed. We all need to learn to accept the normal changes that take place in our bodies as part of a full and healthy life. Published.

Dominic Fraden-Reed

You still have questions - ask them

P.S. And remember, just by changing your consciousness - together we are changing the world! © econe

Content

The onset of menopause involves significant hormonal changes in the female body. Such transformations can cause discomfort of varying severity. The phenomenon occurs in all the fair sex, but the pathological course of the process is characteristic only for some patients. The development of the syndrome can cause severe manifestations on the part of the psychoemotional, endocrine and autonomic spheres, having found that you need to immediately contact a gynecologist.

What is climacteric syndrome in women

It is a climacteric physiological state of the female body, genetically determined, consisting in age-related changes in the higher parts of the central nervous system. This phenomenon is not regarded by experts as a disease. Climax occurs in 3 phases:

Premenopausal - there are signs of extinction of hormonal function. The phase lasts until the onset of the last menstrual period, on average 4-5 years. Premenopause is expressed by a violation of the cycle, a change in the volume, duration of discharge. Spontaneous ovulation can occur in which fertility is maintained. The probability of developing a pathological course in this phase is 35%.
Menopausal - characterized by the absence of any bloody discharge. It starts from the moment of the last menstrual period and lasts about a year. The pathological course in this phase develops in 70% of cases.
Postmenopausal - is determined by the lack of estrogen production by the ovaries, an increase in the level of gonadotropic hormones, and a restructuring of the female reproductive system.

Menopause syndrome is a set of symptoms that are observed in the pathological course of menopause. The condition is characterized by disorders of the psychoemotional, adaptogenic, neurovegetative, metabolic endocrine, cardiovascular spheres of the female body. Pathology develops in 30-60% of the fair sex at the age of 45-55 years... The duration of the syndrome is on average 2-3 years. In some cases, its duration is increased to 10-15 years.

Causes of pathology

The main reason for the development of pathological menopause is changes in the structure of the hypothalamus, which are age-related. This gland regulates the cycle of the menstrual function of the female body. In the hypothalamus, the neurohormone gonadoliberin is synthesized, under the influence of which luteinizing, follicle-stimulating hormones are produced. Substances affect the maturation process, the functioning of the corpus luteum of the ovary, follicles.

Changes in the work of the hypothalamus lead to a decrease in estrogen levels, an increase in the concentration of gonadotropic hormones. As a result, the functioning of the ovaries dies out, ovulation stops, the woman's reproductive capacity. The pituitary gland and hypothalamus are firmly connected with the cerebral cortex and other endocrine glands, therefore, under the influence of negative age-related changes, the work of the cardiovascular, peripheral nervous systems, metabolic processes are disrupted, osteoporosis develops.

The pathological course of menopause is not characteristic of all the fair sex. The following factors become the causes of the syndrome:

hereditary predisposition;
professional activity - work that involves constant intellectual, physical fatigue, exposure to the body of harmful substances;
pathological changes in the functioning of the endocrine, central nervous system, internal organs, which arose before the onset of menopause;
inflammation of the pelvic organs, disruptions in the cycle of menstruation, serious surgical interventions;
moderately or excessively overweight;
complications arising during pregnancy, childbirth, in the postpartum period;
the presence of infectious ailments, diseases accompanied by prolonged pain syndromes.

Clinical manifestations of climacteric syndrome

The symptoms of the syndrome are characterized by a variety of manifestations that can cause serious discomfort to a woman. Flow pathological process depends on the physical and emotional state of the patient, the degree of hormonal imbalance, the influence of external factors, the presence of chronic diseases. All clinical manifestations of the syndrome can be divided into 3 groups:

vaso-vegetative;
psychoneurotic;
endocrine (somatic).

Vasovegetative

The most common clinical symptom of this group is hot flashes to the head, face, and upper body. Their duration ranges from 30 to 120 seconds. Vasovegetative manifestations of climacteric syndrome are expressed in increased sweating, which accompanies hot flashes. Hot flashes can occur under the influence of irritants: weather changes, stress and other adverse conditions. During hot flashes, an increase in body temperature, expansion of peripheral vessels, and an increase in heart rate occur.

Experts refer to vegetative clinical manifestations as the occurrence of redness in the form of a necklace on the neck and chest, paroxysmal headache, vasomotor rhinitis, hypertensive crises, changes in blood pressure indicators. Some women report swelling, numbness, cramps in the extremities, increased excitability, drowsiness, dry skin. Vasovegetative manifestations of a climacteric pathological state can provoke an increase in the sensitivity of the nervous system, pain in various organs.

Psychoneurotic

This group of symptoms is expressed by a decrease in attention, memory, constant feeling fatigue, irritability, instability of the emotional sphere. In some patients, neurotic disorders are accompanied by a feeling of anxiety, fear, tearfulness, intolerance to certain sounds and smells. A large proportion of women suffer from persistent depression caused by the perception of menopause as a sign of old age. Experts attribute this phenomenon to severe psychoneurotic disorders that are difficult to treat.

Endocrine

Somatic (endocrine) symptoms of the climacteric period may occur due to changes in metabolic processes characteristic of a certain age, or a high degree of the body's response to a decrease in estrogen content. Patients have inflammation in the walls of the vagina, bleeding, itching, dystrophy of the vulva, painful, involuntary urination. Weakening of muscle tone leads to prolapse of the uterus. With a further deterioration in the condition of the muscles, the prolapse of the genital organ is possible.

Lack of estrogen affects not only the reproductive system, but also the mammary glands, skin, hair, nails. These areas of the body undergo collagen deficiency atrophy. In women, wrinkles appear, weight increases, the synthesis of vitamin D decreases, which disrupts the absorption of calcium, leading to its increased leaching from the bones. The skeleton gradually begins to collapse, osteoporosis appears, pain in the extremities at night, and pathology of the spine. Some women develop thyroid dysfunction.

Classification of pathology

Menopause syndrome is classified according to its severity. There are 3 forms:

Light - there are 7-10 hot flashes per day, practically no changes in the efficiency and condition of the patient are detected. This form is diagnosed in 16% of women.
Medium - characterized by an increase in the frequency of hot flashes (10-20 per day). The fair sex has pronounced symptoms of the syndrome: dizziness, headaches, memory impairment, general well-being, sleep disturbances. This form of climacteric pathology occurs in 33% of patients.
Severe is the most common type of syndrome. There is a sharp deterioration in health, loss of performance. If the pathology was formed at 38-43 years old, it is characterized by a long, especially severe course. In this case, serious violations of psychosocial adaptation are possible.

There is a classification of climacteric pathology depending on the clinical manifestations. The following forms are distinguished:

Uncomplicated (typical) - manifested only by increased sweating (hyperhidrosis) and hot flashes. It occurs under the influence of excessive mental or physical stress in a healthy woman. The typical form is characterized by the classic signs of menopause, which will disappear after 1-2 years, the timely onset of menopause. The general well-being of a woman practically does not change. In patients with an uncomplicated form of the syndrome, slight deposits of subcutaneous fat and a decrease in skin elasticity are revealed. All changes are age appropriate.
Complicated - develops against the background of diseases of the cardiovascular system, digestive organs, dysfunction of the thyroid gland, diabetes mellitus... The form of pathology is found in the fair sex over 45 years old. The complicated course of the syndrome is characterized by an increase in the frequency and severity of hot flashes, the presence of an increased heart rate, disturbed sleep, attention, memory. Feelings of fading and pain in the region of the heart may occur. Women with hypertension are at risk of developing a complicated form of the syndrome.
Atypical - occurs in patients who have undergone surgery, mental or physical trauma, serious illness, worked for a long time in unfavorable conditions. This form is characterized by disruptions in the menstrual cycle, which subsequently transform into a complete cessation of menstruation. After some time, typical climacteric symptoms appear: tearfulness, memory loss, sleep disturbance, deterioration in working capacity. External manifestations of the atypical form of the syndrome are expressed in fragility and hair loss, dry skin, age spots on the surface of the chest, arms, head. Typical signs are itching of the extremities, in the genital area, increased urination, swelling, weight gain, joint pain. The condition of a patient suffering from an atypical form of the syndrome is rapidly deteriorating, panic attacks, osteoporosis, hypoglycemia, osteochondrosis, asthma may develop.

Complications

Untimely or incorrect therapy of the pathological syndrome can cause adverse consequences. Some complications are likely:

pathological changes in the urogenital sphere, expressed by urinary incontinence;
increased risk of atherosclerosis, thrombosis, stroke, ischemia, diabetes mellitus;
development of benign or malignant neoplasms in the mammary glands, reproductive organs;
increased risk of osteoporosis, the likelihood of chronic fractures;
deterioration in the quality of life, the level of a woman's working capacity.

Diagnostics

If a woman has symptoms of a pathological menopause, she should immediately consult a gynecologist. In addition, it is required to be examined by a therapist, rheumatologist. Women in adulthood are advised to consult a psychotherapist, ophthalmologist, endocrinologist. To diagnose climacteric syndrome, research is needed:

Collecting anamnesis in order to identify hereditary, gynecological factors of the onset of menopause, chronic diseases, analysis of the patient's complaints.
Interviewing a doctor about the body's menstrual functionality. The gynecologist must find out the age when the first menstruation began, their regularity, frequency and duration at the moment. If there is no function, you need to find out the date of the last menstruation.
Gynecological examination to determine the correctness of the development of reproductive organs, their size, localization of pain. For this, the doctor uses a two-handed examination of the vaginal cavity.
Breast examination - to identify the presence of pathological changes in the structure of the mammary glands.
Study of the state of the body as a whole. A diagnostic measure is necessary to detect pathologies associated with the syndrome that do not belong to diseases of the reproductive system. It is required to assess the performance of the cardiovascular system, measure blood pressure, study the condition of the skin, nails, hair, body weight.
Blood tests to determine the level of hormones, the degree of clotting, for a biopsy. A smear is also taken for cytology.
Mammography - to detect serious breast pathologies through radiography.
Ultrasound examination (ultrasound) of the pelvic organs.
Densitometry - a method designed to identify the state of the skeleton (spinal column, forearms, hips). The results help determine the presence of osteoporosis.

Treatment of climacteric syndrome

Therapy of pathological menopause should be dealt with by a gynecologist or gynecologist-endocrinologist. If necessary, these specialists can refer a woman for a consultation with a therapist and endocrinologist to obtain more complete information about her condition. Examination by a psychotherapist will be required if the patient has nervous disorders, depression, asthenia. For the prevention or treatment of diseases of the joints and bones, it is necessary to consult a rheumatologist. The treatment regimen for vegetative manifestations should be prescribed by a neurologist.

There are two main strategies for treating the syndrome: medication and non-medication. The second type of treatment includes diet, exercise, aromatherapy, massage and other treatments, folk remedies. Such therapy is provided for mild climacteric pathologies. Moderate and severe course of the syndrome involves the use of medications: hormonal, sedatives, antipsychotics, tranquilizers, vitamin complexes. Combined treatment is often prescribed by specialists.

Diet

The complex of non-drug therapy of the syndrome includes proper nutrition... The diet must be saturated with vegetables and fruits, vegetable fats. Foods containing phytoestrogens are especially beneficial.... Natural hormones are found in flaxseed oil, nuts, soy, bran, cherries, apples, citrus fruits, spinach, garlic, broccoli, parsley.

With menopause, a woman should consume low-fat dairy products. Among the drinks, preference should be given to herbal teas. It is required to limit the consumption of caffeine, carbohydrate foods (chocolate, sweets, muffins, jam), alcohol, red meat, smoked, spicy foods. The seasonal lack of vitamins and minerals is replenished by complex preparations prescribed by a specialist.

Physiotherapy procedures

Physiotherapy is often prescribed by doctors to maintain a woman's well-being during menopause. The following procedures are recommended:

Therapeutic gymnastics - it is necessary to start classes even in preparation for the climacteric period. Daily exercise helps to reduce the severity of psychoneurotic symptoms, decrease insulin levels, improve oxygen and carbohydrate metabolism... The type of physiotherapy exercises, the training program should be selected by the doctor based on the indications. Patients may be encouraged to study in groups or do gymnastics at home. In order to prevent prolapse of the uterus, Kegel, Bubnovsky, Yunusov exercises are prescribed.
Acupuncture - helps to effectively cope with the symptoms that manifest the pathological climacteric syndrome. The procedure has a beneficial effect on vascular tone, increases the activity of the immune, neurohumoral, endocrine systems. The advantage of acupuncture is safety, painlessness, almost complete absence of contraindications.
Therapeutic massage - with menopausal changes in the body, it is recommended to carry out general and point effects. Both types of procedures are prescribed as part of complex therapy, together with other physiotherapy techniques, medications, and diet. Massage will help get rid of fatigue, mood swings, and reduce the intensity and frequency of hot flashes. The procedure improves the tone of muscles and blood vessels, lymph circulation, activates metabolic processes, has a relaxing effect on the nervous system.
Hydrotherapy - can be carried out in a spa or at home. The procedure includes douches, a contrast shower, hot foot, pine, sage baths. Exposure to water helps to reduce the frequency of hot flashes, improve the patient's emotional state, increase vascular tone, skin elasticity.
Aromatherapy - essential oils of oregano, sage, orange, lavender, jasmine, inhaled through cold inhalation or aroma lamp, have a beneficial effect on the female body. Substances soothe the nervous system, normalize heat exchange, relieve weakness, anxiety, tearfulness. Natural oils relax the body, preventing the appearance of depression, and restore it after stress.

Drug therapy

Treatment of pathological menopause with medicines is used for moderate and severe forms of the disease. Depending on the indications, the following groups of drugs are prescribed:

Sedatives - used to normalize the state of the nervous system, improve overall health. The means of this group include tinctures of motherwort herb, valerian root, fruits and flowers of hawthorn.
Antipsychotics (phenothiazine series) - are recommended for depression, hypochondriac syndrome. Medicines reduce psychomotor agitation, have a calming effect, and suppress feelings of anxiety and fear. The group's medicines include Frenolone, Meterazin, Triftazin, Eperazin.
Tranquilizers - are recommended for the development of asthenia, psychoemotional disorders, mild climacteric neuroses. The drugs relieve fear, anxiety, anxiety, and internal stress. Elenium, Diazepam are often prescribed.
Vitamins A, C, E are prescribed for all patients. The funds strengthen the body, improve the condition of the skin, hair, reduce the risk of the formation and development of mastopathy, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, slow down the production of gonadotropic hormones, enhance the effect of progesterone and estrogen.
Hormonal drugs are used to treat severe forms of the syndrome. Medicines help to cope with hot flashes, vaginal discomfort. The selection of drugs is carried out by the doctor individually, according to the indications. Popular medicines in this group are Norgestrel, Utrozhestan, Dydrogesterone.

Prevention of climacteric syndrome

To avoid an exacerbation of the pathological symptoms of menopause, it is necessary to take preventive measures. Women should be guided by several aspects:

lead healthy image life - eat right, eat well, ensure body weight control, apply moderate physical activity, form a daily routine, take time for rest;
take hormonal drugs in strict accordance with the instructions, doctor's prescriptions;
timely treat diseases, especially infections, inflammations;
undergo a preventive examination by gynecologists at least once every six months.

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With age, hormonal changes inherent in nature occur in the female body. But many women are afraid of menopause, because there is an opinion that menopause is always malaise, hot flashes, loss of emotions from intimate relationships. Is it so? Or is menopausal simply the next stage in a woman's life and development? What is a woman's menopause, when it occurs and how it manifests itself, what treatment is indicated during menopause, read below.

What is menopause in women

Menopause is a woman's natural state when she reaches a certain age. Each woman has a certain formed supply of eggs in the ovaries. The ovaries produce female hormones - estrogen and progesterone, which regulate female fertility, and as a result ovulation and menstruation occur cyclically every month. When the supply of eggs is used up, menstruation stops, the production of hormones is significantly reduced and the period of menopause begins.

Symptoms

A woman should know information about how the menopause manifests itself, what hot flashes are. It is important to be able to get rid of hot flashes quickly so as not to feel discomfort in people, in the office, etc. As a rule, they are manifested in a sensation of unexpected heat, which lasts for several minutes and is replaced by a feeling of cold, perspiration appears on the woman's body - this is a reaction of the nervous system to a decrease in the production of hormones. Washing with cold water helps to relieve an attack of heat, if this does not help, you need to choose a medicine with the help of a doctor.

Other possible signs of the onset of menopause:

irregular menstruation;
uterine bleeding;
sudden mood swings;
heart rate increases;
pressure surges;
nausea;
headache;
joint and muscle pain;
dryness of the vagina;
decreased sex drive;
fast fatiguability;
sleep disorder;
neurosis;
depression may develop.

When comes

At what age and how does menopause begin? After 40 years in women, premenopause occurs: rare or frequent menstruation is observed, dysfunctional bleeding is possible, the development of climacteric cardiopathy, bloody discharge is possible between menstruation. It is important to know why this period is dangerous: changes in the body can be symptoms gynecological diseases, for example, uterine fibroids. A menopause test will help confirm the onset of premenopause. A stable basal temperature also indicates the onset of menopause.

Nevertheless, there is no definite answer to the question of how old a woman starts menopause, because the onset of menopause is influenced by genetic factors, working conditions, climate, way of life, and the presence of bad habits. But in most women, climacteric changes begin after 45 years, if after 50 years it is a late menopause. Today, many specialists in gynecology are inclined to believe that late menopause should be called its onset after 55 years.

A frequent occurrence these days is early menopause. The causes of early menopause, which can begin even at the age of 30, are heredity, immunity disorders, or the results of medical intervention. In exceptional cases, premature menopause can occur even at the age of 25 as a result of damage to the ovaries after chemotherapy or surgical removal of the ovaries for medical reasons. But such a menopause is pathological and necessarily requires treatment in order to even out the hormonal disruption of the female body at a young age.

How long is the climacteric period

In the climacteric period, the phases of premenopause, menopause and postmenopause are distinguished. How long does hormonal changes in the body take?

Premenopause lasts 2-10 years, until menstruation stops.
Menopause occurs 1 year after the cessation of menstruation.
The postmenopausal period begins with the onset of menopause and lasts 6-8 years, at which time the symptoms of menopause - for example, hot flashes - may persist, but go away more easily.

Treatment for menopausal syndrome

To alleviate the manifestations of menopause, you need to know what to take when a headache pesters, how to relieve hot flashes or other unpleasant symptoms, and stop uterine bleeding. One of the most commonly used drugs in the treatment of climacteric syndrome is the homeopathic tablets "Remens". A woman, after consulting a doctor, will be able to choose which means it is best for her to use.

Homeopathic remedies

Homeopathy for menopause offers remedies in the form of pills or drops. In the climacteric period, a whole range of health problems are manifested, which are also based on vegetative-vascular symptoms - hot flashes, increased sweating, heart palpitations, and psycho-emotional - irritability, insomnia, increased fatigue. It is possible to solve a complex of problems with menopause due to the natural components in the composition of the Klimaktoplan preparation. The action of the drug is aimed at eliminating two main problems: manifestations of autonomic dysfunction and neuro-emotional discomfort. The drug is of European quality, does not contain hormones, is dispensed without a prescription, is well tolerated, and is produced in Germany.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine recipes are often shared by women based on their experience. To maintain physical tone and Have a good mood water procedures are good - soothing herbal baths (Potentilla root, lovage). For the prevention of general health, teas and decoctions from medicinal plants are used: chamomile, mint, upland uterus, nettle, hawthorn. For optimal well-being during this transition period, you need to plan your daily routine, eat right, and get good rest.

Hormonal drugs

Hormone therapy is used only after a medical examination of a woman and as prescribed by a doctor, since it has a number of contraindications. But if complications such as obesity, osteoporosis occur during menopause, cardiovascular diseases, additional hormone intake is necessary. Doses of hormones, which are contained in the preparations "Klimonorm", "Femoston", "Kliogest", replace the lacking production of its own hormones by the body.

Phytopreparations

With menopause, plant-based medicines are also used, for example, "Inoklim", "Klimadinon", "Feminal", and in addition, vitamin-mineral complexes can be used independently or as part of hormonal therapy. The composition includes phytoestrogens - substances similar in structure and function to female sex hormones, but phytohormones have a much less pronounced effect on the female body. Vitamins and microelements have a strengthening function and help relieve the negative manifestations of age-related metabolic disorders.

Vitamins

It is always pleasant for a woman to know that she is being taken care of. It’s even more pleasant to feel it. In the field of taking care of women's well-being, Lady’s Formula Menopause Strengthened Formula has proven itself ideally. A well-known complex of traditional vitamins, the most important minerals and rare extracts medicinal plants effectively helps women cope with the problems that arise during menopause. Thanks to an integrated approach to eliminating the symptoms of menopause, its delicate effect and the absence of side effects, the biocomplex Lady's Formula Menopause Enhanced Formula has become the drug of choice for many women to maintain a high quality of life during this period.

When taking Lady’s Formula Menopause Enhanced Formula you will no longer be bothered by hot flashes, tachycardia, irritability, insomnia, you say no overweight and frequent urge to urinate. In addition, you will enjoy a healthy, fresh complexion and firmness of the skin, shine and strength of the hair.

Lady's Formula Menopause Fortified Formula will step by step restore high vitality, well-being and excellent appearance.

What is premenopause

The pre-clementeric period is the transition period to menopause, during which the level of estrogen produced by the ovaries decreases for several years in a woman. Harbingers of premenopause:

delayed menstruation;
exacerbation premenstrual syndrome, sudden mood swings;
painful tenderness of the mammary glands;
itching and dryness of the vagina, discomfort during intercourse;
decreased sex drive;
frequent urination;
incontinence when sneezing or coughing.

Doctors diagnose the premenopausal period based on the symptoms that a woman has, and on the basis of a blood test for hormone levels, which must be taken several times due to unstable hormonal levels during this period. Premenopause - a natural condition for women 40-50 years old, lasts until menopause, when the ovaries stop producing eggs.

Pregnancy with menopause

Is it possible to get pregnant during menopause? Yes it is possible. The reproductive function of a woman during the premenopausal period is significantly reduced, but the likelihood of pregnancy is there. If such a twist of fate is undesirable, you must continue to use contraception within 12 months after the last menstrual period. But sex after menopause is still able to bring bright colors to a woman's life, and sex life in no case should end in the postmenopausal period.

Menopausal Syndrome (climax , menopause ) - this is a period of physiological changes in a woman's life, which lead to a gradual extinction of the reproductive function. A similar restructuring in the body occurs under the influence of hormonal changes. As a rule, a woman's menopause begins after the age of forty and lasts for about ten years.

Signs of menopausal syndrome

The main symptom of menopause is the gradual cessation of menstruation. In addition, menopause is characterized by the manifestation of a whole complex of various disorders such as endocrine and vegetative-vascular nature ... Women during menopause often suffer from sudden "hot flashes", which are accompanied by a feeling of heat, blood flow to the face. In addition, at this time, a woman notes the manifestation of severe sweating, irritability, tearfulness, her can significantly decrease and increase, dryness of the mucous membranes and skin periodically manifests itself, insomnia worries. In some cases, during menopause, sudden mental and nervous disorders are possible, as well as the occurrence of dysfunctional uterine bleeding.

However, the symptoms of menopause listed above are not manifested in all women in menopause. In some women, the period of such a restructuring of the body of pathological manifestations does not provoke. However, another part of women notes the pathological course of menopause, leading to manifestations of climacteric syndrome. According to medical statistics, menopausal syndrome develops in 26 - 48% of patients. Sometimes malfunctioning different systems the organism with the development of this syndrome is so serious that a woman cannot work fully, and her quality of life is significantly reduced.

Causes of Menopausal Syndrome

The period when the woman's body enters the phase of withering of functions reproductive system, many women are going through quite hard. Serious changes can affect almost the entire female body. A definite glitch gives work immune system , which, in turn, leads to an increase in the number of infectious and autoimmune diseases. The aging process of the female body at this time is also activated. However, the most striking changes at this time occur with the female reproductive system. During menopause, follicles no longer develop in a woman's ovaries, eggs do not mature, and ovulation does not occur.

During menopause, the content of the female body is significantly reduced, and at the same time the production of gonadotropic hormones increases. Due to the too low content of estrogen in the body, a woman may experience disorders in various organs. So with the menopausal syndrome, violations of the urogenital, vegetative-neurotic nature are possible. The risk of developing skin changes , ischemia of blood vessels , psychological disorders .

Features of menopausal disorders

Menopausal disorders, according to the degree of manifestation of climacteric syndrome, are manifested as early , mid-term and late manifestations.

As early manifestations, a number of vasomotor symptoms arise (hot flashes, chills, surges in blood pressure, periodic heartbeat). The so-called psychoemotional signs (a feeling of anxiety, weakness, mood swings, irritability, insomnia) are also distinguished. Sometimes a woman may even fall into a depressive state, note a decrease in libido. All these signs are characteristic of the premenopausal period, they can also occur in the first years of postmenopause.

Speaking about the average manifestations of menopause, doctors note some separate groups of symptoms. As urogenital symptoms the woman notes vaginal dryness, which leads to painful intercourse, itching and burning in the genital area, more frequent urination, sometimes the woman also suffers from urinary incontinence. The number of wrinkles on the skin gradually increases, nails can break intensively and hair fall out. Such manifestations occur in a woman about 3-5 years after the first manifestations of menopause. If a woman practices any methods of treating such symptoms, they do not bring the expected effect.

Late manifestations of disorders of the menopausal period are, first of all, disorders metabolism leading to atherosclerosis , osteoporosis , a number of cardiovascular disease ,. Such serious ailments develop 5-10 years after the first manifestations occur.

Menopausal metabolic syndrome

Diagnosis " menopausal metabolic syndrome "Is often given to women who had menopause several years ago. As a rule, patients after 60 years of age suffer from such a disorder. According to medical statistics, this syndrome affects about a quarter of all women. Until now, the reasons leading to the development of such a disorder have not been precisely established. But nevertheless, experts talk about the influence of hormonal imbalance, the presence of chronic diseases, and the absence in the body of some substances necessary for its functioning on the manifestations of the menopausal metabolic syndrome.

The main signs of this condition are obesity, an increase in glucose levels in a woman's blood, an increase in blood pressure, as well as the occurrence of diseases of the cardiovascular system. The combination of these factors can pose a serious threat not only to health, but also to a woman's life.

The above factors have a clear relationship. The manifestation is caused by natural weight gain during menopause under the influence of hormonal instability. It is important here to clearly adjust lifestyle and eating habits. However, sometimes women who suffer from recurrent depression start to eat too much junk food. As a result, the weight gradually increases. Obesity, in turn, leads to an increase in blood glucose and development.

The process of weight gain provokes the deposition of fat around the internal organs. Accordingly, the load on the heart increases significantly, which leads to cardiovascular diseases. Unfortunately, such processes can be irreversible.

Thus, if the doctor notes that the patient has several criteria during the period of menstrual pause (a sharp increase in body weight, increased pressure at rest, manifestations of irritability), then he has every reason to suspect menopausal syndrome.

Experts note that menopausal syndrome most often develops in women who have a hereditary tendency to severe menopause, as well as in the presence of chronic diseases, violations of the monthly cycle during the reproductive period. Women who smoke, as well as those who had an early menopause, are more likely to suffer from a severe course of menopause. Menopausal syndrome is more common in nulliparous women.

Symptoms of Menopausal Syndrome

Both the process of development of menopausal syndrome and the severity of manifestations in menopause depends on several factors. This hormonal disorders, general state of health of a woman at the onset of menopause, genetic predisposition, environment.

If a woman's menopause is pathological, then in about 80% of cases there are vegetative vascular symptoms ... In this case, the so-called "hot flashes" should be noted: in this state, a woman's capillaries on the skin of the face, head, chest expand sharply, and the body temperature rises slightly. In this state, there is a strong influx of heat, the skin turns red, there is a strong heartbeat and sweating. These attacks can last for about five minutes. Different women have a different frequency of "hot flashes": from one to twenty such attacks per day can occur. Most often this happens at night, negatively affecting the sleep of a woman in menopause. In especially severe cases, the hot flashes of menopause are accompanied by a depressive state, phobias,.

In some women, the described symptoms of menopause are also accompanied by irritability, anxiety, tearfulness, and other psycho-emotional symptoms.

The pathological course of the climacteric period can also be manifested by sexual and urogenital disorders. Another alarming symptom is the development of osteoporosis, which significantly increases the risk of fractures.

Severe menopausal syndrome with menopause sometimes provokes the manifestation of sympatho-adrenal crises in a woman. With such an attack, the patient is worried about a sharp headache, surges in blood pressure, delayed urine separation, followed by polyuria ... With a severe course of menopause, the symptoms of menopause can also appear regularly, while ECG studies do not reveal changes. Possible allergic reactions that appear in response to previously well-tolerated foods and drugs. Such reactions are evidence of changes in the body's immune system. In general, changes in health that occur after menopause sometimes affect a woman's quality of life.

Diagnostics of the menopausal syndrome

When diagnosing menopausal syndrome, the doctor, first of all, carefully interviews the patient. Sometimes it is difficult to diagnose the pathological course of menopause due to exacerbated chronic diseases that take place in the patient. In this regard, the course of menopause is further aggravated, moreover, it can manifest itself atypically. Therefore, the doctor often recommends that the patient be examined by other doctors - a neurologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist. A blood level test is also done to confirm the diagnosis. Sometimes there is a need for a cytological examination of smears, as well as for a histological analysis of endometrial scrapings.

Menopausal Syndrome Treatment

Practicing the treatment of menopause, the gynecologist directs efforts to reduce the manifestations of menopause, which negatively affect the woman's condition. To alleviate the condition during hot flashes, as well as reduce their frequency, a woman is prescribed a course of antidepressant therapy.

In order to prevent the development and progression of osteoporosis, the use of non-hormonal drugs, biophosphonates, is practiced, which prevent intense bone loss. These drugs are sometimes prescribed instead of estrogens.

If a woman is very worried about urogenital symptoms, it is advisable for her to use the introduction of estrogen in the form of tablets or a cream vaginally.

However, the most noticeable effect in menopause is given by treatment with hormonal drugs. Treatment with medications containing estrogens can significantly reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flashes, eliminate discomfort in the genitals. Treatment with natural estrogens is mainly practiced. To prevent the development of hyperplastic processes in the endometrium, estrogens are combined with gestagens or with androgens ... Hormone therapy should last for several years in order to prevent a woman from developing serious diseases that provoke menopausal syndrome.

Taking hormonal drugs during a pathological menopause is not prescribed for women with oncological diseases organs of the reproductive system, as well as patients suffering from blood clotting disorder , impaired renal function or liver .

Before prescribing a course of treatment with drugs containing hormones, the doctor must conduct an ultrasound scan, cytological examination,

Hormone therapy is determined depending on what stage of menopause the patient has. If we are talking about premenopause, then hormonal drugs are prescribed cyclically. In the postmenopausal period, due to atorophical changes in the endometrium, as well as other negative phenomena for the female body, hormones should be taken constantly.

With pathological menopause, systemic treatment with a combination of drugs containing hormones is the most effective. In addition, if necessary, other medications are prescribed in parallel to treat hypertension , cardiovascular diseases and other ailments associated with menopause.

Sometimes the attending physician also advises the patient to consult a dietitian in order to formulate the correct diet. In addition, a woman is advised to spend as much time as possible on fresh air, get enough sleep and rest, move more and avoid stress and negative emotions... Timely treatment of menopausal syndrome can significantly improve a woman's condition, her performance and health.

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