Menopause: What You Need to Know
Menopause: What You Need to Know
In the best top clinics in Switzerland работают высококвалифицированные гинекологи, которые проводят полное обследование, назначают оптимальный препарат для заместительной гормональной терапии и следят за здоровьем женщин на протяжении всего периода лечения климакса.
offer comprehensive menopause care treatment in Switzerland Highly qualified gynecologists conduct a full examination, prescribe the optimal drug for hormone replacement therapy, and monitor women's health throughout the entire period of menopause treatment. An individual approach to the choice of drugs and their dosage is mandatory for effective treatment.
Estrogen: A Brief Overview
Estrogen is a hormone produced by the body. It is present in both men and women, but the level of estrogen is highest in women, so it is also called a female hormone. The male hormone is testosterone.
Estrogen is produced in the ovaries and is important for many functions throughout life. Estrogen also plays an important role in the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and childbirth.
Why Do Women Reach Menopause?
It is in the ovaries that female sex hormones are produced. Female sex hormones are estrogen and progesterone, of which estrogen is the best known. However, they are equally important, and each has its own role in a woman's body.
Estrogen builds the lining of the uterus, strengthens and maintains the linings of the vagina and urinary tract, and counteracts bone loss. Estrogen also prevents atherosclerosis.
Progesterone supports the lining of the uterus, which is why menstruation remains regular.
When menopause occurs, it is because the body produces less estrogen and progesterone. Thus, menstruation becomes irregular and other menopause symptoms begin.
Menopause Symptoms
Early Signs of Menopause
Most women approaching menopause experience hot flashes, sudden feelings of heat that spread throughout the upper body, often with redness and sweating. These flashes can range from mild in most women to severe in others.
You may also notice:
- Irregular or missed periods
- Vaginal dryness
- Chest pain
- Increased need to urinate
- Sleep problems
- Emotional changes
- Dry skin, eyes, or mouth
Menopause Symptoms
Later symptoms often include:
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Irritability
- Racing heart
- Headaches
- Joint and muscle pain
- Weight gain
- Hair loss
- Changes in libido (sex drive)
Menopause Diagnosis
Менопауза устанавливается гинекологом в тех случаях, когда у женщины не было менструации за последние 12 месяцев и ее возраст соответствует общепринятым нормам угасания функций яичников. В некоторых случаях обследование женщины дополняется анализом на уровень ФСГ в крови.
To exclude risks, the diagnosis of menopause is supplemented by the following studies:
- Gynecological examination:examination, colposcopy, ultrasound of the pelvic organs, smears and Pap test;
- Ultrasound of the mammary glands and mammography
- EKG;
- Blood biochemistry;
- Blood test for TSH;
- Urinalysis
If necessary, the doctor may prescribe consultations with other specialists (endocrinologist, mammologist, etc.).
A comprehensive approach to the diagnosis of menopause helps to exclude the risks of developing the consequences of menopause. The frequency of screening examinations is determined by the doctor. The specialist also recommends not forgetting to monitor the frequency and regularity of menstruation and regularly perform self-examination of the mammary glands.
The main areas of therapy for menopause include:
- Non-drug treatment of menopause (includes exercise, diet, etc.)
- Drug treatment. It is mainly aimed at normalizing the state of the nervous system with moderate and severe manifestations of menopause. The course of treatment includes vitamins, sedatives, antidepressants
- Hormone therapy. Such treatment of climacteric syndrome is indicated only in cases where other methods do not work.