How to ease menopause, and how to help a woman during menopause?

The text is for informational purposes only. We strongly urge you not to self-medicate. When the first symptoms appear, consult a doctor. We recommend reading: “Why you can’t self-medicate?”

Menopause (menopause) is the time that marks the end of a woman's menstrual cycles. Menopause is diagnosed after a woman has gone 12 months without a menstrual cycle. The average age of onset of this process is 50 years.

Menopause is a natural biological process. But physical symptoms, such as hot flashes and emotional symptoms, can disrupt sleep, reduce energy, or affect mental health. There are many effective treatments available, ranging from lifestyle adaptations to hormonal therapy.

Symptoms of menopause

In the months or years leading up to menopause (perimenopause), a woman may experience the following symptoms: vaginal dryness, hot flashes, chills, excessive sweating, trouble sleeping, mood swings, weight gain and slow metabolism, thinning hair and dry skin, decreased volume breasts

For each woman, this period proceeds differently with a personal set of symptoms, some do not feel any changes in the body, and some women have to undergo long-term maintenance hormonal therapy.

Slipping periods during perimenopause are common and expected. Often, menstrual periods skip a month and return, or skip a few months and then start the monthly cycles again within a few months. The periods also tend to occur on shorter cycles, so they are closer together. Despite irregular periods, pregnancy is possible. If you have missed a period but are not sure if you have started the menopausal transition, it is recommended to take a pregnancy test.

Symptoms and associated diseases during menopause

The main signs that menopause has arrived:

1. Irregularity of the menstrual cycle and its complete disappearance
2. Tides
3. Dryness of the vaginal mucosa and skin
4. Sleep disturbance
5. Mood swings
6. Memory impairment
7. Breast volume reduction
8. Weight gain

The reason for all changes in the body is the “turning off” of the ovaries and a decrease in the level of estrogen in the blood. Estrogen affects many organs and tissues, so changes develop in almost all systems of a woman’s body: genitals and mammary glands, blood vessels and bones, nervous system, endocrine glands.

Tides

Hot flashes are a feeling of heat in the face and chest, sweating and rapid heartbeat that can occur several times a day for several minutes. These are mild manifestations and you can cope with them by changing your lifestyle. The cause of hot flashes is a violation of thermoregulation.

Vaginal dryness

This is probably one of the most unpleasant signs of aging. Vaginal dryness may be accompanied by painful intercourse. Fortunately, there is a solution to this problem - lubricants (by the way, use them not only during sex, but also when you feel discomfort when walking or playing sports). Regular sexual activity can help maintain vaginal function by increasing blood flow to the genital area and maintaining vaginal size. Without sexual activity and estrogen, the vagina can become smaller and drier, creating a vicious cycle. Dry mucous membranes of the vagina and urinary tract are more prone to infections; carefully maintain intimate hygiene to avoid unwanted diseases.

Dry skin

The skin loses moisture not only due to hormonal changes, but also due to the natural decrease in elastin, collagen and hyaluronic acid. Cosmetologists will help with wrinkles and sagging skin by selecting daily skin care and prescribing other necessary procedures. Although some women skillfully emphasize facial features with simple makeup, and no wrinkles are a hindrance to them. Rapid skin aging is observed in smokers and those who do not protect their face from exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Don't forget about sunscreen.

Sleep disturbance

Insomnia can occur for various reasons. Depression often accompanies the menopausal period; women endure the stages of aging more difficultly than men. In this case, antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapy can help. According to medical research, the development of depression is higher in those who have experienced severe PMS or postpartum depression. Sleep disturbance can also be caused by frequent hot flashes at night.

Weight gain

Associated with slowing metabolism. Female hormones do not affect metabolic rate. This is the work of the thyroid gland. Endocrinologists treat thyroid problems. It is advisable to get rid of excess weight, because it increases the load on joints and bones, which become fragile.

Stopping the menstrual cycle

Irregular menstrual cycles that eventually stop altogether

This is the whole point of completing a woman’s fertile function. But it is still necessary to protect yourself for another 2-3 years after the very last menstruation; there may still be single eggs left in the ovaries, which may turn out to be viable and give birth to offspring when fertilized by sperm.

Memory impairment

Associated with a natural decrease in neutron bonds, as well as with impaired attention and concentration, which can occur against the background of depressive and anxiety states.

Mood swings

Hormonal surges (although not as pronounced as in adolescence) affect the emotional background. The ovaries are still trying to work, periodically releasing small amounts of hormones into the blood. Because of such changes, hysterics, irritability or periodic tearfulness may occur.

Breast volume reduction

Not only the amount of estrogens decreases, but also the number of receptors for them. There are a lot of the latter in the mammary glands. Thanks to estrogen receptors, our breasts become larger during pregnancy. Evolutionarily, we need breasts to feed our children. But the function of procreation is over. This means there is no need to feed anyone else.

Osteoporosis

When estrogen levels are low, bones begin to break down very quickly. You probably know grandmothers who fell ill after a hip fracture. Fractures are associated with increased bone fragility. Bone tissue is destroyed faster than it regenerates, so bone fragments grow together very slowly. Hormonal therapy, vitamin D and calcium will help prevent osteoporosis; endocrinologists and rheumatologists deal with specific treatment of osteoporosis.

Atherosclerosis and its consequences

Estrogens protect our blood vessels and reduce the amount of “bad” cholesterol. It is for this reason that the incidence and mortality from cardiovascular diseases among women under 50 years of age is significantly lower than among men. In the postmenopausal period, gender differences in heart disease disappear.

Signs of increased blood pressure: headache, spots before the eyes, dizziness. If you feel this way, measure your blood pressure. At the first rise in blood pressure or the appearance of pain in the heart, you should consult a therapist to prescribe adequate therapy.

When to see a doctor

Keep up with regular visits to your doctor for preventive health care and any medical concerns. Continue to see your doctor during and after menopause.

Preventive health care based on a woman's age may include recommended health screening tests such as colonoscopy, mammography, and triglyceride screening. The doctor may also recommend a variety of diagnostics, including examination of the thyroid gland, if malfunctions in its functioning have previously been noted, as well as diagnostics of the breast and pelvic organs.

Always seek medical help if you experience vaginal bleeding after menopause.

Nutrition correction

All representatives of the fair half of humanity who have entered the menopausal period are recommended:

• reduce the calorie content of the daily diet by eliminating alcoholic beverages, fatty meats, as well as foods high in sugar and carbohydrates;
• diversify your diet with low-fat varieties of fish, which are rich sources of protein compounds;
• reduce the level of portions by increasing the number of meals;
• eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible;
• It is better to prepare dishes by baking, stewing and steaming.

Important: Before using any treatment method, you should consult with a qualified specialist.

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About

Causes of menopause

Menopause can be the result of:

1. Natural reduction of reproductive hormones. As a woman ages, her ovaries begin to produce less estrogen and progesterone, the hormones responsible for regulating menstruation, and therefore fertility decreases. As a woman approaches age 40, her menstrual periods may become longer or shorter, heavier or lighter, and more or less frequent, until, on average, by age 50, the ovaries stop producing eggs and the menstrual cycles end.
2. Hysterectomies. Hysterectomy, surgery to remove the uterus but not the ovaries, does not usually cause immediate menopause. Although a woman no longer has menstrual periods, her ovaries still release mature eggs and produce progesterone and estrogen. But surgery that removes both the uterus and ovaries (total hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy) causes immediate menopause. Menstrual cycles stop immediately, and most often the woman immediately begins to feel all the unpleasant symptoms.
3. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These procedures to prevent the development of cancer cells can trigger the development of menopause, causing symptoms such as hot flashes during or shortly after the chemical course. The cessation of menstruation (and fertility) is not always permanent after chemotherapy, so it is still necessary to protect against unwanted pregnancy.
4. Primary ovarian failure. About a percentage of women experience all the symptoms of menopause before the age of forty (early menopause). Menopause can occur due to primary ovarian failure - when the ovaries are unable to produce normal levels of reproductive hormones, resulting from genetic factors or an autoimmune disease. But often the reason may not be found. For these women, hormone therapy is usually recommended until at least the natural age of menopause to protect the body.

Climax and its phases

Menopause is not old age; the main change that occurs at this time in a woman’s body is a gradual decrease and shutdown of the ovaries. At the age of 45 to 55 years, the reproductive system begins to lose ground . The brain stops sending signals to the genitals, which are responsible for the menstrual cycle.

Sex hormones are synthesized in smaller quantities, and then their production completely disappears. The lack of sex hormones affects all organs of the female body without exception, since estrogens take part in the functioning of the entire body. This is why the symptoms of menopause are so varied.

The climacteric period is usually divided into phases:

1. Perimenopause is a period in a woman’s life that begins at the moment when the rhythm of monthly bleeding changes. At this time, the body experiences a deficiency of estrogen and an increase in FSH levels. Perimenopause ends when a woman begins her last menstrual period.
2. Menopause is the last menstruation that began and ended on its own.
3. Perimenopause is the period of time from the beginning of perimenopause and one year after the last independent menstruation (menopause).
4. Postmenopause is a period of time up to 65-70 years from the moment of menopause.

Types of menopause can be as follows:

• 45-55 years – timely;
• 36-40 years – premature;
• 40-45 years – early;
• after 55 years - late.

In addition, menopause can be physiological or artificial. If menopause occurs without external intervention, it is called natural or physiological. When it comes depends on a large number of reasons.

Accelerate its beginning:

• stress;
• smoking;
• alcohol abuse;
• disruption of metabolic processes in the body;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• excess weight;
• lack of vitamins;
• various chronic diseases, etc.

However, the main factor that influences the age of women during menopause is genetics. Scientists are looking for an answer to why sisters experience menopause at approximately the same time, however, it is not yet possible to predict the age of menopause.

Induced or artificial menopause can occur at any age . It is associated with surgical removal of a woman's reproductive organs, chemical treatment or radiation.

Complications during menopause

During menopause, the risk of developing certain diseases increases.

Cardiovascular diseases

When estrogen levels decrease, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease increases. It is important to exercise regularly, eat right and not gain weight suddenly. Ask your doctor for advice on how to protect your heart, such as how to remove excess cholesterol or lower your blood pressure if it is too high.

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Osteoporosis

A special period in women leads to bones becoming brittle and weak, resulting in a risk of fractures. In the first years after menopause, women can rapidly lose bone density, increasing their risk of osteoporosis. Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis are at risk because they are prone to fractures of the spine, hips and wrists.

Urinary incontinence

Because the tissues of the vagina and urethra are not as elastic as they used to be, women may experience frequent, sudden, strong urges to urinate, accompanied by involuntary loss of urine (urinary incontinence) or loss of urine when coughing, laughing, or lifting heavy objects (stress incontinence), and infections are increasingly common. genitourinary system. Kegel exercises and the use of topical vaginal estrogen may help relieve incontinence symptoms. Hormone therapy can also be an effective treatment option for menopausal urinary tract and vaginal changes that can lead to urinary incontinence.

Sexual function

There is dryness in the vagina due to decreased moisture production and loss of elasticity, which in turn can cause discomfort and minor bleeding during sexual intercourse. Water-based vaginal moisturizers and lubricants may help. If vaginal lubrication is not enough, many women benefit from topical vaginal estrogen treatment, available as a cream, tablet, or ring.

Sudden weight gain

During this period, women tend to become overweight because their metabolism slows down. It is recommended to eat less and exercise more to maintain your current weight.

Traditional treatment method

For many centuries, traditional healers have studied the structure of the female body and found among medicinal plants answers to the question of what to do to improve well-being during menopause. Preparing teas, tinctures, infusions and decoctions from medicinal plants will help not only strengthen the body, but also soften all the unpleasant currents of such a difficult period.

1. An infusion of a mixture of celandine, chamomile, cinquefoil and yarrow, taken 20 grams each, is used as a sedative with a general strengthening effect on the body. To prepare the infusion, you need to pour a tablespoon of the prepared mixture into 1000 ml of boiling water and leave for a little more than half an hour. Take half a glass twice a day.
2. To treat hot flashes that made a woman’s condition unbearable, it is recommended to use rowan tincture. To prepare it, you need to finely chop 200 grams of rowan berries and pour them with a liter of vodka. The resulting mixture should be stored in a dark place for two weeks. After two weeks, the healing tincture will be ready and can be consumed 1 tablespoon three times a day to relieve menopausal symptoms.

When it comes

When should we expect the onset of menopause? Currently, a decrease in the age threshold for menopause is increasingly observed. If previously women mostly encountered this phenomenon closer to 50 years of age, now for about 45 years many women can observe a typical clinical picture of the menopause.

After the age of thirty, female sex hormones gradually stop being synthesized. If a woman is not sexually active, the onset of menopause may occur earlier; the fact is that during intimacy, a woman produces hormones, this signal goes to the brain, which understands that estrogen is still needed, since the reproductive system is in demand. Our body is designed in such a way that it rejects and atrophies everything that it does not need, so an active sex life is a sure way to delay menopause .

Symptomatic therapy for menopause

With the onset of menopause, the functioning of many systems in the body is disrupted, therefore, in addition to hormonal drugs, treatment is carried out aimed at eliminating severe symptoms of menopause.

To normalize the psycho-emotional state, sedatives are prescribed:

• Valerina;

• Barboval;

• Phytosed.

For more severe autonomic disorders (depression, aggressiveness), antidepressants are indicated.

If blood pressure rises, then antihypertensive drugs will help improve the condition: Captopril, Arifon. You can also take dietary supplements based on herbs and with the addition of beneficial vitamins and microelements: Bonisan, Remens. If you have symptoms of atherosclerosis, you must follow a strict diet that helps reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the blood.

To make it easier to survive menopause, you need to follow a sleep and rest schedule; sleep should be complete. It is useful to play sports, take walks in the fresh air, and spend active weekends outside the city. Diet therapy also has a positive effect on a woman’s well-being and helps reduce the symptoms of menopause. It is recommended to exclude fatty foods and sweets from the diet; it is necessary to add fresh vegetables, fruits, and foods containing fiber.