Index
- What is it?
- What are the symptoms?
- Prognosis
- Causes of menopause
- Can menopause be prevented?
- Medical tests
- What is the treatment?
- What specialist treats menopause?
What is menopause?
Menopause is the permanent cessation of a woman’s menstrual periods due to the cessation of the ovarian cycle. At a certain age for women, the average is around 50 years old, the ovaries produce less estrogens and progesterones, which are the female hormones. After this process a woman can no longer become pregnant. In the case of men, this process is called andropause, which is the loss of sexual potency due to low levels of the testosterone hormone in the organism. The menopausal process can last for several years.
The menopause occurs due to the
low production of female hormones.
What are the symptoms?
Menopause presents symptoms such as
- Changes in the menstrual cycle
- Insomnia
- Vaginal dryness
- Mood disturbances
- Difficulty concentrating
- Hot flashes
- Weight gain
- Headache
- Increased facial hair
Some of these symptoms require medical treatment. For example, taking bioidentical hormones or following a prescribed diet to reduce bothersome symptoms.
Prognosis of menopause
The symptoms of the menopausal transition will disappear as you enter menopause. Some symptoms may be persistent, especially vaginal dryness and thinning of the skin in the genital area.
Persistent symptoms can be treated after menopause.
Causes of menopause or why it occurs
Menopause occurs due to low production of female hormones. Sometimes surgical menopause can occur, which is when a surgical treatment causes a decrease in estrogen. On the other hand, it is important to note that certain drugs, such as those used for chemotherapy or hormone therapy for breast cancer, can cause menopause.
Can it be prevented?
Menopause is a part of a woman’s natural development and cannot be prevented. What can be done is to take certain precautions to reduce the risk of long-term problems such as osteoporosis and heart disease.
Some recommendations include not smoking, exercising regularly, taking calcium and vitamin D, and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol.
What medical tests are performed to detect menopause?
Women often notice the signs and symptoms of menopause without a formal diagnosis from their physician. In general, the first signs are changes in menstrual patterns and the appearance of hot flashes.
In terms of medical tests, the doctor may order a blood or urine test to determine levels of estradiol hormone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) or luteinizing hormone (LH). In menopause, the ovaries are less responsive to FSH and LH hormones, so the body produces more to compensate, and levels of estradiol and other hormones also decrease.
What is the treatment?
Treatment may consist of lifestyle changes or hormone therapy. The application of one or the other depends on many factors such as the severity of the symptoms, the general health and the patient’s preferences.
Which specialist treats menopause?
To treat menopause it is advisable to see a doctor specialized in Gynecology and Obstetrics.