Women, around the age of 50, begin to notice certain changes both in their bodies and in their menstruation. Menstruation varies from its usual frequency and becomes more spaced out in time or, on the contrary, more frequent. Other factors such as mood swings, vaginal dryness, irritability, hot flashes or decreased libido, among others, are also added.
Seeing a specialist when you begin to notice the first symptoms is one of the main actions that should be taken. Menopause is a natural process in a woman’s body and, having a follow-up by a specialist, a good diet, a daily exercise routine and psychological support will be key factors for this transition.
Dr. Macarena Martín Gutiérrez, specialist in Gynecology and Obstetrics, tells us what are usually the first symptoms experienced by women and what kind of treatments can be carried out.
What are the changes that women experience during menopause?
The first symptoms in menopause are disorders in menstruation and the absence of menstruation, the end of the fertile stage of women and the beginning of another in which may appear, at the beginning, hot flashes, irritability, sleep disorders, vaginal dryness, weight gain, analytical alterations such as elevated cholesterol or blood glucose, etc.. All this is due to the lack of estrogens.
What kind of treatments are available to alleviate the symptoms?
When any of these symptoms, or all of them together, interfere with the woman’s life, we should try to alleviate them with the therapeutic options available:
- Low-dose hormonal therapies as an ideal treatment to cover all areas in a comprehensive manner.
- Nutritional supplements rich in calcium and vitamin D.
- Natural products rich in coenzyme 10, phytoestrogens, menocifuga, pollen extract, melatonin, etc.
- Local therapies to replenish estrogens in vaginal atrophy and dryness.
- Genital moisturizers and lubricants.
- Specific drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis when needed.
How important is it to maintain physical activity in a daily routine?
A varied and balanced diet should be followed, and tobacco and alcohol consumption should be abandoned. Obesity should also be avoided, as far as possible, and physical exercise should be performed to regulate and counteract the metabolic changes that occur with menopause, such as elevated cholesterol and high blood pressure.
In addition, it is also important to promote bone formation, reduce the loss of muscle mass and at a psychological level, no less important, to be able to release endorphins and improve the mood to face this new stage without affecting psychologically and go to therapy if necessary, to have someone who can help give the necessary tools to know how to manage this transition in women.