What is Menopause?
Menopause,a> or its medical term as the climacteric, is a natural and normal part of aging in most women’s lives when the menstruation process stops permanently, and they are no longer able to reproduce children.
When does Menopause Happen?
Generally, menopause can happen in the age of 40s or 50s, but the average age is 51 in the United States. Medical experts often describe menopause occurs when a woman has not had any vaginal bleeding for 365 days. It is defined as the decrease of hormonal levels in production by the ovaries.
In some cases, menopause occurs early and happens before the age of 40 which is called premature menopause. While between the age of 40 and 45 is called early menopause, and about 5 percent of women experience it. Several factors can cause menopause to come earlier than expected such as chromosome defects like Turner syndrome, autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, smoking, genetics, and epilepsy, as well as surgery.
What are its Common Symptoms?
About 8 in every 10 women will have additional symptoms for some time before and after their periods stop.
These can have a significant impact on daily life for some women.
Common Symptoms Include:
- hot flushes – short, sudden feelings of heat, usually in the face, neck and chest, which can make your skin red and sweaty
- night sweats – hot flushes that occur at night
- difficulty sleeping – this may make you feel tired and irritable during the day
- a reduced sex drive (libido)
- problems with memory and concentration
- vaginal dryness and pain, itching or discomfort during sex
- headaches
- mood changes, such as low mood or anxiety
- palpitations – heartbeats that suddenly become more noticeable
- joint stiffness, aches and pains
- reduced muscle mass
- recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- increase your risk of developing certain other problems, such as weak bones (osteoporosis).
Increased Risk for developing certain medical conditions.
- Heart and Blood Vessel Disease
- Urinary Incontinence
- Osteoporosis
Fast Facts About Menopause Symptoms
According to < ahref=”https://www.statista.com/statistics/1450588/menopause-symptoms-us-women/”>Statista, as of 2023, many women in the United States reported experiencing menopause or postmenopause symptoms:
- 81% experienced hot flashes
- 68% reported night sweats
- 57% had difficulty sleeping
- 56% experienced mood changes
- 50% dealt with vaginal dryness or discomfort
- 36% reported joint pain and stiffness
- 31% experienced memory problems
- 22% had urinary symptoms
- 05% reported other symptoms
Should I See My Doctor About My Menopause Symptoms?
Menopause is a natural part of aging, but that doesn’t mean you need to go through it without support. While some symptoms can be mild and manageable with lifestyle changes, others may interfere with daily life or signal an underlying health issue.
You should consider seeing your doctor if you experience:
- Hot flashes or night sweats that disrupt your sleep or daily activities
- Mood swings, irritability, or feelings of depression or anxiety
- Vaginal dryness, pain during intimacy, or discomfort affecting quality of life
- Memory lapses or difficulty concentrating
- Urinary urgency, frequency, or incontinence
- Persistent fatigue or trouble maintaining energy
- Bone or joint pain that worsens over time
What are the Treatments for Menopause?
Menopause requires no medical treatment, otherwise, focus treatment on relieving the symptoms. Hot flashes treatment can be done by avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, or practical sleeping using a fan or in a cool room may help.
Some medications may help such as Gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, others), Clonidine (Catapres, Kapvay, others), menopausal hormone therapy(MHT), bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), and medications to prevent or treat osteoporosis.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
HRT replaces the hormones that are missing. Most symptoms are caused by low oestrogen levels, so this is the most important hormone to replace. If you have a womb you also need a progestogen to protect the lining of the womb.
HRT is extremely effective at relieving menopausal symptoms.
HRT is available as tablets, skin patches, a gel to rub into the skin or implants.
Benefits and Risks of hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
The main benefit of HRT is that it can help relieve most menopausal symptoms, including hot flushes, brain fog, joint pains, mood swings and vaginal dryness.
It can also help prevent thinning of the bones, which can lead to fractures (osteoporosis). Osteoporosis is more common after the menopause.
Some types of HRT can slightly increase the risk of breast cancer and blood clots in some women. You need to discuss whether you have any risk factors with a doctor or nurse.
Evidence says that the risks of HRT are small and usually outweighed by the benefits.
Your doctor can give you more information about the risks and benefits of HRT to help you decide whether or not you want to take it.
Mood Changes
Some women experience mood swings, low mood and anxiety around the time of the menopause.
Self-help measures such as getting plenty of rest, taking regular exercise and doing relaxing activities such as yoga and tai chi may help. Medicine and other treatments are also available, including HRT and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
CBT is a type of talking therapy that can improve low mood and feelings of anxiety. Your GP may be able to refer you for CBT on the NHS, or recommend self-help options such as online CBT courses.
Antidepressants may help if you’ve been diagnosed with depression.
Vaginal Dryness and Discomfort
If your vagina becomes dry, painful or itchy as a result of the menopause, your doctor can prescribe oestrogen treatment that’s put directly into your vagina as a pessary, cream or vaginal ring.
This can safely be used alongside HRT.
You’ll usually need to use vaginal oestrogen indefinitely, as your symptoms are likely to return when treatment stops. However, side effects are very rare.
You can also use over-the-counter vaginal moisturisers or lubricants in addition to, or instead of, vaginal oestrogen.
Weak Bones
Women who have been through the menopause are at an increased risk of developing weak bones that may break more easily (osteoporosis) as a result of the lower level of oestrogen in the body.
You can reduce your chances of developing osteoporosis by:
- taking HRT – HRT can help to prevent your bones getting weaker, although this effect does not tend to last after treatment stops
- exercising regularly – including weight-bearing and resistance exercises
- eating a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruit, vegetables and sources of calcium, such as low-fat milk and yoghurt
- getting some sunlight – sunlight on your skin triggers the production of vitamin D, which can help to keep your bones strong
- stopping smoking and cutting down on alcohol
- taking calcium and/or vitamin D supplements if you do not feel you’re getting enough of these – discuss this with your doctor
Follow-up Appointments
If you’re having treatment for your menopausal symptoms, you’ll need to return to your doctor for a follow-up review after 3 months, and once a year after that.
During your reviews, your GP may:
- make sure your symptoms are under control
- ask about any side effects and bleeding patterns
- check your weight and blood pressure
- review the type of HRT you’re taking and make any necessary changes
- discuss whether you should continue it or if you decide to stop, how this should be done
Many women will need treatment for a few years, until most of their menopausal symptoms have passed.
Some women may wish to take HRT for many years. Their individual benefits and risk should be assessed every year.
Fort Myers, Florida’s The Most Trusted Compounding Pharmacy
Myerlee Pharmacy is not your ordinary pharmacy company, has been serving physicians and customers since 1991, and had established ourselves in Lee County as a well-respected leader in the pharmaceutical compounding industry. The only pharmacy in Lee County with a sterile license from the State Board of Pharmacy, discusses this informative article about menopause awareness that affects the modern women and (men) of America.
Call Myerlee Pharmacy in Fort Myers office at 239-482-3022, our medical specialist staff would be happy to answer any queries about menopause therapy, and pain management.