Menopause

Definition

Menopause is the cessation of menstruation and it may be occur from a complex syndrome of physiologic changes known as the climacteric, caused by declining ovarian function. It is a normal change in a woman's life when her period stops. During menopause a woman's body slowly makes less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Mostly, it often happens between the ages of 45 and 55 years old. Many women wonder if these changes are normal, and many are confused about how to treat their symptoms.

Causes of Menopause

Menopause may be occur due to various causes. Menopause occurs in three forms such as Physiologic menopause, Pathologic menopause, Artificial menopause.

• In which Physiologic menopause, the normal decline in ovarian function due to aging, begins in most women between ages 40 and 50 and results in infrequent ovulation, and decreased menstrual function.
• In which Pathologic menopause, the gradual or abrupt cessation of menstruation before age 40, and it may be occurs idiopathically in about 5% of women. But, certain diseases, especially severe infections and reproductive tract tumors, may cause pathologic menopause by seriously impairing ovarian function.

Other factors that may precipitate pathologic menopause include:

• Malnutrition
• Debilitation
• Extreme emotional stress
• Excessive radiation exposure, and surgical procedures that impair ovarian blood supply.

Artificial menopause may follow radiation therapy or surgical procedures such as oophorectomy.

Symptoms of Menopause

Many menopausal women are asymptomatic, but some have severe symptoms. The decline in ovarian function and consequent decreased estrogen level produce menstrual irregularities and Menopause has various symptoms such as:

• Decrease in the amount and duration of menstrual flow
• Spotting
• Episodes of amenorrhea
• Polymenorrhea

These body system changes may occur usually after the permanent cessation of menstruation. Reproductive system, in which menopause may cause and have various symptoms such as:

• Shrinkage of vulval structures and loss of subcutaneous fat
• Possibly leading to atrophic vulvitis
• Atrophy of vaginal mucosa and flattening of vaginal rugae
• Possibly causing bleeding after coitus or douching
• Vaginal itching and discharge from bacterial invasion
• Loss of capillaries in the atrophying vaginal wall
• Causing the pink
• Rugal lining to become smooth and white

Urinary system - Atrophic cystitis due to the effects of decreased estrogen levels on bladder mucosa and related structures may cause such as:

• Pyuria
• Dysuria, and urinary frequency
• Urgency
• Incontinence

Urethral carbuncles from loss of urethral tone and mucosal thinning may cause dysuria, mental tenderness, and hematuria.

Treatment of Menopause

If you have this disease, then you should be use Possible treatment such as:

• The main treatment for this disease is Estrogen, it is the treatment of choice in treating vasomotor symptoms and symptoms that may be caused by vaginal and urethral mucosal atrophy. It also improves mood, and helps prevent osteoporosis, and reduces the morbidity and mortality that are associated with cardiovascular disease.
• You should be use the dosage according to doctor suggestion. Because Patients usually receive the lowest dosage that effectively treats symptoms and prevents osteoporosis. For severe hot flashes may require a higher dosage for a limited period, followed by a gradual reduction in the standard dose.
• You should provide the patient with all the facts about ERT. Make sure she realizes the need for regular monitoring.