MENOPAUSE FAQ'S

1. HOW IS MENOPAUSE DIAGNOSED?

A full year Without Periods is Called Menopause  (12 months),One More way to find out  is Blood Test follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) Level ,If there are symptoms of menopause and periods have been irregular clinically perimenopause is diagnosed.

2. CAN MENOPAUSE BE TREATED?

Menopause is a physiological process that every woman faces in life. Many women
dont require treatment for menopause. When the symptoms of menopause disturb
every day activities of life the women should be treated.

Two main types of treatment for menopause are: HORMONE THERAPY&
NON-HORMONAL TREATMENTS

Overall lifestyle modifications are important like balanced diet, exercise and
relaxation.

3. WHAT IS HORMONE THERAPY?

Level of hormones estrogen & progesterone produced by ovaries
become less symptoms of menopause,occur

Hormones are prescribed to treat the symptoms and hormones can be a treatment
for osteoporosis also

1. Estrogen therapy (ET):
Estrogen is prescribed singly and in a low dose as pill, cream, gel, patch etc. estrogen alone is used after a hysterectomy.
Estrogen along with progesterone used if a woman still has a uterus.
2. Estrogen Progesterone/Progestin Hormone Therapy (EPT):
This is combination therapy because it has both estrogen and
progesterone. Progesterone is available in natural form or progestin
(synthetic form).

4. ARE THERE ANY RISKS RELATED TO HORMONE THERAPY?

There are some risks for hormone therapy like
     1. Endometrial cancer (risk increased if a woman has her uterus and only
taking estrogen without progestrone).
     2. Gall stones and gallbladder issues.
     3. Blood clots

all past medical histroy, and family history has to be taken in to consideration before
starting hormone therapy.

The symptoms of menopause are

1. Hot flashes and night sweats.
2. Vaginal dryness.
3. Irritability and mood swings.
4. Hair loss.

For women who have medical conditions where we cannot give hormonal treatment
or for those who have been treated for breast cancer, we can recommend the
following changing diet. Avoiding triggers to hot flashes. Prescription medications, which have
been shown to help.

Diet:

the diet can be modified to reduce the symptoms of menopause hot flushes like
reducing the intake of coffee and spicy foods. the following foods can be included

In the diet which contains Plant estrogen (isoflavones)

1. Soybeans.
2. Chickpeas.
3. Lentils.
4. Flaxseed.
5. Grains.
6. Beans.
7. Fruits.
8. Vegetables.

 

5. WHAT ARE NON-HORMONAL THERAPIES FOR MENOPAUSE?

Though hormone therapy is a very effective method for relieving menopause symptoms, it’s not the perfect treatment for everyone. Non-hormonal treatments include changes to your diet, lifestyle, and using over-the-counter options. These treatments are often good options for women who have other medical conditions or have recently been treated for breast cancer. The main non-hormonal treatments that the doctor may recommend include:

  1. Changing diet.
  2. Avoiding triggers to hot flashes.
  3. Prescription medications, which have been shown to help.

Diet:

Sometimes changing the diet can help relieve menopause symptoms. Limiting the amount of caffeine consumption every day and cutting back on spicy foods can make the hot flashes less severe. A woman can also add foods that contain plant estrogen into her diet. Plant estrogen (isoflavones) isn’t a replacement for the estrogen made in the body before menopause. Foods to try include:

  1. Soybeans.
  2. Chickpeas.
  3. Lentils.
  4. Flaxseed.
  5. Grains.
  6. Beans.
  7. Fruits.
  8. Vegetables.

Avoiding triggers to hot flashes:

Certain things in daily life could be triggers for hot flashes. To help relieve the symptoms, try and identify these triggers and work around them. This could include keeping the bedroom cool at night, wearing layers of clothing, or quitting smoking. Weight loss can also help with hot flashes.

Exercising:

Working out can be difficult if a woman is dealing with hot flashes, but exercising can help relieve several other symptoms of menopause. Exercise can help for sleep through the night and is recommended if she has insomnia. Calm, tranquil types of exercise like yoga can also help with the mood and relieve any fears or anxiety she may be feeling.

Joining support groups:

Talking to other women who are also going through menopause can be a great relief for many. Joining a support group can solve many questions that arise in the heart.

6. CAN A DOCTOR PRESCRIBE NON-HORMONAL MEDICATIONS?

There are several non-hormonal medications that a doctor can prescribe. These are typically used to treat hot flashes. Speak to the doctor about what specific non-hormonal medications might work best for you.

7. CAN A WOMAN GET PREGNANT DURING MENOPAUSE?

     Postmenopausal women, without a period for one year cannot get pregnant. However, perimenopausal woman can get pregnant and should continue to use contraception until menopause.
     If infertility is the problem in their late 30s and 40s because of a decline in ovarian function ., fertility-enhancing treatments with help of specialist can help them get pregnant.

8. WHAT ARE THE LONG-TERM HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH MENOPAUSE?

Two health risks after menopause are osteoporosis and coronary artery disease. these Health conditions also affected by lifestyle factors (obesity, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, diet) health before menopause.

Osteoporosis, a “brittle-bone” disease, occurs when the bones become less dense, making them easily breakable fragile, and likely to fracture. Estrogen is important in preserving bone mass ..

Women lose 25% of their bone mass from the time of menopause to age 60 due to less estrogen making them more for bone fractures. The strength of bones can be tested by bone densitometry to see how much calcium is in certain parts of bones. The test is used to detect osteoporosis and Osteopenia. Osteopenia is a disease where bone density is decreased and later leads to osteoporosis. This osteoporosis can also be treated by estrogen.

Coronary artery disease:

atherosclerosis (fatty plaques).in the arterial walls can lead to the narrowing of blood vessels that supply the heart muscles leading to coronary artery disease.,also associated with high levels of cholesterol in the blood. After menopause, the risk for coronary artery disease increases

1. The less estrogen and Increased blood pressure.
2. Sedentary lifestyle
3. smoking or excessive drinking.

Lifestyle modifications with a healthy diet and regular exercise prevent heart disease. Treating hypertension,diabetes, and dyslipidemia to the optimum level also prevents heart disease.

9. WILL HORMONE THERAPY HELP PREVENT LONG-TERM HEALTH RISKS?

The benefits and risks of hormone therapy depend on a woman’s age and her medical history. younger women in their 50s tend to get more benefits from hormone therapy than postmenopausal women in their 60s. Women who undergo premature menopause are treated with hormone therapy until the age of natural menopause to avoid the increased risk due to estrogen loss.

10. HOW DOES A WOMAN KNOW IF CHANGES IN HER PERIODS ARE NORMAL PERIMENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS OR SOMETHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT?

Irregular periods occur commonly in the perimenopause period. In the following menstrual problems further evaluation with a specialist doctor is needed…

1. Periods are heavy with blood clots.
2. Prolonged Periods with clots.
3. Bleeding after Periods.
4. Bleeding after sex..
5. Frequent Periods .

Abnormal bleeding could be due to hormonal imbalances, hormonal treatments, pregnancy, fibroids, blood-clotting problems, or, rarely, cancer.

11. CAN MENOPAUSE AFFECT SLEEP?

One of the common problems during menopause is difficult to sleep.. Insomnia is
inability to fall asleep at night. Hot flashes could the cause for sleepless nights
during menopause.

If hot flashes could be reduced by
     1. wearing loose clothing and staying cool at night
     2. bedroom should be well-ventilated.
     3. Avoiding spicy foods.

12. CAN MENOPAUSE AFFECT MY SEX LIFE?

After menopause, because of hormonal imbalance arosal during sex is lesser than before and they have decreased interest in sex.. Some of the other causes that lead to decreased sex drive are bladder control problems,insomnia depression stress and anxity.and other medical conditions of the patients

In addition to these changes, the lesser levels of estrogen lesser blood supply to the vagina causing dryness. vaginal wall becomes thin and pale less lubrication leading to painful intercourse.

The women should talk about these changes to the specialist doctor about the decrease in sex drive. The treatment options to reduce vaginal dryness can be
treated with, water-soluble, or silicone lubricants. Estrogen or non-estrogen hormones are also prescribed to improve the vaginal tissue as a low-dose cream, or pill. our Aesthetic and Regenerative center of Akshaya Hospital can offer the best solutions to the above problems.

13. DO ALL MENOPAUSAL WOMEN EXPERIENCE A DECREASE IN SEXUAL DESIRE?

Some women experience an increased sexual desire as there is no fear of pregnancy but condoms should be used to protect from sexually transmitted
diseases
When not in a monogamous relationship. but during perimenopause, contraception should be followed.

14. WILL A WOMAN STILL ENJOY SEX AFTER MENOPAUSE?

She should still be able to enjoy sex after menopause. Sometimes, decreased sex drive is related to discomfort and painful intercourse. After treating the source of this pain (vaginal dryness), many women can enjoy intimacy again. Hormone therapy can also help many women. If a woman has difficulties enjoying sex after menopause, talk to the doctor.

15. CAN MENOPAUSE BE A POSITIVE TIME OF LIFE?

Every woman has to undergo this natural process. It can certainly be a positive time of life. There is no need to get panic. Although menopause can cause some noticeable and uncomfortable changes, these can be effectively managed with the best gynecologist. By sharing doubts, problems can easily be solved. In Salem, Akshaya Women’s Care at 5-A Ramakrishna road renders the maximum possible support to the women of this period through its “Menopause Clinic”. A team of expert doctors renders their excellent service to the women. Come and share your queries and we solve your worries.