Menopausal syndrome is a physiological phase of the female body, which is characterized by irreversible changes in the body of a woman. The main essence of the menopausal period is the transition from reproductive age to post–productive. This is the physiological aging of the female genital organs, which will not be able to bear a fetus later.
Menopause begins in different ways for everyone, the average age of initial manifestations is 40-45 years. However, this does not mean that at the age of 45 a woman is no longer able to conceive. Menopause is a long period that, as it progresses, turns off a woman’s reproductive functions.
PATHOGENESIS
During the menopausal period, almost all the organs of a woman undergo changes, but the reproductive system is most affected. During menopause, the production of sex hormones – estrogens decreases and the production of gonadotropins increases. Immunity decreases, the risk of developing infectious diseases increases.
Since the activity of the reproductive apparatus stops, follicle formation does not occur – menstruation stops, the follicular tissue of the ovaries undergoes a number of changes and is replaced by connective tissue, the size of the ovaries decreases.
Hormonal changes affect the entire body of a woman – brain cells, arteries, musculoskeletal system, mucous membranes, bladder. Therefore, during this period, violations of these organs and tissues may occur. In the menopausal period, the risk of osteoporosis and atherosclerosis increases many times.
classification
Among the entire course of menopause, there are early-term, middle-term and late-term climacteric periods.
symptoms
Depending on the time of menopause, there are several groups of symptoms. So, in the early menopausal period, patients complain of headaches, sudden attacks of fever or chills, increased sweating, decreased libido, disorders of the psychoemotional background – weakness, irritability, anxiety, attention and concentration disorders. The most common somatic diseases occurring during this period are associated with the cardiovascular system – hypertension, cardiac ischemia and others.
During the period of mid-term symptoms, the woman’s reproductive system is directly affected. Patients complain of dryness of the vaginal mucosa, unpleasant and painful sensations during sexual intercourse, burning and itching when urinating for no particular reason. Some develop urinary incontinence when laughing or coughing. The skin also undergoes changes – it becomes dry, often cracks, nails are brittle and dull, wrinkles appear. Hair falls out (in some cases, up to allopecia).
In the late-term manifestations of the menopausal period, osteoporosis develops, degenerative diseases develop – Alzheimer’s disease, atherosclerosis develops, coronary heart disease, angina pectoris and heart attacks.
TREATMENT OF DISORDERS
Since menopause is an irreversible and unavoidable physiological process, the main measures are aimed at reducing negative manifestations. Patients with a pronounced clinic are prescribed antidepressants. To combat osteoporosis – replacement therapy with biophosphonates. Manifestations from the urogenital system are well stopped by the local use of estrogens in the form of ointments, candles and tablets. It is also advisable to use lubricants during sexual intercourse.
However, the best effect is provided by hormonal lifelong replacement therapy, correctly selected by a gynecologist.
