Menopause and HRT

Menopause is a biological and irreversible process each woman has to go through, and this naturally happened process usually starts in the early 50s. That means when women reach their 50, they may have experienced a number of biological changes. These changes involve a significant reduced of two female sex hormones (progesterone and oestrogen) production, and a rapid decline in ovarian function.

During the peri-menopausal periods, women will experience irregular menstruation. At this stage, the levels of progesterone and oestrogen fluctuate significantly. In a nutshell, the onset of menopause has a significant effect on the production of two sex hormones: progesterone and oestrogen, which are female sex hormones that are essential for regulating the menstrual cycle. At times, some women may have unpredictable episodes of heavy bleeding until their periods stop permanently. In a case that women who undergo a surgery to remove their uterus (hysterectomy), their menstrual cycle will end abruptly. Nevertheless, this situation can only happen when both of their ovaries are removed at the time of surgery, or else, they won’t go through menopause right way after the surgery.

What are the Symptoms of Menopause?

Often, the first apparent sign of menopause starts with irregular periods and unstable emotion. This situation can last for as short as several months to as long as several years. In this matter, most doctors regard one-year-period of a complete cessation of menstruation as a firm symptom that women are in their post-menopausal stage.

The unstable emotion and hormonal changes can have a profound effect on a woman’s neuroendocrine system as well as the production of two sex hormones as mentioned herein. Also, these changes can indulge palpitations (vasomotor symptoms), loss of memory, insomnia, hot flushes, reduced energy, loss of libido (energy), night sweats, irritability, anger, anxiety and depression. Besides, the dermatological changes could lead to fragile hair and skin, a marked thinning of the skin, loss of public hair and hair under the arms, as well as a decline in the number of sweat glands.

The loss of oestrogen is more likely to cause adverse effects on the urogenital tract, including incontinence, pain and discomfort during sexual intercourse, vaginal itch, dying and thinning of the vagina.

Definitely, the above mentioned symptoms will have profound effects on women’s quality life and can drastically reduce a women’s daily life.

What Treatment is Available for Menopause?

Doctors will always recommend Menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as the early initiation option to help alleviate menopausal symptoms and prevention of osteoporosis in addition to other available treatments. Women who started on HRT shortly after menopause, according to several clinical reports, enjoyed a reduced risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Further, HRT containing Drospirenone has seen to help reduce blood pressure among mild hypertensive patients. Thus, HRT provides relief towards menopausal symptoms while protecting women against the consequences of oestrogen deficiency, in addition to help lower chances of women in their fifties from contacting cancer, stroke and cardiovascular disease.

Women who are experiencing moderate to severe insomnia, night sweats, vasomotor symptoms, or other symptoms linked to menopause should take initiative to discuss their conditions and the use of HRT with their doctors.

Due to the facts that HRT can lead to the increase risk of strokes, breast cancer, heart attacks, many doctors are advised to introduce HRT treatment as short a time as possible. Patients are advised to start at a lower dose of HRT and are constantly monitored by the doctor to help maintain their quality life.

Final remark:

The doctor should hold a responsibility to tailor HRT treatment in accordance to a woman’s symptoms, family history, existing health condition, and the need for prevention. The reason is that the benefits and risks of HRT may vary from women around the onset of menopause in comparison to those older women.

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