Menopause health knowledge

Menopause is not "a tribulation that women must go through", nor is it "pretentious and easy to find trouble" as everyone says. More than 90% of menopausal discomforts can be effectively alleviated through scientific intervention. There is no need to bear it hard, let alone be shy to ask for help.

Last week I just received a 52-year-old Aunt Zhang from the outpatient clinic. The first thing she said when she entered the door was "Doctor, look at me, am I crazy?" She said that she has been sweating all the time in the past three years. In winter, she can warm herself up even if she wears a thin sweater and stands in the cold wind. She can't fall asleep until two or three o'clock at night after tossing and turning. She quarreled with her wife and son over trivial matters. After the argument, she regretted it and secretly ate for a while. Tens of thousands of dollars worth of supplements and soothing health care products were of no use at all. Finally, she dared to go to the gynecologist for a check-up. Once her hormone levels were tested, she had already reached the menopausal state. She was prescribed a low-dose hormone supplement program and gave her some instructions on how to adjust her work and rest. When she came for a follow-up visit last week, she said she could sleep through the night. She no longer had any conflicts with her family. She said, "If I had known it was so easy, why would I have suffered for three years?"

In fact, I have seen too many patients like Aunt Zhang. Most people's understanding of menopause is still limited to the two labels of "bad temper" and "hot flashes." There are also many people who think that "women have to go through this, and it will be over if they endure it." In the end, there is a big problem. I also met an aunt two years ago. She always felt joint pain after menopause. She went to the orthopedic department and took a lot of films. She took ammonia sugar and painkillers for half a year, but it didn't work. Finally, she checked the bone density and found that she had severe osteoporosis. If you are not careful, you may fracture. In fact, it is caused by the decrease in estrogen during menopause and the rapid loss of bone mass. If you intervene three to five years earlier, it would not have reached this point.

When it comes to intervention, the first reaction of many people is "Do I need to take hormones? I don't dare. If you take them, you will gain weight and get cancer." This controversy does exist, and there is no unified "standard answer" in the academic community. One group of views is more positive, believing that as long as it is within 10 years of menopause, under the age of 60, and there are no contraindications such as breast cancer and active blood clots, the benefits of low-dose estrogen and progesterone supplementation far outweigh the risks. It can not only quickly relieve symptoms such as hot flashes and insomnia, but also prevent osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, and is also very effective in improving the problem of genitourinary tract atrophy. The other group of views is more conservative, believing that if the symptoms are very mild, they can be improved through lifestyle adjustments, and there is no need to take additional medications to avoid unnecessary risks. I usually tell patients that which one to choose depends on your own feelings - if you have hot flashes more than ten times a day, can't sleep all night, and are affected by normal going out for shopping, then you can absolutely follow the doctor's advice and check regularly.

Don’t think that menopausal problems are all about your face or temper. There are many hidden symptoms that you are embarrassed to mention and never thought were caused by menopause. For example, many postmenopausal aunts have recurring urinary tract infections and pain during intercourse. They think it is because they are not good at hygiene or because they are older and are "normal". In fact, the decline in estrogen causes the vaginal mucosa to atrophy and reduce local resistance. Apply some topical estrogen ointment and it will get better in a week or two, so you don't have to suffer from it at all. Some aunties leak urine when they cough or do square dancing. They always wear diapers and dare not go far away. In fact, most of them can be improved through pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation or some drug intervention. Those "menopausal health care products" and "soy isoflavone essence" sold on the market that cost thousands of dollars are actually not as effective as drinking a cup of freshly ground soy milk and eating two pieces of tofu every day, and there are no additional risks.

To be honest, menopause is just an ordinary stage of life. It is no different from having your period in your teens or getting wisdom teeth in your twenties. It is just an adjustment of your body's hormone levels. There is no need to treat it as a scourge, and there is no need to feel shy about mentioning it. If you feel uncomfortable, consult a doctor promptly. When family members meet a menopausal woman, don't always think that she is "looking for trouble." When she suddenly becomes irritable, hand her a glass of warm water and try less to argue with her. This will be more effective than telling her ten truths. After all, the good life for the rest of my life cannot be hindered by this little problem, right?