Symptoms of menopause usually begin between the ages of 45 and 55, in which the woman begins to have irregular menstruation and hot flashes, increased sweat production, dry skin and hair and irritability. These symptoms appear due to the decreased production of the hormone estrogen, which is responsible for the menstrual cycles and the woman's fertility.
Menopause treatment is usually indicated for women who have very intense symptoms and end up harming their professional and personal lives. Therefore, in these cases, the gynecologist may recommend hormone replacement therapy to relieve symptoms.
Menopause symptoms
Symptoms of menopause appear when the ovaries start to fail, that is, when they stop working and producing estrogen, which is related to the menstrual cycle and the woman's fertility. The symptoms of menopause and its intensity can vary from woman to woman, as well as the age they start, as it can have interference from the woman's genetics and lifestyle.
If you are over 40 and think you may be entering menopause, select your symptoms:
- 1. Irregular menstruation Yes No
- 2. No menstruation for 12 consecutive months Yes No
- 3. Heat waves that start suddenly and for no apparent reason Yes No
- 4. Intense night sweats that can disrupt sleep Yes No
- 5. Frequent tiredness Yes No
- 6. Mood swings like irritability, anxiety or sadness Yes No
- 7. Difficulty sleeping or poor sleep quality Yes No
- 8. Vaginal dryness Yes No
- 9. Hair loss Yes No
- 10. Decreased libido Yes No
How the diagnosis is made
The diagnosis of menopause is made based on the symptoms that the woman presents and its main characteristic is to be without menstruating for at least 12 consecutive months. In addition, the doctor may also order a test to check the FSH level in the blood to prove menopause, in addition to assessing the levels of estrogen and progesterone circulating in the blood. Learn more about diagnosing menopause.
Treatment for menopause
Treatment for menopause is indicated for women who manifest very intense symptoms that compromise their professional, family and emotional life, and the use of estrogen and progesterone-based medications may be recommended by the gynecologist. However, in the case of women with uncontrolled hypertension or high cholesterol, medications with estrogen and progesterone are not indicated, and soy supplementation may be suggested.
Another option for the treatment of menopause is to use medicinal plants and herbs under medical guidance such as Agnocasto ( Agnus castus ), Dong quai ( Angelica sinensis ) or Saint-Christopher's herb ( Cimicifuga Racemosa ), since this plant has properties capable of decrease menstrual pain. Learn more about the herb-de-são-cristóvão.
For more tips on what you can do to relieve menopausal discomfort, watch the following video:
