Menopause and menopausal syndrome: what happens in a woman's body? Harbingers, hot flashes, symptoms and manifestations, diagnosis of menopause (menopause). Diseases associated with menopause (uterine fibroids, endometrial hyperplasia, and others). How does the climate manifest itself

menopausal syndrome (menopause , menopause ) is a period of physiological changes in a woman's life, which lead to the gradual extinction of the childbearing function. Such a restructuring in the body occurs under the influence of hormonal changes. As a rule, menopause in a woman begins after the age of forty and lasts for about ten years.

Signs of the menopausal syndrome

The main symptom of menopause is the gradual cessation of menstruation. In addition, menopause is characterized by the manifestation of a whole complex of various disorders, such as endocrine , and vegetative-vascular nature . Women during menopause often suffer from sudden "hot flashes" that accompany a sensation of heat, blood flow to the face. In addition, at this time, a woman notes the manifestation of severe sweating, irritability, tearfulness, she can significantly decrease and increase, dryness of the mucous membranes and skin periodically manifests itself, insomnia worries. In some cases, during menopause, sudden mental and nervous disorders, as well as the occurrence of dysfunctional uterine bleeding, are possible.

However, the symptoms of menopause listed above do not occur in all women in menopausal age. In some women, the period of such a restructuring of the body does not provoke pathological manifestations. However, another part of women notes the pathological course of menopause, leading to manifestations of the climacteric syndrome. According to medical statistics, menopausal syndrome develops in 26 - 48% of patients. Sometimes violations of the functioning of different body systems during the development of this syndrome are so serious that a woman cannot fully work, and her quality of life is significantly reduced.

Causes of the menopausal syndrome

The period when the woman's body enters the phase of withering of the functions of the reproductive system, many women experience quite hard. Serious changes can affect almost the entire female body. A certain failure gives work immune system which, in turn, leads to an increase in the number of infectious and autoimmune diseases. The aging process of the female body is also activated at this time. However, the most striking changes at this time occur with the female reproductive system. During menopause, follicles no longer develop in a woman's ovaries, eggs do not mature, and ovulation does not occur.

During menopause in the female body, the content is significantly reduced, and at the same time, the production of gonadotropic hormones increases. Due to the too low content of estrogen in the body, a woman may experience disorders in various organs. So with menopausal syndrome, violations of the urogenital, vegetative-neurotic nature are possible. An increased risk of developing skin changes , vascular ischemia , psychological disorders .

Features of menopausal disorders

Menopausal disorders, according to the degree of manifestation of the climacteric syndrome, manifest themselves as early temporal , medium-term and late time manifestations.

As early temporal manifestations, a number of vasomotor symptoms occur (hot flashes, chills, jumps in blood pressure, periodic heartbeat). There are also so-called psycho-emotional signs (feeling of anxiety, weakness, mood swings, irritability, insomnia). Sometimes a woman can even fall into a depressive state, notice a decrease in libido. All these signs are characteristic of the premenopausal period, and they can also occur in the first years of postmenopause.

Speaking about the mid-term manifestations of menopause, doctors note some separate groups of symptoms. As urogenital symptoms a woman notes dryness of the vagina, which leads to painful sexual intercourse, she is also worried about itching and burning in the genital area, urination becomes more frequent, sometimes a woman also suffers from urinary incontinence. Gradually, the number of wrinkles on the skin increases, nails can break intensively and hair falls out. Such manifestations occur in a woman approximately 3-5 years after the first manifestations of menopause. If a woman practices any methods of treating such symptoms, they do not bring the expected effect.

Late-term manifestations of menopausal disorders are, first of all, disorders metabolism leading to atherosclerosis , osteoporosis , next cardiovascular disease , . Such serious ailments develop 5-10 years after the first manifestations occur.

Menopausal metabolic syndrome

Diagnosis menopausal metabolic syndrome ” is often given to women who have gone through menopause several years ago. As a rule, patients after 60 years of age suffer from such a disorder. About a quarter of all women suffer from this syndrome, according to medical statistics. Until now, the reasons leading to the development of such a disorder have not been precisely established. But still, experts talk about the impact on the manifestations of the menopausal metabolic syndrome of hormonal imbalance, the presence of chronic diseases, as well as the absence in the body of some of the substances necessary for its functioning.

The main signs of this condition are obesity, an increase in blood glucose in a woman, an increase in blood pressure, as well as the occurrence of diseases of the cardiovascular system. The combination of these factors can pose a serious threat not only to health, but also to the life of a woman.

The above factors are clearly interrelated. The manifestation is caused by natural weight gain during menopause under the influence of hormonal instability. It is important to clearly adjust the lifestyle and eating habits. However, sometimes women who suffer from periodic depression begin to eat too much junk food. As a result, the weight gradually increases. Obesity, in turn, leads to an increase in blood glucose and development.

The process of weight gain provokes the deposition of fat around the internal organs. Accordingly, the load on the heart increases significantly, which leads to cardiovascular diseases. Unfortunately, such processes can be irreversible.

Thus, if the doctor notes that the patient has several criteria during the period of the menstrual pause (a sharp increase in body weight, increased pressure at rest, manifestations of irritability), then he has every reason to suspect menopausal syndrome.

Experts note that menopausal syndrome most often develops in women who have a hereditary tendency to severe menopause, as well as in the presence of chronic diseases, violations of the monthly cycle during the reproductive period. Women who smoke, as well as those who had early menopause, are more likely to suffer from severe menopause. Menopausal syndrome is more common in nulliparous women.

Symptoms of the menopausal syndrome

Both the process of development of the menopausal syndrome and the severity of manifestations in menopause depend on several factors. These are hormonal disorders, the general health of a woman by the onset of menopause, genetic predisposition, and the environment.

If a woman's menopause is pathological, then in about 80% of cases there are vegetative-vascular symptoms . In this case, the so-called “hot flashes” should be noted: in this state, the capillaries on the skin of the face, head, and chest expand sharply in a woman, and the body temperature rises slightly. In this state, there is a strong influx of heat, the skin turns red, there is a strong heartbeat and sweating. These seizures can last up to five minutes. Different women have a different frequency of "hot flashes": from one to twenty such attacks can occur per day. More often this happens at night, negatively affecting the sleep of a woman in menopause. In especially severe cases, hot flashes of menopause are accompanied by a depressive state, phobias,.

In some women, the described symptoms of menopause are also accompanied by irritability, anxiety, tearfulness, and other psycho-emotional symptoms.

The pathological course of the menopause can also be manifested by sexual and urogenital disorders. Another alarming symptom is the development of osteoporosis, which significantly increases the risk of fractures.

Severe menopausal syndrome with menopause sometimes provokes the manifestation of sympathetic-adrenal crises in a woman. With such an attack, the patient is worried about a sharp headache, jumps in blood pressure, urinary retention, followed by polyuria . In severe menopause, the symptoms of menopause can also be manifested by regular occurrence, while ECG studies do not reveal changes. Possible allergic reactions that appear in response to previously well-tolerated foods and drugs. Such reactions are evidence of changes in the body's immune system. In general, the changes in health that take place after menopause sometimes affect a woman's quality of life.

Diagnostics of the menopausal syndrome

When diagnosing the menopausal syndrome, the doctor, first of all, carefully interviews the patient. Sometimes it is difficult to diagnose the pathological course of menopause due to the exacerbated chronic diseases that occur in the patient. In this regard, the course of menopause is even more aggravated, in addition, it can manifest itself atypically. Therefore, the doctor often recommends the patient to be examined by other doctors - a neurologist, a cardiologist, an endocrinologist. Blood levels are also tested to confirm the diagnosis. Sometimes there is a need for a cytological examination of smears, as well as a histological analysis of endometrial scrapings.

Treatment of the menopausal syndrome

Practicing the treatment of menopause, the gynecologist directs efforts to reduce the manifestations of menopause, which negatively affect the condition of the woman. To alleviate the condition during hot flashes, as well as reduce their frequency, a woman is prescribed a course of therapy with antidepressant drugs.

In order to prevent the development and progression of osteoporosis, it is practiced to take non-hormonal drugs, biophosphonates, which do not allow intensive loss of bone tissue. Such drugs are sometimes prescribed instead of estrogens.

If a woman is very concerned about urogenital symptoms, it is advisable for her to use the introduction of estrogen in the form of tablets or cream vaginally.

However, the most noticeable effect in menopause is the treatment with hormonal drugs. Treatment with medications containing estrogens can significantly reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flashes, eliminate discomfort in the genitals. Treatment with natural estrogens is mainly practiced. To prevent the development of hyperplastic processes in the endometrium, estrogens are combined with gestagens or with androgens . Hormone therapy should last for several years in order to prevent a woman from developing serious diseases that provoke the menopausal syndrome.

Taking hormonal drugs during a pathological menopause is not prescribed for women with oncological diseases organs of the reproductive system, as well as patients suffering from blood clotting disorder , kidney dysfunction or liver .

Before prescribing a course of treatment with drugs containing hormones, the doctor must conduct an ultrasound, cytological examination,

Hormone therapy is determined depending on what stage of menopause the patient has. If we are talking about premenopause, then taking hormonal drugs is prescribed cyclically. In the postmenopausal period, due to atorophic changes in the endometrium, as well as other negative phenomena for the female body, hormones should be taken constantly.

In pathological menopause, the most effective is systemic treatment with a combination of drugs containing hormones. In addition, if necessary, other medications are prescribed in parallel for the treatment hypertension , cardiovascular diseases and other ailments associated with menopause.

Sometimes the attending physician also advises the patient to consult a nutritionist in order to make the right diet. In addition, a woman is recommended to spend as much time as possible in the fresh air, fully sleep and rest, move more and avoid stress and negative emotions. Timely treatment of menopausal syndrome can significantly improve a woman's condition, her performance and health.

Content

Menopause, in particular menopause, is not a sudden event in a woman's life. The body begins to prepare for the onset of the extinction of the reproductive function in a few years. If you notice the symptoms and signs that have appeared in time, you can adjust your lifestyle to avoid various complications.

Premenopause as a phase of menopause

Menopause is understood as a series of changes that lead to a reduction and cessation of the production of sex hormones by the ovaries. Thus, in the premenopausal period, the nature of the menstrual function changes, which is completely absent in menopause.

Premenopausal changes are a natural stage in a woman's life. The symptoms and signs of premenopause are not a pathology that should be treated. Usually pre-menopausal symptoms and signs have minor signs and symptoms. However, sometimes in women with a history of various diseases, premenopause and menopause are complicated by severe symptoms.

Climax involves several stages that differ in duration. As part of these stages, changes occur that lead to a gradual extinction of the hormonal function of the ovaries.

The following phases of menopause are distinguished.

Premenopause. Gynecologists conditionally designate the beginning of the premenopausal period at 45 years. It is impossible to accurately determine the occurrence of premenopause due to the lack of symptoms and signs. On average, the premenopausal period begins a few years before the cessation of menstruation.
Menopause. The phase includes the last menstruation and continues throughout the next year. You can determine menopause only after a year, provided there is no menstruation. Some gynecologists insist that the duration of menopause should be extended to two years after the last period.
Postmenopause. The stage lasts from the end of menopause, and continues until 65-69 years. Then the woman gets old.

There is also a phase of perimenopause. As part of this stage, gynecologists combine the premenopausal and menopausal periods.

Duration

It is believed that the duration of the premenopausal period is from three to five years. In premenopause, there is a sharp decrease in the production of sex hormones, which negatively affects the woman's body. This is due to the fact that sex hormones, in particular estrogen, regulate many important processes in the female body:

stability of the menstrual cycle;
metabolism;
libido;
skin condition;
moisturizing the vaginal mucosa with cervical mucus;
emotional stability;
absorption of calcium and phosphorus;
synthesis of collagen fibers;
processes in the brain, the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
activity of the gastrointestinal tract, the musculoskeletal system in the urogenital tract.

The period during which premenopausal changes are observed is important for a woman. During the pre-menopause, the body adapts to functioning in conditions of deficiency, and then the absence of estrogens. This period does not always go smoothly. Its signs and symptoms depend, to a greater extent, on the lifestyle of a woman and the presence of various diseases in her.

Possibility of pregnancy

The occurrence of pregnancy in the premenopausal period is possible. This is due to the fact that spontaneous ovulation is possible in premenopause. Menstrual function begins to change. In particular, cycles may become longer or shorter in duration. The amount of bloody discharge varies from scanty to copious.

Most cycles are characterized by persistent anovulation against the background of hormonal changes. Nevertheless, pregnancy, although unlikely, is possible. That is why in the premenopausal period there is a need for contraception in order to prevent unwanted pregnancy.

Main signs of change

Women who are in premenopause do not always notice the occurrence of characteristic signs and symptoms. Physically healthy women easily tolerate premenopausal changes that do not impair their quality of life.

Nevertheless, the organs and systems of the body begin to respond to the lack of sex hormones, which can be expressed in the appearance of various signs and symptoms, as well as disorders.

ovaries

In fact, it is precisely because of the decrease in the synthesis of sex hormones that premenopausal changes occur. In the premenopausal period, estrogen production is reduced, which causes numerous symptoms.

Estrogens are synthesized by the follicular apparatus, which belongs to the ovaries. A newborn girl contains up to three million eggs. Before the onset of the first menstruation, their number is approximately 400,000. In turn, in the premenopausal period, the number of eggs is reduced to 10,000. Moreover, a small percentage of eggs are lost during ovulation. Most of the eggs disappear due to atresia.

At the beginning of the cycle, under the influence of the FSH hormone, the growth of the follicle containing the egg is observed. In the premenopausal stage, there is a violation of sensitivity to FSH, which causes a decrease in estrogen synthesis. To maintain the necessary balance, the concentration of FSH increases. However, this process is not able to lead to an increase in estrogen production. The number of eggs is rapidly decreasing. Thus, after the cessation of menstruation, the last single follicles disappear.

Uterus

The uterus is one of the most important organs of the female reproductive system. The uterus is mainly needed for carrying and giving birth to a child. When a woman enters the premenopausal period, the function of childbearing is gradually lost. Characteristic changes are observed closer to menopause. The thickness of the functional layer, which is responsible for the amount of menstrual flow, implantation of the fetal egg gradually decreases.

Nevertheless, it is necessary to take into account the extreme sensitivity of the inner layer of the uterus to estrogens. When hormonal fluctuations occur, hyperplastic processes of the endometrium are often observed. In gynecological practice, there are cases of the development of polyposis and uterine fibroids in the premenopausal period. Polyps of the uterus may tend to become malignant.

That is why a woman in the premenopausal phase should regularly visit a doctor and perform an ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs. If necessary, medical or surgical treatment is indicated.

Vagina

In the premenopausal phase, atrophy of the vaginal mucosa is observed, implying thinning. In addition, the lack of estrogen has a negative effect on the production of cervical mucus, which moisturizes the vagina.

Thus, the protective mechanisms are violated, which leads to dryness, the development of bacterial vaginosis and candidiasis. Since the mucosa cannot perform a protective function to the necessary extent, an infection often accompanies.

Milk glands

The mammary glands are also sensitive to estrogen levels. Often in premenopause, mastopathy develops or progresses. Many breast tumors are hormone-dependent. This explains why the number of oncological diseases in women increases in the pre-menopausal period. In women, breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in terms of prevalence.

Bone

Estrogens are directly involved in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. As a result, there is a rapid loss of bone mass. The danger of pathology is that the development of osteoporosis is asymptomatic, up to the first fractures. The most dangerous complication of osteoporosis is a hip fracture, which leads to disability.

In menopause, a woman loses up to 3% of bone mass per year.

Heart and pressure

In premenopause, the load on the vessels and the heart increases. This is partly due to increased cholesterol levels, which affect blood pressure.

In premenopause, tissue resistance to insulin develops. This contributes to the formation of blood clots in the vascular region and increases the risk of strokes, heart attacks. Women note intolerance to physical activity and pressure surges. There are symptoms of pain in the projection of the heart.

Leather

The condition of the skin, nails and hair also changes. Women in the premenopausal phase note the appearance of dryness, thinning of the skin and hair. Such changes lead to the formation of deep wrinkles and ptosis.

Thyroid

The activity of the thyroid gland is directly related to the level of hormones. In the premenopausal period, hypothyroidism is sometimes noted, which implies a lack of thyroid hormones. This condition causes the occurrence of various signs and symptoms that indicate disorders in the thyroid gland (fatigue, weight gain, mental decline).

Nervous system

Estrogen deficiency affects the nervous system, causing an unstable emotional background, stress, anxiety. Often in the premenopausal phase, sleep disorders, dizziness, headaches and migraines are noted.

Genitourinary disorders

Women may experience various disorders associated with atrophy of the mucous membranes, prolapse of organs. In particular, urinary disorders occur:

frequent urination;
burning and pain;
urinary incontinence.

Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract

The gastrointestinal tract responds to changes in sex hormone levels, which causes signs and symptoms of stool disorders. Women may experience such unpleasant symptoms as diarrhea, constipation, pain in the projection of the intestine. As a prevention of unpleasant signs from the digestive organs, doctors recommend sticking to a diet and excluding fatty, fried, salty foods and confectionery.

The first symptoms and premenopausal syndrome

It is known that the first symptoms, signs of menopause occur in the premenopausal period. As a rule, their intensity is not expressed. This is due to the preservation of the synthesis of sex hormones, albeit in smaller quantities.

In the presence of concomitant pathologies, a premenopausal syndrome may occur. This condition implies a number of symptoms and signs indicating significant violations of various organs and systems. Premenopausal syndrome significantly worsens the quality of life of a woman and requires medical correction.

Harbingers

As a rule, we are talking about a minor ailment, which is not always noted by a woman. The earliest symptoms of premenopausal changes include the appearance of dryness in the vagina, pressure surges. Women also notice changes that affect the emotional background. Changeability of mood, tearfulness, irritability appears. Sleep disorders are often noted.

Menstrual irregularity

Gynecologists note that the very first signs and symptoms of premenopause relate to changes in menstrual function. Normally, menstruation in women is characterized by regularity. The menstrual cycle is biphasic and ovulates.

allowed per year 1-2 anovulatory cycles.

Premenopausal changes affect the nature of menstruation. A woman notes a lengthening or shortening of the cycle. The abundance of secretions during critical days can also vary. Over time, there is a tendency to stop menstruation.

tides

This is one of the very first signs and symptoms indicating the premenopausal stage. Hot flashes occur as a result of numerous changes that occur in a woman's body in response to a deficiency of sex hormones. Hot flashes are accompanied by a feeling of heat or chills, tachycardia, redness of the skin. After an attack, symptoms of fatigue occur.

Hot flashes can be either mild or severe. In severe cases, there is a threat of the development of various pathologies. The woman is on medication.

Symptom relief and prevention

You can determine the premenopausal stage using a test. All women who have entered the premenopausal period should be attentive to their health and regularly visit a therapist, gynecologist. It is mandatory to perform ultrasound of the pelvic organs and mammary glands, mammography.

It is necessary to remember about the increased risk of bowel cancer, diseases of the cardiovascular system. It is advisable to conduct surveys in this area.

Determine the presence of a woman in the premenopausal period possible with the help of hormonal diagnostics. There is an increase in FSH levels at low concentrations of estrogens.

Medications

As a rule, the premenopausal stage does not require drug therapy. However, in minor cases, the occurrence of pronounced signs and symptoms is noted, indicating various disorders in the functioning of organs and systems.

A woman goes to a doctor who prescribes an examination for her:

examination by a therapist, mammologist, gynecologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist and other specialists;
performing clinical analyzes of urine and blood;
mammography;
smears for infection;
cytological examination;
DERA.

The scope of research methods depends on the signs and symptoms.

Changes related to the premenopausal phase cannot be called a disease. Doctors use various methods to alleviate the condition of a woman. If indicated, drug therapy is carried out.

Hormone therapy with small doses of progesterone and estrogens is used:

plasters;
ointments, gels, creams;
tablets.

Topical agents are less likely to cause side effects. Tablets are often contraindicated in various somatic diseases.

Indications for hormone therapy:

hot flashes;
instability of the emotional background;
urinary incontinence;
dryness in the vagina;
prevention of osteoporosis.

HRT is prescribed for several years.

Contraindications to hormone therapy include:

hormone-dependent cancer;
bleeding;
hyperplasia;
thrombosis;
hypertension;
acute heart disease;
individual intolerance.

Hormones are used with caution in the following cases:

myoma;
endometriosis;
migraine;
stones in the gallbladder;
epilepsy.

Gynecologists emphasize that the premenopausal stage is the best time for hormone therapy.

When treating with hormones, there is a risk of:

stones in the gallbladder;
excessive blood clotting.

The use of hormones is possible both as part of monotherapy and combined treatment. It has been established that in women using combined hormone therapy, the risk of strokes, heart attacks, malignant tumors of the breast and endometrium increases.

Relief of symptoms of anxiety and depressive conditions is essential. In some cases, the appointment of sedatives and antidepressants is indicated.

To prevent osteoporosis, drugs are also prescribed in the form of tablets and nasal spray. The drugs strengthen bones, prevent fractures and reduce joint pain.

Homeopathy, vitamins and folk remedies

Often, instead of HRT, doctors prescribe phytoestrogens, which are effective and have a lower risk of developing side symptoms and signs. As part of complex therapy, vitamin preparations and medicinal herbs can also be used. Phytoestrogens have a positive effect on:

cardiovascular system, preventing the occurrence of atherosclerosis, hypertension, heart attack and stroke;
the functioning of the central nervous system, improving sleep, increasing efficiency;
appearance, preventing skin aging, improving the condition of hair and nails;
absorption of calcium, preventing the development of osteoporosis.

Gynecologists prescribe the following phytoestrogens:

Klimadinon;
Remens;
Lady Formula.

Among the medicinal herbs are widely used:

boron uterus;
yarrow;
red brush;
sage.

Mode of work and rest

Women in the premenopausal period should remember that their lifestyle needs to be adjusted. It is necessary to rationally approach the observance of the daily regimen, alternate load and rest.

Prolonged mental and physical stress leads not only to fatigue and fatigue, but also provokes stress. While working, take breaks whenever possible, breathe fresh air, or do light exercise. Healthy snacks are essential.

Sleep should not be neglected. Overexcitation leads to headaches and insomnia.

Physical activity

The benefits of moderate physical activity are clear. Physical education is the prevention of many diseases and improves mood. It is advisable to choose your sport, which would correspond to the physical form and individual characteristics of a woman. It must be remembered that in the presence of benign tumors of the uterus, exercises for tensioning the press are contraindicated.

Food

The diet significantly affects the well-being of a woman, her emotional background. Pre-menopausal women are prohibited from debilitating diets and overeating. It is necessary to eat fractionally, in small portions.

Preference should be given to fruits and vegetables. Fatty meats should be replaced with lean meats such as beef. It is useful to eat sea fish and dairy products. It is advisable to refuse fatty, fried foods, confectionery, carbonated drinks and smoked meats.

Proper nutrition prevents unpleasant symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract, which often develop in premenopause.

Healthy lifestyle

First of all, a healthy lifestyle involves the rejection of bad habits. It is known that smoking and alcohol consumption lead to early onset of menopause. In women who smoke, menopause occurs three years earlier. In addition, bad habits worsen the course of the premenopausal phase, which contributes to the occurrence of pathological symptoms.

A healthy lifestyle also includes adherence to the regimen, proper nutrition, adequate physical activity. These factors are especially important in adapting the body to a reduction in hormone levels.

emotional stability

The instability of the emotional background is often observed in the premenopausal phase of menopause. Symptoms from the emotional background are associated with physiological changes, on the one hand, and the awareness of aging, on the other.

Usually women become restless, irritable. Their mood is characterized by lability, a depressed state prevails. The instability of the emotional background affects the performance and quality of sleep.

intimate life

An unstable emotional background, unpleasant signs of the premenopausal stage, a decrease in the production of sex hormones leads to a decrease in libido. In addition, atrophy of the vaginal mucosa causes dryness and other symptoms, such as burning and itching. These factors do not contribute to a quality sexual life.

Experts emphasize that a full sexual life is necessary to maintain the production of sex hormones, prevent congestion and stabilize the emotional background. In order to eliminate dryness and unpleasant symptoms, you can use various moisturizers after the recommendation of a gynecologist.

As you know, aging and weight gain are interrelated. Women tend to gain weight at critical times in their lives, but during menopause, weight gain is inevitable.

Menopause or menopause is the period of ovulation cessation in women. It is difficult and no less difficult for women over forty to maintain a normal weight. Weight gained during and after menopause is very difficult to lose. Most often, this weight is concentrated in the abdomen and thighs.

Weight gain during menopause is most often due to the following factors:

a sharp drop in estrogen levels,
lack of regular physical activity,
a significant reduction in muscle mass,
wrong lifestyle and diet.

Most women (at least 2/3) aged 35-55 gain significant weight during the pre-menopausal period (the period before menopause). The weight gained during this time is difficult to lose, although it can be controlled. It has also been proven that gaining weight after the end of menopause increases the likelihood. Research suggests that gaining more than 10 kilograms can increase the chance of developing breast cancer, and losing weight after menopause can reduce this risk. Regular exercise and proper nutrition help to control weight and maintain it at an acceptable level.

Before menopause, the weight gained is evenly distributed throughout the body: hips, buttocks, arms and stomach, and the weight gained during menopause settles mainly in the abdomen, which makes the figure take on the shape of an apple. Such sudden weight gain in the abdomen can lead to the development of cardiovascular diseases.

Reasons for gaining weight

Weight gain in menopausal women cannot be fully explained by the hormonal changes that occur in a woman's body during this period, although hormones are indeed a major factor in the annoying changes that a woman's body suffers from. Changing the shape of the body is directly related to lifestyle and aging processes. So, weight gain during menopause is due to such reasons:

Overeating: Consuming large amounts of unnecessary calories that are not burned is bound to lead to weight gain.

Insulin resistance: Some women develop insulin resistance as they age, which causes the body to store calories instead of burning them.

Psychological factors: constant stress, chronic fatigue and increased anxiety are the culprits of weight gain during menopause. These psychological factors cause a disorder of the body's functions, resulting in a feeling of hunger (often false), which, in turn, leads to weight gain.

Aging: As the body ages, muscle mass decreases and body fat increases. Therefore, the process of burning calories slows down, and the reduced muscle mass is also not able to burn the same amount of calories as before.

Sedentary lifestyle: with age, the body's need for calories for energy production decreases. All excess calories turn into fat, which gradually replaces the muscles. As already mentioned, fat burns far fewer calories than muscle. Therefore, the metabolism in the body slows down, which, in turn, leads to weight gain. Lack of physical activity: during the menopause, women play sports less often than before, and therefore recover more strongly.

Hereditary factors can also cause weight gain during menopause.

Hormonal imbalance or hormone deficiency: This factor can affect the body's resistance to insulin, which contributes to the accumulation of excess fat (thus all excess calories are converted into fat).

Diseases: weight gain during the period is associated with thyroid diseases or disorders of its work.

Slow Metabolism: A slow metabolism associated with lack of physical activity, combined with the aging process, can lead to menopausal weight gain.

How to avoid gaining weight

Unfortunately, weight gain is an integral part of aging. But this process can be controlled as follows:

lead an active lifestyle, play sports;
follow a diet;
take a course of hormone replacement therapy, which helps maintain hormonal balance, which means a healthy weight.
reduce your intake of fatty foods. Limit your intake of saturated fats; consume "healthy" fats of plant origin (for example, nuts, olive oil, peanut butter, etc.).
reduce the intake of high-calorie foods. Remember that as we age, we need fewer calories, so we should eat rationally. However, a sharp decrease in the number of calories is also unhealthy, because in this case the body will begin to store energy, and it will be more difficult to lose weight.
do sport. Try aerobic exercise, which speeds up your metabolism, which helps you burn extra calories. Strength training is also beneficial because it increases muscle mass and also speeds up metabolism.
start early. Regular sports should not start at the age of fifty, but much earlier, at thirty. Then you should also switch to a balanced diet. This will help you get used to this lifestyle and facilitate the restructuring of the body during menopause.
include more fresh fruits and vegetables, proteins, etc. in the diet. If possible, choose low-fat sauces and salad dressings, boiled chicken, tuna and other fish fillets. Limit your intake of pork, hamburgers, pasta, potatoes, and fast food.
drink more water and reduce your intake of carbonated drinks and drinks containing caffeine.

Pre-menopause and weight gain

The term "pre-menopausal" refers to the period preceding menopause. At this time, hormonal changes occur in the body of a woman, which subsequently lead to the appearance of signs of menopause. These changes appear between the ages of 35 and 60 and last from 2 to 6 years. During this period, women begin to gain weight rapidly and for no apparent reason, even if they follow a strict diet.

Methods of weight control (, physical activity, fasting), which women used before, during this period are ineffective. Gaining weight in the abdomen is a common occurrence in the pre-menopausal period. Unstable hormonal levels, low estrogen levels, accumulation of fat cells are just some of the factors that cause this annoying phenomenon.

Climacteric syndrome is a symptom complex that develops during the period of age-related decline in the function of a woman's reproductive system and is characterized by neurovegetative, metabolic-endocrine and psycho-emotional disorders of varying degrees of intensity and duration.

Etiology and pathogenesis

The main regulating link of the menstrual cycle is the hypothalamus. It produces releasing hormones. Currently, it is believed that the hypothalamic regulation of the production of FSH and LH by the adenohypophysis is carried out by one hormone - gonadoliberin, produced by the hypothalamus. For many years, the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian system has been functioning as a self-regulating system based on the feedback principle. However, with age, involutive changes in the hypothalamus occur, which is manifested by an increase in its sensitivity threshold to the action of estrogens and increased production of gonadotropic hormones, primarily follitropin. The cyclicity of their selection is also violated. Due to the ever-increasing stimulation of the ovaries from the hypothalamus, they secrete into the blood a large amount of not only the working hormones of estrogen, but also the intermediate products of their synthesis. However, from a certain point on, the amount of hormones produced by the ovaries is insufficient to inhibit the excited hypothalamic activity and high production of follitropin. There is no decrease in follitropin release, and therefore ovulation does not occur. With the cessation of ovulation, the corpus luteum does not develop, reproductive function stops. With age, there is a progressive decrease in the number of primordial follicles, although a small number of them can be found in postmenopausal ovaries. The most characteristic of this period is the resistance of such follicles to the action of FSH and LH, an increase in the level of which in the blood serum always occurs during menopause. Menopause is characterized by impaired secretion of many hormones, primarily gonadotropic and sex hormones. Despite the almost complete cessation of the hormonal function of the ovaries, the level of estrogen in the blood serum does not reflect this condition. This is due to the fact that an additional source of estrogens, mainly in the form of estrone, in general, and especially in menopause, is androstenedione, which is converted to estrone in peripheral tissues. A decrease in the level of classical estrogen in the body contributes to the development of osteoporosis. Estrogen deficiency accelerates the development of atherosclerosis. An increase in the concentration of gonadotropins probably contributes to the development of ovarian cancer. A decrease in the content of dopamine in the hypothalamus leads to vegetovascular reactions, which is manifested by hot flashes, autonomic crises, and an increase in blood pressure. The sensation of heat is a consequence of paroxysmal vegetative sympathicotonic manifestations. Characteristic sensations arise due to central hyperthermia and appear 30-50 minutes after the spastic state of the capillaries and the development of venous stasis. In the pathogenesis of climacteric syndrome, changes in the functional state of the hypothalamus are important. At birth, a girl has primordial follicles from 300 to 500 thousand. But gradually the number of primordial follicles decreases and by the age of 40 they remain from 5 to 10 thousand. Accordingly, fertility decreases, estrogen secretion changes, which decreases. In addition, the qualitative composition of the produced estrogen changes. The main active fractions of estrogen are estrone, estradiol, estriol. In menopause, the most active estriol. At an older age, the reticular zone of the adrenal cortex produces part of the sex hormones, and some women go through menopause very calmly, and some women do not have any sensations and manifestations of the menopause (since these women suffer the least from the adrenal glands during their lives). The adrenal glands take over the function of the ovaries when the function of the latter fades. In addition, the content of gonadotropin changes. If estrogens decrease, then the feedback mechanism of gonadotropins increases (more than 10 times). The ratio of luteinizing hormone and FSH changes. In the reproductive age, this ratio is equal to one, in the menopause more FSH is released (ratio 0.43). The modern concept of the pathogenesis of climacteric syndrome attaches great importance to age-related changes in the hypothalamic structures.

The most traditional classification is the division of menopausal syndromeby the number of tides: mild form - a disease with up to 10 hot flashes per day; medium form - a disease with 10-20 hot flashes per day and with other characteristic symptoms; a severe form - a disease with more than 20 hot flashes per day and other symptoms, in which a woman almost completely loses her ability to work Forms of climacteric syndrome: typical - uncomplicated complicated - in combination with ischemic, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, arthropathy, osteoporosis atypical - symptoms prevail, indicating primary disorders in the hypothalamus, which is manifested by hypothalamic syndrome (most often with early menopause in young women)

Clinical picture General picture of the disease. In the early stages, symptoms of disorders associated with a violation of the nervous regulation of vascular tone appear - the so-called hot flashes and sweating. These symptoms are accompanied by significant disturbances in higher nervous functions: sleep disorders, increased irritability and excitability, and depression. In the future, there are symptoms associated with a decrease in the level of female sex hormones. Atrophy of the skin occurs (slow recovery of skin cells, its withering), as well as the mucous membrane of the vagina, which is manifested not only by unpleasant subjective sensations (primarily dryness and itching), but is also fraught with the addition of urinary tract infections. There is insufficiency of the sphincters of the bladder, which is manifested by involuntary urination (urinary incontinence). The clinic is diverse and manifests itself in neuropsychic, vegetative-vascular and metabolic disorders and is similar to diencephalic syndrome: neuropsychic manifestations: irritability, depression, tearfulness, aggressiveness, insomnia, headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, itching, vegetative vascular manifestations: sweating, heart pain, tachycardia (may be paroxysmal), arterial pressure lability; endocrine-metabolic disorders - decreased diuresis, thirst, edema, painful breast engorgement, flatulence, etc.

Diagnostics Complaints should be sorted into three groups: neurovegetative - hot flashes, sweating, dizziness, paresthesia, tingling in the heart area, tachycardia. All this, as a rule, happens at the time of high tide. psycho-neurotic - impaired memory, sleep, bad mood up to depression. somatic - atherosclerosis, systemic osteoporosis, atrophic changes in the internal organs During the first days of the examination, general analysis of blood, urine, TSH, the study of the level of potassium, sodium in the blood plasma, electrocardiography with physical activity (according to indications), X-ray examination of the chest. In pathological menopause, the electrocardiogram is normal or is characterized by the pathology of the T wave in the form of its decrease, smoothing and transition to a negative one, a shift in the S T interval, especially in the right (V1 Vz), less often in the left (V5 V6) chest leads, without dynamic changes (in contrast to from changes caused by ischemia), including after exercise. A test with nitroglycerin not only does not improve, but sometimes even worsens the ECG parameters and the well-being of patients.

Treatment Allocate drug, non-drug and hormonal treatment of menopausal syndrome.

The first stage is non-drug therapy: morning exercises physiotherapy exercises general massage proper nutrition (vegetables, fruits, vegetable fats should prevail in the diet) physiotherapy (collar with novocaine according to Shcherbak, galvanization of the brain, electroanalgesia. procedures 7-8 times spa treatment - hydrotherapy, balneotherapy , radon baths The second stage - drug non-hormonal therapy: vitamins A, C, E - improve the condition of the diencephalon and help well when the first symptoms appear; neuroleptic drugs - phenothiazine series drugs - meterazin, etaperazine, triftazin, frenolon; act at the level of the interstitial brain, affect the subcortical structures, and the Moscow school believes that they have a pathogenetic effect; start with small doses, and evaluate the effect after 2 weeks; tranquilizers - diazepam, elenium, if menopausal syndrome is combined with hypertension, then reserpine has a good effect in this case - pressure decreases, and gives a neuroleptic effect;

The third stage - hormone therapy Currently, the following main provisions on the use of hormone replacement therapy have been developed: the use of only analogues of natural hormones the appointment of low doses of estrogens, corresponding to the level of endogenous estradiol in the early phase of proliferation in young women, the combination of estrogens with progestogens, which makes it possible to exclude hyperplastic processes in the endometrium with a removed uterus, estrogen monotherapy can be prescribed; the duration of hormone prophylaxis and hormone therapy is at least 5- 7 years for the prevention of osteoporosis and myocardial infarction

The menopause is divided into three stages, and the first of them is premenopause, the symptoms of which some women begin to feel already at the age of forty. The process of fertility decline is physiologically inevitable, it is easy to recognize, and there are many ways to alleviate your condition.

The premenopausal period (premenopause) is the initial stage of menopause, during which changes occur in a woman's body associated with adaptation to a constant decrease in the level of hormones secreted by the ovaries. It lasts about 2 years and ends with the last menstruation. Every woman after 40-45 years old begins to notice the first symptoms of the premenopausal stage.

The onset of the menopause is accompanied by mood swings, high blood pressure, and other symptoms that may persist throughout the menopause. They manifest themselves individually and directly depend on the lifestyle and processes in the body that are responsible for the general state of health.

Diagnosis of premenopause is possible before the age of 40 (about 3%), and after 55 (about 20%), and is not always a sign of pathological conditions. Often such atypicality indicates only the genetic characteristics of a woman.

Signs of menopause

The premenopausal period is hard to miss. A number of changes in the body, which manifest themselves at the physiological and mental level, are obvious both to the woman herself and to those around her. The main symptoms of premenopause:

Premenstrual syndrome is more pronounced: pulling pains in the lower abdomen, irritability, mood swings, uncontrolled appetite and headaches become companions of this period. If all these manifestations were familiar to a woman before, then with an early menopause, the onset of menstruation becomes even more painful.
Violations of the menstrual cycle: it becomes longer, and blood discharge is much poorer. On average they come every 2 months.
Hot flashes are a sudden increase in body temperature. The skin of the face and decollete turns red, shortness of breath appears, darkens in the eyes. As soon as the attack stops, sweating increases. The number of hot flashes per day determines the difficulty of the course of the menopausal syndrome: up to 5 - mild form, up to 15 - medium, up to 30 - severe.
Difficulty in controlling emotions is one of the most common symptoms of a woman's premenopausal state. Hormonal changes affect the nervous system. Violation of sleep and wakefulness and rapid fatigue result in irritability. Especially often overcomes anger, which is difficult to cope with. The situation is complicated by the fact that others often take it for whims and bad character. Such negative emotions are accompanied by a headache. Often, a woman falls into.
Due to the decrease in secreted mucous secretion, dryness appears in the vagina, which negatively affects the sensations during intercourse. Sexual desire is also significantly dulled, and therefore there may be problems in relationships with men. The discharge itself becomes poorer and can change its quality - consistency, color, smell. Odorless mucus is considered normal. In all other cases, you need to contact a specialist.
Disruptions in hormonal function lead to a deterioration in brain activity. Memory becomes dull, it is more difficult to remember not only new information, but also to remember facts from the past. There are difficulties with concentration. It becomes difficult for a woman to do the same thing for a long time.
A manifestation of the initial stage of menopause in a woman is considered to be a malfunction of the cardiovascular system. Increased pressure with all its consequences - headache, heart palpitations, burning sensation in the chest area - makes itself felt at this age.
Breast sensitivity is not a frequent, but occurring phenomenon at the initial stage of menopause. In combination with abundant blood secretions, it may indicate the initial stage of development of neoplasms. Breast cancer is a disease that most often affects women over 40. It is very important to visit doctors regularly and undergo genital examinations at this age.

Signs of premenopause do not appear with the same intensity in all women. Factors that affect the course of premenopause:

genetic factor - those representatives of the weaker sex who inherited good health, and whose mothers endured this stage relatively easily, are very likely not to face serious problems either;
lifestyle - smoking, alcohol, stress, malnutrition, hard physical or mental labor aggravate the condition during this period. A healthy diet, physical activity, the absence of bad habits and a calm psycho-emotional state alleviate the menopause syndrome;
diseases of any organs, and first of all - the reproductive system: during this period, their course is aggravated, the likelihood of complications increases.

The body of a woman during menopause

The premenopausal period is the time when the level of follicle-stimulating hormone in the blood rises. This process is combined with a decrease in the level of estradiol, one of the main female sex hormones.

The ovaries continue to function, producing estrogen and progesterone, but their activity is reduced. Therefore, normal periods with ovulation preceding them take place, which means that it is still possible to get pregnant during premenopause. Carrying a child at this age rarely occurs without complications. It is strongly recommended not to forget about reliable contraception, which must be prescribed by a doctor without fail.

The constant decrease in female hormones in the pre-max state most of all affects the following body systems:

Sexual. The quality and quantity of secretions change, the microflora of the genital organs becomes more susceptible to infectious diseases. Changes also apply to the menstrual cycle - menstruation becomes less, less frequent. Also frequent are complaints of sensitivity and hardening of the mammary glands in the menopause, sometimes painful lumps are felt. In women with mastopathy, the disease takes on a special form at this time. Hormone therapy and constant monitoring of the health of the genital organs by a competent specialist is what will help to avoid complications.
Cardiovascular. Estrogen deficiency leads to fragility of the walls of blood vessels, which negatively affects blood circulation and blood pressure. All women over 40 are advised to eat foods containing healthy polyunsaturated fats to strengthen the walls of blood vessels and increase their elasticity.
Urine-genital. Hormones of the estrogen group ensure the normal functioning of the bladder and the tone of the muscles of the small pelvis. Accordingly, their decrease provokes such pathological conditions as urinary incontinence, discomfort during urination, cystitis. In addition to menopause, the causes of these diseases can be problems in the functioning of the endocrine and cardiovascular systems. Special exercises, for example, Kegel gymnastics or imbuilding, help to solve these problems well.
Digestive: metabolism slows down significantly. This leads to an increase in the level of cholesterol in the blood, swelling, constipation, flatulence and rapid weight gain. Stomach pain and nausea are the reaction of the digestive system to high blood pressure. A healthy, balanced diet and the rejection of junk food will help to avoid these difficulties.
Bone. The bone tissue becomes more fragile, the likelihood of fractures due to mechanical injuries increases. In addition, the condition of the skin and hair worsens. In the diet of a woman during menopause, there must be foods rich in calcium. It is also recommended to take vitamin complexes containing the necessary trace elements.
Nervous. The instability of the emotional state is also provoked by hormonal surges.

In addition to these changes, in women during premenopause, all chronic diseases can worsen. However, we must remember that menopause is a natural and gradual process. The body is able to adapt to changes, and with proper prevention, menopausal syndrome can even proceed without problems.