According to research conducted for Turkish women, the average age of menopause is around 47. There is no clear relationship between the age at which menstruation first begins and the age at menopause. The intervals between menstrual bleeding may begin to lengthen 2 to 8 years before menopause.
In other words, menstruation becoming less frequent or becoming more frequent is not an indication that you will enter menopause immediately. The most important factor that determines the age of menopause. genetics are factors. In addition, environmental factors such as smoking and obesity can also affect the age of menopause. The lifespan of the ovaries in women, that is, when to enter menopauseis determined by the number of egg cells in the ovary.
While the girl is still in her mother's womb and in the 20th week of pregnancy, there are approximately 2-3 million eggs in each ovary. This is the highest number of egg cells a woman has in her entire life. When a baby girl is born, this number drops to 1 million in each ovary and to 300,000 during adolescence. Therefore, for the ovary “organ that ages before birth” The term is used. This number drops to 10,000 when the woman reaches the age of 40. While some of these eggs disappear every month during the reproductive age, only one of them matures and ovulation occurs. During a woman's entire reproductive age, that is, between the ages of 13 and 48, only around 400-500 eggs mature in a way that can potentially result in pregnancy. After the age of forty, a significant acceleration in the loss of eggs is observed. Running out of eggs is nownot producing hormones and amenorrhea so menopause It is defined as .
Diagnosis of menopause While it can be made clinically, the most definitive diagnosis is blood secretion from the brain. FSH, LH and E2 hormones secreted from the ovaries are placed with their levels. In the case defined as "hidden ovarian failure", the patient has blood loss even though she is menstruating. FSH level It is above the average for that age group, and ultrasound shows that there is a decrease in the number of structures called follicles in the ovary, which indicate the egg production reserve. This may be one of the reasons why some women cannot have children.With the lengthening of human life, menopause has come to cover almost one-third of a woman's life. In fact, although it is a completely physiological and inevitable process, as a result of the decreased estrogen hormone, it also creates many consequences that concern many systems and significantly reduce the woman's quality of life.
Menopause Symptoms:
- Hot Flashes
- sweats
- Remembering Difficulties
- Contraction Disorders
- Depression and Loss of Sexual Desire
- Decrease in Bone Density and Bone Pain
- Loss of Breast Tissue
- Skin Thinning
- Dryness in Vaginal
- Pain and Burning During Sexual Intercourse
- Frequent Urination and Difficulty Going to the Toilet
- Menstrual Irregularities and, rarely, sudden cessation of menstruation may also occur.
What causes hot flashes?
Actually, the reason for this is not fully known. However, research shows that estrogen (female hormone) also has very important effects on brain functions. Hot flashes are located in the hypothalamus region of the brain and regulate body temperature. "thermostat" It is thought to occur as a result of the decrease in the stabilizing effect on the body. One of the known problems in this period is osteoporosis (decrease in bone density-bone resorption) and therefore an increase in the likelihood of fractures, heart attack and vascular diseases. In addition, dryness in the sexual organs and decreased tissue elasticity lead to painful sexual intercourse, that is, problems in sexual life. One of the most important problems Osteoporosis - osteoporosis Although it actually starts from the age of 20, the loss until menopause is insignificant.
Since bone loss is faster in the early periods after menopause, it is necessary to start treatment as early as possible.
With hormonal treatment, bone fractures can be reduced by approximately 50%. When calcium was added to the treatment, an 80% reduction in back and spinal fractures was detected. In addition, vitamin D should be added to the treatment for women over the age of 70 and those living in areas where there is little sun. Preventing bone loss your way of life It also has importance. Meanwhile, there is evidence that smoking accelerates bone loss and even accelerates menopause. 2-2.5 km a day for women in menopause. Walking is recommended.
What is Recommended for Cardiovascular Diseases During Menopause?
As a result of the decrease in estrogen hormone during menopause, the protective effect of this hormone disappears and a significant increase in heart diseases is observed. Until a few years ago, estrogen (female hormone) treatments were recommended to protect against cardiovascular diseases, prevent arteriosclerosis and reduce the risk of heart attack, but as a result of large studies conducted in recent years (such as WHI, One-million Women Study), it has been shown that this treatment is not beneficial for this purpose and even increases the risk of damage from heart diseases.
In the light of today's information; in menopause from cardiovascular diseases instead of hormone therapy to prevent low-cholesterol diet, lifestyle changes and regular exercise However, if the desired ideal level of blood lipids is not reached, drugs that lower cholesterol (statins) should be used.
What should not be forgotten: The menopausal period is not a disease, but a period that can be spent in health and happiness with proper and adequate follow-up. For this reason, as this period approaches, there must be a To Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist It is to have the necessary check-ups in order to be protected from malignant gynecological diseases, which are increasingly common, especially in older ages. After listening to your complaints, your doctor will examine you and perform the necessary screenings for the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer and heart diseases. your meme movie will ask for withdrawal and if he deems it necessary osteoporosis will have bone mineral density measured. Then, he will tell you which medication is most suitable for you, in what dosage and for how long.
One of the most common problems in this period is the issue of sexuality in menopause.
What is Early Menopause?
early menopause It is the occurrence of menopause before the age of 40. This condition can be observed in 1% of women. Since there are many health problems and even shortening of life, these women must be given treatment until at least the normal menopause age. hormone support therapy should be implemented.
Surgical menopause It is the removal of a woman's ovaries by surgery for various reasons and the resulting menopause.
What does bleeding during menopause mean?
Vaginal bleeding that occurs 1 year or more after the last bleeding post menopause are bleeding. This is definitely not a normal situation. When you have unexpected bleeding after menopause, it can happen for many reasons.
The most common reason is actually the thinning and brittleness of the inner tissue of the vagina and uterus due to hormone deficiency. However, among these reasons, rare but vital cancers There are also. Therefore, in post-menopausal bleeding, it must first be shown that there is no bad reason for this bleeding. For this, your doctor will examine you, measure the thickness of the inner layer of the uterus with vaginal ultrasonography, and probably take a piece from the inside of the uterus. This taken piece will be examined under the microscope by expert pathologists and reported.
In summary, if you experience vaginal bleeding after menopause definitely You should consult a doctor.
The treatment is bleeding to the reason It depends. For example, if the tissues in the vaginal walls and uterus are very thin, your doctor may recommend a vaginal cream or suppository containing estrogen hormone. Vaginal infections (inflammations) can usually be treated with antibiotics. polyp If it is detected that there are pieces of meat called meat, these should be removed.hyperplasia If a thickening of the inner tissue of the uterus, called uterine tissue, is detected, it depends on its type. hysterectomy Your doctor will recommend the treatments to you.
Even if you have no complaints, do not forget to visit your gynecologist at least once a year!