Menopause Health Lecture

Menopause is not a physical pain that you can just "get over and be done with". As long as you find the right intervention method for you, more than 90% of people can go through it smoothly. There is no need to endure the unpleasant symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats, insomnia, irritability, and joint pain. There is no need to regard menopause as a "shady sign of aging" and be ashamed to talk about it.

Sister Zhang, a 48-year-old human resources manager of a state-owned enterprise, who just received a diagnosis last week, has been working hard for a lifetime. Two years ago, she started to feel hot in her back from time to time. She would secretly zip her coat to the bottom during meetings in the winter. She would toss and turn at night before squinting until two or three o'clock. The year-old go-getter scolded and cried, and after arguing with her husband when she got home, she hid in the toilet and shed tears. She thought it was because of the recent personnel adjustments and the pressure was too great. It was not until the physical examination report came out that the bone density had reached the critical value of osteoporosis, and the six sex hormones indicated that the ovarian function was obviously declining, and she realized that she was entering menopause.

I have been doing menopausal health management for almost 8 years, and I have seen too many examples like this. Many people’s understanding of menopause is still “just have a bad temper, and you can just tolerate it for a few years.” Some people even think that it is “hypocritical” to go out of your way to see menopausal problems. In the end, there are not a few people who end up with sleep disorders, osteoporosis, and emotional disorders.

There is no one-size-fits-all "standard answer" in the industry. The one that suits you is the best: the mainstream view of Western gynecology is that as long as there are no contraindications to hormone supplementation (such as a history of breast cancer, active liver disease, unexplained vaginal bleeding, etc.), small doses should be supplemented within 10 years of menopause and during the "window period" before the age of 60. Estrogen and progesterone are the first-line options for relieving moderate to severe menopausal symptoms. The benefits far outweigh the risks. The latest guidelines from the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) in 2024 also make it clear that when used properly, the risk of related breast cancer increases by less than one thousandth, which is lower than the risk of staying up late and eating high-sugar and high-fat foods. Of course, there are also many friends who are indeed resistant to hormones or have contraindications. There are also other options. For example, traditional Chinese medicine often uses syndrome differentiation to make ointments, moxibustion, and flirting. Many people report that the relief effect is also good. ； Functional medicine will recommend adjusting the diet structure, supplementing phytoestrogens, probiotics, and active vitamin D, as well as breathing and decompressing training, which can also help smooth the transition.

Oh, by the way, I must remind everyone here, don’t buy health care products blindly. Last month, I met an aunt and watched a short video saying that soy isoflavones can cure menopause. I chose the highest dose and took it for three months. During the physical examination, I found that the breast nodules had grown from 2mm to 5mm. I was so scared that I stopped quickly. No matter which intervention method you choose, the first step is to go to the hospital for a basic examination: gynecological B-ultrasound, breast B-ultrasound, six sex hormones, liver and kidney function, and bone density. First understand your body and then choose a plan. This is the bottom line.

In fact, many minor symptoms do not require medication, and most of them can be relieved by adjusting your living habits. For example, if you have frequent hot flashes, you usually carry a small folding fan in your pocket and fan it twice when you feel hot. It is much more comfortable than carrying it. ； Try to wear layered clothes that can be taken off at any time to avoid the embarrassment of sweating in public ； Don't wrap yourself up in those thick coral velvet pajamas at night. Wear loose cotton ones and put a thin towel on your chest. When you sweat, take it out and change it to avoid getting wet and tossing and sleeping all night long. Also, be sure to say hello to your family in advance, and just say straightforwardly, "I may have reached menopause recently, and my mood is not stable. If I suddenly get angry, don't take it personally. I just wait for two minutes." In fact, many family conflicts are just left undisclosed. If you don't tell your family that you are deliberately looking for trouble, everyone will understand if you do.

I used to have a 50-year-old aunt whose symptoms were not severe, but she occasionally woke up with night sweats. She always felt unmotivated. She didn't want to take medicine, so I suggested to her that she dance square dancing for 40 minutes every afternoon, drink 300ml of pure milk every day, supplement some calcium and vitamin D, and drink less strong tea and coffee. She persisted for three months. She came for a follow-up checkup last week and said that the symptoms were basically gone. Now she has signed up for a Chinese painting class at a senior citizen university, and her life is more nourishing than before.

By the way, don’t believe the rumors that “there is no need for contraception during menopause”. During the process of declining ovarian function, it is still possible to ovulate occasionally. I met a 52-year-old aunt who had an unexpected pregnancy. In the end, abortion was very harmful to the body. As long as the menopause has not been over for a year, contraceptive measures must not be stopped. There are also people who say, "Irregular menstruation means menopause and you don't need to worry about it." This is not true. If your menstrual flow is heavy and the bleeding lasts for more than 10 days, you must go to the hospital to check for endometrial lesions. Don't take it seriously.

After all, menopause is a normal stage of life, no different from the puberty and pregnancy and childbirth periods you experienced before. It is not your problem, nor is it something to be ashamed of. You see, now everyone pays so much attention to the pregnancy and childbirth period. Why do you feel that you have to bear it when you reach menopause? You should live for yourself in the second half of your life. You will be comfortable as long as you feel comfortable. If you have any problems, go to a professional doctor. Don’t hold it in and endure it. Isn’t that right?