Menopause health science content

This is a normal physiological transition stage for women from strong ovarian function to decline. It is by no means "pretentious in old age". More than 90% of uncomfortable symptoms can be alleviated through scientific intervention, so there is no need to bear it hard.

I just met 52-year-old Aunt Zhang at the outpatient clinic last week. She has been suffering from insomnia for almost half a year and is constantly quarreling with her husband and children. Her family members think that something is wrong with her because she quits leisure time. She secretly went to the psychology department to take a scale and suspected that she was suffering from depression. Finally, after checking her sex hormones, she found out that her estrogen level had dropped to the postmenopausal range, which is a typical perimenopausal symptom. She was given an individualized adjustment plan. After just over half a month, she came for a follow-up visit and said that she could sleep for more than 5 hours continuously without getting angry inexplicably. I have met too many aunts in the outpatient clinic who have been doing it by themselves for three or four years. They were afraid that others would laugh at them because they had so many things to do. In the end, they did not come until they had severe osteoporosis and fell and fractured their bones. It is really a pity.

Many people's understanding of the time of menopause is still "45 to 55 years old". In fact, the clinical boundaries have been blurred a lot now. Some people may show signs of ovarian hypofunction just after the age of 40, while others may still have intermittent hot flashes at the age of 60. There is no need to be anxious just because you are earlier or later than others. Individual differences are inherently huge. There are still many people who only have the impression of menopause as "poor temper and prone to sweating". In fact, its manifestations are varied. Some people keep their eyes open until dawn for three or four months in a row. Some people have chest tightness and palpitations after climbing two floors. They went to the cardiology department twice for treatment. Even a dynamic electrocardiogram cannot detect any problems. Some people suffer from repeated urinary tract infections and vaginal dryness, but find no problems during gynecological examinations. There are even some people who have inexplicable shoulder pain and knee pain, and even after applying half a box of plaster, it does not feel better. In fact, it is all caused by fluctuations in estrogen levels.

When it comes to this, we have to mention the hormone supplementation issue that everyone is most confused about. At present, there is really no unified standard answer to this in the academic community. A more radical view is that as long as you are within 10 years of menopause, under 60 years old, and have no contraindications such as breast cancer, blood clots, or active liver disease, early supplementation can not only quickly relieve symptoms, but also reduce the risk of long-term osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. The benefits far outweigh the risks. ； The conservative view is more inclined to avoid unnecessary hormone exposure by not using it if possible. The specific choice can never be determined by reading popular science posts on the Internet. You need to find a doctor for a comprehensive evaluation, combined with your family history, underlying diseases, and symptom severity. Do not secretly buy "ovarian maintenance" health products online. Many of them illegally add estrogen. Eating too much may induce endometrial lesions, which is not worth the loss.

In addition to medical intervention, the role of daily care is actually much greater than many people think. Everyone knows that calcium supplements are needed during menopause, but many people don’t know that taking calcium tablets alone is useless. It must be combined with vitamin D and exposed to the sun for 15 minutes a day to be absorbed. There is no need to force yourself to run a marathon or practice high-intensity fitness. Do jumping jacks for 10 minutes every day, or walk for half an hour after dinner. Perseverance will have a better effect on increasing bone density than taking many expensive supplements. Emotionally, don't force yourself to be "open-minded" or "generous". If you are really irritable for no reason, just find a place where no one is around to yell, or ask an old friend to have a hot pot meal and go shopping. Don't insist on being a "perfect old lady" and do whatever makes you feel comfortable. When my own mother went through menopause, I didn’t buy her any expensive health care products. I just watched her drink a glass of warm milk every day, took her to square dance for forty minutes after dinner, and went hiking with her on weekends when she was free. Except for the occasional sudden burst of fever and blush, she basically didn’t suffer anything. Even she herself said that many sisters around her had insomnia and tantrums, but she didn’t have this problem.

Oh, by the way, menopause is not exclusive to women. Many men’s testosterone levels drop after the age of 50, and they will also experience fatigue, depression, and loss of sexual desire. Don’t always think that it is “out of use as you get older.” If the symptoms are obvious, you can go to the men’s department for a check-up and make appropriate adjustments.

After all, menopause is a signal from your body to "slow down". In the first half of your life, you may have been busy taking care of the elderly and children. At this stage, it is time to spend more time on yourself. If you feel uncomfortable, don't bear it, and don't be embarrassed to say it. Seek a professional doctor and spend this period of time comfortably. It's not difficult at all.