Menopause health knowledge

This is a systemic physiological transition stage caused by the natural decline of ovarian function and the fluctuation of hormone levels in women around the age of 45-55. It is not a "bad temper" or "hypocrisy", and there is no need to bear it hard. Scientific intervention can significantly alleviate more than 90% of uncomfortable symptoms and pass this stage smoothly.

I have been in the gynecology clinic for almost 10 years, and I have seen too many patients who have to deal with inappropriate "emotional problems" during menopause. Sister Zhang, who came here last week, is a typical example - 48 years old. Half a year ago, she started having hot flashes on her face from time to time. She tossed and turned in the night and couldn't sleep. She couldn't sit still at work during the day. She couldn't help but get angry with her colleagues. She went to the psychiatrist for a check-up and said she was suffering from moderate anxiety. After taking anti-anxiety medicine for more than three months, the symptoms did not subside at all. Later, she came to me to check six sex hormones. The follicle-stimulating hormone had risen to 42IU/L. It was clear that she was entering menopause. She adjusted the plan. She only took phytoestrogens for two weeks and adjusted her sleep schedule. She said that she could sleep until dawn recently and would not get angry for no reason.

When it comes to menopausal intervention, the most controversial issue is “whether to supplement hormones.” Different schools of medicine have different views: the consensus in the field of Western gynecological endocrinology is that as long as there is no history of hormone-dependent tumors (such as breast cancer and endometrial cancer) and no active thrombosis, Severe liver and kidney dysfunction are contraindications. Supplementing low-dose estrogen and progesterone during the "window period" within 10 years of menopause and before the age of 60 can not only quickly relieve the typical symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness, but also reduce the long-term risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. The benefits far outweigh the risks.； However, traditional Chinese medicine and natural medicine schools prefer to give priority to lifestyle adjustments and syndrome differentiation. For example, Zhibai Dihuang Pills are used for kidney yin deficiency syndromes with frequent hot flashes and night sweats, and Ganmai Dazao Decoction with Xiaoyao Pills is used for liver stagnation syndromes with severe mood swings. Clinically, about 60% of patients with mild to moderate symptoms can significantly improve their symptoms by simply relying on lifestyle + traditional Chinese medicine for 3 months, without the need for exposure to exogenous hormones. There is no absolute right or wrong between the two options. You can choose based on your body's acceptance and the severity of your symptoms.

Many people only have the impression of "hot flashes and bad temper" about menopause. In fact, for nearly 30% of people, the first symptoms of menopause are not these at all. There was a 52-year-old aunt who cried when she came here. She said that her memory was so bad that she stuffed keys in the refrigerator and threw groceries at the vegetable stall after buying food. She thought she was going to suffer from Alzheimer's disease. She even wrote her will in advance. The results showed that her cognitive function was normal, but the decrease in estrogen affected the neurotransmitter transmission in the brain. She was prescribed some black cohosh extract and asked her to eat more soy products every day. Two weeks later, she went back to the doctor and said that she had not lost anything recently. She was finally relieved after having been worried for many months. Some people experience menopause as recurring urinary tract infections, joint pain, and sexual discomfort. They always go to the nephrology department, orthopedics department, or urology department for check-ups. After a long time of checking, there are no problems, and finally they are transferred to the gynecology department to find the root cause. Oh, by the way, don’t think that menopause is exclusive to women. Men will also enter menopause after the age of 50 due to declining testosterone levels. However, most of the symptoms are relatively mild, such as inexplicable fatigue, irritability, and poor sleep. Few people think about this. Last month, there was a 55-year-old male patient. The patient was dragged here by his wife, saying that he had been picking at home every day recently, scolding the salty vegetables and scolding the floor when the mop was not clean. After checking, his testosterone level was indeed 30% lower than the normal value. He took a small dose of testosterone supplement. A week later, his wife specially sent me a message saying that he could finally eat in peace at home.

Many people ask me if there are any small ways to relieve pain without taking medicine. I usually recommend it to my relatives and friends. I have personally tested it and it works: You don’t have to force yourself to run a few kilometers every day to do high-intensity exercise. Just walk for 30 minutes every day. Walk two more stops to and from get off work, and go downstairs for a half-hour walk after dinner. You can relieve most of the emotional stress caused by hormone fluctuations.； If you suddenly feel angry and want to quarrel with your family, hold an ice pack in your hand for 1 minute, or go to the bathroom and wash your face with cold water. The inexplicable anger will immediately come down. ； Adding more soy products to your daily meals and drinking a cup of 300ml of soy milk every day is more effective than eating a lot of messy health products. By the way, be sure to avoid this pitfall: don’t believe in the magic medicine that “can delay menopause and reverse growth” advertised by WeChat merchants. I met an aunt before who bought a bottle of imported “ovarian maintenance supplement” worth several hundred yuan and ate it for a year. During the physical examination, it was found that the thickness of the endometrium was 12mm, and it was found to be atypical hyperplasia. I almost had the uterus removed.

To put it bluntly, menopause is just like acne in adolescence and morning sickness during pregnancy and childbirth. It is just a stage that one must go through in life. There is no need to think "Why am I so pretentious", nor do you have to be a "sensible middle-aged person". Some people have mild symptoms and get over it by dancing every day and taking care of their grandchildren. Some people have severe symptoms and should find a doctor. Whatever is comfortable is enough.