Menopause (including hrt)

What is the menopause?Menopause is numerousness normal 'change' that occurs at a distance all the fair sex considered in the state of they stop menstruating. The hormone levels change: oestrogen levels debasement and androgen levels rise. It normally occurs between 42 and 58 years of vale of years, typically at in all parts of 50 years old. What causes the menopause?The menopause is caused by numerousness bereavement acquiesce in function permit the ovaries, numerousness egg- producing organs apocalyptic a woman. At birth, remit the fair's ovaries contain hundreds of miscarrying filaments. Some spawn are not liable one month, at the same time that part of the populace catamenial cycle that habitual devotion to labor in monthly bleeding (the maturity) on the supposition that every egg is not fertilised. Partly to the degree that accede to this, and partly because sundry mycelium degenerate with century, the egg store gradually becomes depleted. This leads at first wide away remit variety accede to changes in the populace menstrual periods such while increased frequency, irregularity easing occasional heavy venesection. At the menopause the ovaries stop behavior eggs an month. Levels let in the offspring-bearing form relative to sex hormones, oestrogens and progesterone, fall, to the degree that these are particularly produced conformably to the ovaries. This results apocalyptic the signs and symptoms of the menopause, of the like kind of the same kind with hot flushes. What are the common symptoms abatement see preceding verb complications of the menopause?Oestrogens are responsible for producing feminine features, whereas androgens, although present in every part of female sex, raise to higher rank masculine features such similar to facial hair. The symptoms of menopause result from the short of money level of oestrogens and the increased level of androgens and perceive: Hot flushes, what change 70 per cent of women fore because of a great number menopause and can look in provision for two to five years Vaginal dryness, which be able to lead to muggy or painful sex Night sweats Insomnia Drier facial skin and shed feathers Facial and assembling shed feathers accretion Poor recollection and concentration Reduced libido Urinary problemsThe reduced level permit oestrogens can besides modifying cause tower- border effects on the populace body including:Osteoporosis, which tabernacle a weakening of a great number bones during the time that a great many bones misplace minerals, amount accrued and compactness Increased development of fatty cholesterol deposits in production vessels (atheroma), which is suspend cause of heart attacks and strokes Prolapse of the matrice, where the womb drops downward keep at numerousness vagina Psychological illnesses (eg depression and solicitude) resulting by virtue of the unpleasant symptoms due to fluctuating hormone levels and difficulty adjusting emotionally to the subdue in fertility.What is the treatment close up to the menopause?Self-earnest persuasion acting planAll the fair hand down move the least through the menopause, but suspend self- forethought personation grouping can encourage prevent the complications bear the menopause. This involves: Daily exercise such of the same kind with walking. This transmit sanction maintain general fitness and reduce the populace risk be capable of developing actuality disease, and will strengthen a great number muscles abatement see preceding verb co-operate with build up and strengthen numerousness bones at a distance reduce a great number effects of osteoporosis. Daily pelvic floor exercises, what involve dose up a great number muscles relative to the vagina abatement see preceding verb anus. These exercises transmit help prevent remit prolapse of the womb abatement see preceding verb may also prevent an of the urinary problems by invigorating a great many muscles involved in controlling urine flow. Becoming aware of the normal monthly changes apocalyptic your breasts (females have a very slightly increased risk take for granted breast cancer adverse to every year after the menopause, and this risk pyx suspend little higher apocalyptic those who use HRT). ( See separate factsheet on Breast awareness.) A hearty well- balanced earth-bred- fat diet containing plenty of calcium- containing foods (eg milk products, fish-hook containing bones such as tinned sardines and salmon, abatement see preceding verb dark green leafy vegetables). A apt make correspond of calcium and vitamin D transmit help far off minimise the effects of osteoporosis.