What harm does menopause bring to women?

Menstruation will accompany women for most of their lives. Generally, the first menstruation starts at around 14 years old, and menopause begins at around 50 years old. However, many women stop menstruating before they are 50 years old, and some even take medicine to cause early menopause. However, scientific research shows that premature menopause is harmful to the body.

So, what are the dangers of early menopause and how to prevent and treat it?

1. Osteoporosis

Due to the decline of ovarian function, the estrogen level decreases, which affects the deposition of calcium in the bones, so it is easy to cause osteoporosis. Now, bone density measurement can be used to detect and diagnose osteoporosis at an early stage.

Countermeasures: No safe and effective method has been found to rebuild the already porous bone. Drug treatment can only slow down and stop bone loss. Therefore, for osteoporosis, prevention is more important than treatment. For example, strengthen exercise, especially regular weight-bearing exercise; pay attention to calcium-rich diet, such as milk, soy products, dried fruits, cauliflower, radish, cabbage, etc., and supplement calcium and vitamin D when necessary; develop good living habits, do not smoke, drink less alcohol, do not drink coffee, and get more sun; pay attention to self-protection and avoid falls.

2. Urogenital system diseases

Due to low estrogen levels, the female urogenital system will undergo a series of degenerative and atrophic changes. For example, the vaginal epithelium becomes thinner, and the pelvic muscles relax, which can cause the urethra and bladder to shift; the vaginal mucosa becomes thinner, the resistance is low and it is easy to get infected, causing atrophic cystitis, urinary incontinence, urethritis, senile vaginitis, etc.

Countermeasures: Prevention and treatment should be combined for urogenital diseases caused by this. Topical estrogen ointment and hormone replacement therapy can prevent recurrent urinary tract infections and senile vaginitis, as well as common urogenital diseases. Anal levator exercises and pelvic floor muscle exercises can improve urinary system symptoms. In addition, pay attention to personal hygiene, keep the vulva clean, change underwear frequently; insist on participating in appropriate exercise to enhance physical fitness and delay aging. For those with uterine prolapse, vaginal anterior and posterior wall (bladder, rectum) bulge with urination disorder, surgical treatment can be performed.

3. Cardiovascular disease

Estrogen can improve the elasticity of blood vessels, making them less likely to harden and become blocked. Therefore, the drop in estrogen levels caused by early menopause can cause abnormal blood lipid metabolism and make cardiovascular disease more likely.

Countermeasures: Combination of prevention and treatment. Currently, the most effective method is hormone replacement therapy. The specific drugs and dosages must be taken under the guidance of a doctor, and it is recommended to use this therapy until the age of 45.

(1) The diet should be light, low in salt and sugar, with more vegetables, fruits, and soy products. There should also be a certain amount of lean meat, fish, shrimp, and eggs.

(2) Do not stay up late, quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption, control your weight, and exercise appropriately.

(3) Be good at regulating emotions, avoid mental stress, and maintain a peaceful state of mind. When you are busy at work, you can learn to relax by listening to music, reading books, traveling, etc.

(4) Follow the doctor’s instructions and take medication.

4. Menopausal syndrome

Due to the mutual influence of multiple endocrine factors, autonomic nervous system dysfunction may occur, leading to vasomotor dysfunction, commonly known as menopausal syndrome, which manifests as hot flashes, sweating, palpitations, dizziness, fatigue, inattention, depression, tension, emotional instability, irritability, dizziness, tinnitus, and palpitations.

Countermeasures: The severity of these symptoms varies greatly from person to person, and most will gradually subside and disappear. In severe cases, hormone replacement therapy and traditional Chinese medicine can be used to improve symptoms.

In addition, the mental state should not be ignored. Due to early menopause, it is easy to have psychological imbalance, fear, inferiority, complaints and anger, and various physical discomforts will aggravate the accumulation of negative emotions, leading to irritability, anxiety, and even depression. Therefore, those who have premature menopause need to treat it correctly, overcome fear, learn more about the disease, and strengthen exercise; the family should give support and seek help from a psychologist when necessary to smoothly pass this period.