Menopause

Menopause is the process through which a woman ceases to be fertile or menstruate. It is a normal part of life and is not considered a disease or a condition.

Symptoms may occur years before a woman's final period. Some women may experience symptoms for months or years afterward.

Despite being a natural process in the body of any woman, menopause can cause drastic changes that trigger severe symptoms.

This article will explain the symptoms and causes of menopause, as well as how to diagnose and treat any symptoms that arise.

•Fast facts on menopause

• Menopause marks the end of a woman's fertility.

• Symptoms of menopause include night sweats, hot flashes, mood fluctuations, and cognitive changes.

• A reduction in estrogen levels can lead to the symptoms of menopause.

• There are a number of medical treatments and home remedies that can help with symptoms, including hormone replacement therapy(HRT) and self-management techniques.

• The average age of menopause in the United States (U.S.) is 51 years.

•Signs and symptoms

Menopause is a natural change in the body. It causes symptoms such as hot flashes.

While menopause is not a disease or disorder, it does trigger some profound changes in a woman's body.

A diagnosis of menopause is confirmed when a woman has not had a menstrual period for one year. However, the symptoms of menopause generally appear before the end of that one-year period.

Irregular periods 

Changes to the menstrual pattern are the first noticeable symptoms of menopause. Some women may experience a period every 2 to 3 weeks. Others will not menstruate for months at a time.

Lower fertility

Perimenopause is the 3-to-5-year period before menopause.

During the perimenopausal stage, a woman's estrogen levels will drop significantly. This reduces her chances of becoming pregnant.

Vaginal dryness

Dryness, itching, and discomfort of the vagina tend to occur during perimenopause.

As a result, some women may experience dyspareunia, or pain during sex . Women experience this pain due to lowering estrogen levels. These lower levels cause vaginal atrophy.

Vaginal atrophy is an inflammation of the vagina that happens as a result of the thinning and shrinking of the tissues, as well as decreased lubrication.

Hot flashes

A hot flash is a sudden sensation of heat in the upper body. It may start in the face, neck, or chest, and progress upward or downward.

The skin may become red and patchy, and a woman will typically start to sweat. Her heart rate may suddenly increase, strengthen, or become irregular. Hot flashes generally occur during the first year after a woman's final period.

Night sweats

Hot flashes that occur during the sleep cycle are called night sweats. Most women say their hot flashes do not last more than a few minutes.

However, studies have confirmed that moderate-to-severe night sweats and hot flashes may pose a problem for around 10.2 years.

Disturbed sleep

It can be difficult for women to fall asleep and stay asleep as they progress through menopause.

In some cases, night sweats can lead to discomfort during the night and difficulty sleeping. Sleep disturbance may also be caused by insomnia or anxiety.

Urinary problems

Menopause can disrupt a woman's urinary cycle.

Women tend to be more susceptible to urinary tract infections (UTIs) during menopause, such as cystitis. They may also find that they also need to visit the toilet more often.

Emotional changes

Women can experience depression and low mood during menopause.

Hormonal changes can often trigger depressed feelings and mood swings. In many cases, these emotional symptoms also go hand-in-hand with sleep disturbance.

Women may also experience low libido, or sex drive, as a result of these emotional changes.

Problems focusing and learning

Menopause can affect cognitive functions, such as concentration.

Some women may also experience short-term memory problems and difficulty focusing for long periods.

Other symptoms of menopause include

• a buildup of fat in the abdomen, sometimes leading to overweight and obesity

• hair loss and thinning hair

• breast shrinkage

Without treatment, symptoms usually taper off over a period of 2 to 5 years. However, symptoms can persist for longer. In some cases, vaginal dryness, itching, and discomfort can become chronic and eventually get worse without treatment.

Complications

Menopause can lead to the development of complications, including:

• Cardiovascular disease: A drop in estrogen levels has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

• Osteoporosis: A woman may lose bone density rapidly during the first few years after menopause. Low bone density leads to a higher risk of developing osteoporosis.

• Urinary incontinence: Menopause causes the tissues of the vagina and urethra to lose their elasticity. This can result in frequent, sudden, and overwhelming urges to urinate. These urges can be followed by involuntary.

Vulvar cancer

Vulvar cancer is a cancer of the vulva, or a female’s external genitals. The vulva includes the inner and outer lips of the vagina, the clitoris, and the opening of the vagina, which is called the introitus. Glands near the vaginal opening are also part of the vulva. Vulvar cancer typically affects the outer lips of the vagina, but other parts of the vulva may also be affected, especially as the cancer enlarges.

This type of cancer usually develops slowly. It often begins as vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, which occurs when healthy skin cells around the vulva undergo abnormal changes. Without treatment, the abnormal cells can turn into cancer.

Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) may sound scary, but it's very common and easily treated. If you do get BV, remember you’re not alone. BV is the most common cause of vaginal infections in women of childbearing age.Your vagina is normally acidic, which helps prevent bad bacteria from growing and maintains the level of good bacteria called lactobacillus. If the pH balance becomes less acidic however, this can affect the health of your vagina. Different factors can affect the pH balance of your vagina, including getting your period, taking antibiotics, over-washing, using an IUD (intrauterine device) and semen if you have sex without a condom. The imbalance of your pH can be accompanied by overgrowth of anaerobic organisms that replace normal lactobacilli, causing BV.

PCOS

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women worldwide. The syndrome is characterized by ovulatory dysfunction, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries (PCO).

These features can lead to multiple symptoms with systemic as well as organ-specific aberrations. As PCOS is associated with several other diseases/morbidity-related factors such as obesity and other cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.

which are becoming more prevalent among females today, further research on the pathophysiology and the long-term effects of PCOS is of the utmost importance in order to prevent future health problems in the large group of PCOS women.

Placenta Previa

Placenta Previa is a condition where the placenta lies low in the uterus and partially or completely covers the cervix. The placenta may separate from the uterine wall as the cervix begins to dilate (open) during labor.

Placenta previa is the most common cause of painless bleeding in the later stages of pregnancy (after the 20th week). The placenta is a temporary organ that joins the mother and fetus and transfers oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the fetus. The placenta is disk-shaped and at full term measures about seven inches in diameter. The placenta attaches to the wall of the uterus (womb).

Placenta previa is a complication that results from the placenta implanting either near to, or overlying, the outlet of the uterus (the opening of the uterus, the cervix).

Because the placenta is rich in blood vessels, if it is implanted near the outlet of the uterus, bleeding can occur when the cervix dilates or stretches.

Placenta Accreta

The placenta normally attaches to the uterine wall, however there is a condition that occurs where the placenta attaches itself too deeply into the wall of the uterus.

Normally, a few minutes after you deliver your baby, the placenta detaches from the wall of your uterus and is delivered as well. When you have placenta accreta, the placenta remains attached to the uterine wall. This can cause severe bleeding.

If your healthcare provider suspects you have placenta accreta, you'll probably need to have an early c-section followed by a hysterectomy (surgical removal of your uterus).

Placenta accreta has become more common as the c-section rate has gone up over the last 50 years. 

Abruptio Placente

Abruptio placente is defined as the partial or complete separation of a normally implanted placenta from the uterine wall, before delivery, after the 20th week of pregnancy. It is an important cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. 

The incidence is quoted as 0.49- 1.8%,2 and evidence from the US and Norway indicate that the frequency is increasing.1,2 Small episodes of placental abruption may escape clinical detection and only be diagnosed after routine examination of the placenta.

In such cases, the reported incidence is higher. Unlike severe grades, minor, self-limited abruption may have few consequences. The maternal mortality rate is approximately 1%. Severe hemorrhage may also cause severe morbidity, such as disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), renal failure, massive transfusions, and hysterectomy. Postpartum hemorrhage can result from DIC or from a Couvelaire uterus with an impaired ability to contract.