Menopause Treatment: Medication & Lifestyle Changes

Menopause Symptoms

Menopause can prompt many symptoms where the need for medications and proper treatment can arise. With the changing physical and psychological paradigm of a woman’s body, a doctor can recommend therapies to counter the hormonal imbalance and medications as well to get relief from the symptoms.

Quick Fact:
Some symptoms of menopause, such as irregular periods and hot flashes may appear before you undergo menopause.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

The most common treatments preferred during menopause are:
• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): This therapy is the primary treatment for menopausal symptoms and comprises the hormones namely estrogen and progesterone that may be lacking in the body. With estrogen supplements, symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness and osteoporosis can be treated. However, estrogen can also increase the risks of some diseases, like uterine cancer. Therefore, with respect to the health condition of a woman, a doctor can choose the right option for her.
• SSRI: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can be used for hot flashes, anxiety and depression symptoms.
• Vaginal moisturizers: For vaginal dryness, non-hormonal vaginal lubricants or moisturizers may be suggested.


Lifestyle Changes to Manage Menopause Symptoms

I. Staying cool and comfortable: Dressing in loose and layered clothing during warm and torrid temperatures can help you cope with hot flashes.
II. Exercising regularly: It is advised to exercise moderately for 20-30 minutes a day which can boost your energy and improve your mood.
III. Managing weight: It is always recommended to manage weight during menopause where the calorie intake should be reduced by 400 to 600 calories.
IV. Consult a specialist: You can consult a therapist or psychologist when you are feeling depressed or stressed or you can talk to your family members or loved ones so that they know what are you going through.
V. Taking Supplements: Taking vitamin D, calcium and magnesium supplements to improve your energy, and sleeping patterns and also reduce the risk of bone loss.

What Are The Best Hormonal Treatments For Menopausal Symptoms?

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), at motherhood india hospital

Hormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms: An Overview

Hormone therapy is considered the primary treatment for the symptoms of menopause. But before opting for it, a health professional will go through your medical history and health condition with respect to the benefits and risks pertaining to it.

Quick Fact:
Women suffering from post-menopausal symptoms can also benefit from (HRT) hormone replacement therapy.

The Benefits and Risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

As you may be going through menopause, your ovaries can no longer produce the levels of estrogen and progesterone that they used to. When the levels of these hormones is decreasing in the body, it can relate to many uncomfortable symptoms including hot flashes, vaginal dryness, insomnia, mood swings, night sweats etc. As a result, hormone therapy can boost the levels of this hormone and help in relieving some of the symptoms.

Types of hormone therapy (HT)

While it depends upon your health care professional to whether consider HT or not, there are two main types of hormone therapy that are considered best during menopause:
• Estrogen therapy: In this therapy, estrogen will be used alone. During this procedure, a low dose of estrogen in the form of pills or patches may be prescribed for each day. Besides, estrogen may also be given in the form of cream, gel or spray which can help in relieving menopausal symptoms along with preventing bone loss.

• Estrogen Progesterone or Progestin Hormone Therapy: As the name suggests, this therapy is also known as combination therapy. In this therapy, a combination of estrogen and progesterone is provided for the patients. Sometimes, progestin may be used instead of progesterone, which is a synthetic form of the same. This may be given in the form of pills or patches as well.

Conclusion: Taking Control of Your Menopausal Journey with the Right Hormonal Treatment

Besides relieving the symptoms of menopause, HT concurs with other health benefits including reducing the risk of bone loss, improving mood, decreasing tooth loss, lowering the risk of diabetes and colon cancer, etc.

Does Menopause Have Any Effect On Mental Health?

How does Menopause affect Mental Health?

Author – Motherhood Medical Team

Hormonal changes in women during menopause are attributed to some common mental health problems. The end of menstrual cycle and reproductive life in women is called menopause where there are changes in the hormonal levels of the body which can bring about many issues. These changes during the later stage of life are related with symptoms that can last for short period, or can last for quite a while.

Menopause can cause many physical symptoms like tiredness, night sweats, insomnia, hot flashes, stress, etc. Besides, mood changes like irritability, sadness, problem in concentration, and depression are also common. It has been seen that the symptoms associated with menopause can double the chances of depression during this time. Women who may have a history with depression or anxiety, may see a recurrence in symptoms.

Role of Estrogen in Menopause

The main hormone that fluctuates and cause as many symptoms during menopause is estrogen. Estrogen levels begin to drop during this period that can bring about hormonal fluctuations affecting the brain and nervous system altogether. Due to this, mood changes are common along with physical symptoms like fatigue, memory loss, tension, etc. that can cause emotional distress.

When it comes to depression, it has been seen women with a history of clinical depression are likely to witness recurring symptoms of depression during menopause. Research also suggest that menopause is linked with increasing the symptoms of bipolar disorder, where a woman with this disorder during menopause can experience more depressive episodes as well. The hormonal changes during menopause has shown that it can trigger mental health problems including psychotic conditions.

Solution for Menopause Symptoms

The treatment options for treating mental health problems during menopause can include lifestyle changes like getting enough sleep, exercising, quit smoking, seeking support groups, etc. Besides, some medications and therapies may also be recommended.

At Motherhood Hospitals, we have a team of experienced super specialists backed by the latest in infrastructure and facilities. We have the best Gynaecologist who are experts in handling complex deliveries, gynaecological needs, and other surgeries including a range of laparoscopic surgeries.

Do take an appointment with the best Gynaecology hospital at a centre closest to you. Meet with our doctors who will carry out the required investigations, diagnose the issue and recommend the most appropriate treatment, enabling you to lead an active life.

If you wish to get in touch with our doctors, please book your appointment here.

Sex after menopause: Keeping the heat after the hot flashes

How to improve sex life during menopause?

Author – Motherhood Medical Team

Menopause is attributed to physical and psychological changes in a woman which may affect her way of life. With the changing hormonal levels where they start to dip, life after menopause can change your experience of having sex, along with the desires for the same. However, there are some ways where you can adapt with the changing body and start to have a safe sexual life.

Quick Fact:

Around half of the menopausal women experience symptoms of pain, vaginal dryness and urinary problems.

How menopause affects your sex life

There are some outside factors of menopause that cause sex less pleasurable to you which affects your sex drive, as:

  • Insomnia: Symptoms of menopause can cause sleep problems which can have effect on your whole body and your sex life.
  • Mental health: Menopause may relate with depression which can affect the desires of a woman.
  • Vaginal changes and discomfort: Vaginal discomfort occurs when there is any sensation of pain or itching in the vagina, and this can reduce the pleasure women experience during sex after menopause, along with causing pain in the process as well.

How to improve sex life after menopause?

While there are some problems associated with sexual life after menopause, there are also some effective ways that can reduce the complications as:

  • Trying to engage in sexual activity, often
  • Application of vaginal lubricant or moisturizer before intercourse
  • Avoiding detergents or soaps that can cause dryness
  • Using lukewarm water and staying hydrated
  • Considering a therapist
  • Managing stress with exercise and relaxation activities
  • Bonding between couples

While these steps can be helpful, there are also some treatments for those who experience frequent and intense complications, as:

  • Using estrogen and progesterone medications to be placed directly on vaginal tissues to reduce dryness
  • Hormone replacement technique reduce vaginal dryness, discomfort and pains during sex.
  • Besides, medications for stress, anxiety or high blood pressure can help in reducing hot flashes and mood changes.

At Motherhood Hospitals, we have a team of experienced super specialists backed by the latest in infrastructure and facilities. We have the best Gynaecologist who are experts in handling complex deliveries, gynaecological needs, and other surgeries including a range of laparoscopic surgeries.

Do take an appointment with the best women care hospital at a centre closest to you. Meet with our doctors who will carry out the required investigations, diagnose the issue and recommend the most appropriate treatment, enabling you to lead an active life.

If you wish to get in touch with our doctors, please book your appointment here.

Menopause and sleep related issues- Causes and treatments

Sleep issues during Menopause

Author – Motherhood Medical Team

While there are many changes that a woman has to cope with during menopause, like sweating, hot flashes, weight gain etc., sleeping problems are other disturbances that makes this period more difficult. Sleep disturbances and poor quality sleep are some changes during menopause that are common.

As in case of menopause, the production of estrogen and progesterone in the body decreases, which results in the various symptoms such as hot flashes (a feeling of warmth suddenly over the body) or sweating. Night time hot flashes also tend to awaken you from the sleep which can disturb the sleeping pattern. Besides, mood swings and anxiety also lead to difficulty in getting sleep where it has been proposed that sleep disturbance during menopause can also be attributed to underlying causes of anxiety and depression. Thus, these symptoms generally make it difficult to sleep which can relate with other prominent issues.

Treatment options to address the sleep problems during menopause

  • Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): It involves the replacement of hormones including estrogen or progesterone that are not properly produced during this phase in the body. It is affective against hot flashes that can help in sleeplessness.
  • Low dose selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI): While they may be also used for mental health problems, they are effective in reducing hot flashes as well which can lead to better sleep.
  • Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT): It can be useful for those who are experiencing mood swings or anxiety issues as it helps to cope with these feelings which can also benefit your sleep.
  • Exercising and yoga: Meditation, exercises along with yoga and massage can also prove beneficial in improving sleep patterns.
  • Healthy eating: Eating nutritious foods along with avoiding foods that can trigger hot flashes can also be helpful in the cause.

At Motherhood Hospitals, we have a team of experienced super specialists backed by the latest in infrastructure and facilities. We have the best Gynaecologist who are experts in handling complex deliveries, gynaecological needs, and other surgeries including a range of laparoscopic surgeries.

Do take an appointment with the best women care hospital at a centre closest to you. Meet with our doctors who will carry out the required investigations, diagnose the issue and recommend the most appropriate treatment, enabling you to lead an active life.

If you wish to get in touch with our doctors, please book your appointment here.

How does menopause affect your mental health?

Menoapause and mental health balance

Author – Motherhood Medical Team

During the menopause, the transition can bring about many changes in the physical and psychological buildup of the body. The symptoms of menopause can affect your mind, especially your mental health.

Quick fact: The incidence of depression has been seen doubling during the menopause.

Menopause and mental health

During the later stages of life, stress, anxiety and fear are common. The reason for this approach occurs due to the physical changes in the body like decreasing levels of estrogen and progesterone. The symptoms of this phase concur with hot flashes, sweating and other signs of menopause which may cause disruptions in life. Besides, the emotional reckoning of a woman where she feels that she is growing older or getting isolated makes it worse. Therefore, women are prone to develop anxiety or depression during this phase.

Mental health issues during menopause

Menopause can relate with mood swings whereupon due to low levels of estrogen, a woman can feel irritability, anxiety or depression. In regard to this, your emotions can change and vary very quickly, within minutes. It has been seen that estrogen has mood enhancing effects, where its lower levels can lead to the feelings of depression.

Moreover, sleep disturbance due to the changing estrogen levels can also cause mood changes, along with other symptoms of menopause.

Symptoms of depression

There are some symptoms that may point out towards depression:

  • Anger outbursts
  • Irritability, anxiety, or restlessness
  • Feelings of guilt
  • Trouble in decision making or concentration
  • Lack of energy
  • Sleep disruptions
  • Appetite changes

Treatment for symptoms of menopause

There are some possible treatments for symptoms of menopause like hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to replace the estrogen levels or cognitive behavioral therapy. It is always better to consult a specialist if you are going through any mental issue during menopause.

At Motherhood Hospitals, we have a team of experienced super specialists backed by the latest in infrastructure and facilities. We have the best Gynaecologist who are experts in handling complex deliveries, gynaecological needs, and other surgeries including a range of laparoscopic surgeries.

Do take an appointment with the best women hospital at a centre closest to you. Meet with our doctors who will carry out the required investigations, diagnose the issue and recommend the most appropriate treatment, enabling you to lead an active life.

If you wish to get in touch with our doctors, please book your appointment here.

How do you know at what stage of menopause you are in?

The different stages of Menopause

Author – Motherhood Medical Team

Menopause marks the end of menstrual cycle in woman which occurs around the age of 51, even though in some it may happen as they turn 40. While this concurs to the lower levels of hormones, there are menopausal symptoms that point towards its occurrence, like mood swings, hot flashes, sweating, vaginal dryness etc.

Quick fact: After menopause, women are more likely to have chances of heart disease.

Stages of menopause

The process of menopause in women is a gradual process that occurs in three stages, namely: perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause where some may be confused with at what stage they are. This whole transition occurs usually between 45 and 55 years. Every stage is attributed to some specific changes that deters its occurrence, as:

  • Perimenopause: This is phase where you have transition to menopause. The common attributes noticed during this phase are the changes in the length of menstrual cycle for more than 7 days. Besides, many other symptoms like sleep disturbance, headaches, UTIs and fatigue of perimenopause are often confused by women in the beginning. With time, symptoms can become more clear where periods can become irregular along with change in flow.
  • Menopause: When a woman goes for consecutive one year without periods, she has reached the stage of menopause. As soon as you cross this time limit, you reach postmenopause phase.
  • Postmenopause: After not having any period for 12 months, postmenopause stage begins. Some women may stop having some symptoms of menopause, whereas in some, they may continue like hot flashes, vaginal dryness etc. However, with the passage of time the intensity of many symptoms can go away. During this stage, there is an increased risk of developing the following conditions:
    • Osteoporosis
    • Cardiac diseases
    • Depression
    • Changes in vaginal health

At Motherhood Hospitals, we have a team of experienced super specialists backed by the latest in infrastructure and facilities. We have the best Gynaecologist who are experts in handling complex deliveries, gynaecological needs, and other surgeries including a range of laparoscopic surgeries.

Do take an appointment with the best women hospital at a centre closest to you. Meet with our doctors who will carry out the required investigations, diagnose the issue and recommend the most appropriate treatment, enabling you to lead an active life.

If you wish to get in touch with our doctors, please book your appointment here.

Role Of Laparoscopic Surgery In Gynaecological Cancer Treatment

Author: Dr. Kavya Krishna Kumar (MBBS, FMAS, MS),

Consultant – Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at Motherhood Hospital Alwarpet, Chennai

Ovarian Cancer

Today, the ever-changing lifestyle of women have increased their chances of many health diseases, especially cancer. The most common cancer type found in woman’s breast, cervical, lung and gynaecological cancers. Most of the abnormal vaginal discharges, abnormal vaginal bleeding, feeling of bloating, heaviness, loss of appetite, distention of abdomen, however, if ignored, can cause health issues as bad as cancer. Therefore, it is very important to bring it up to the doctor if you notice these symptoms for a prolonged period of time.

It is very important to notice the initial symptoms of cancer and get it cured, since it is in the initial stages of detection and treatment that one can defeat cancer.

Gynaecological Cancer

Gynaecological cancer is very common in women these days, affecting almost 25% of women in India. Gynaecological cancer affects the reproductive system of women. The nature and intensity of cancer depends on the part it is developed in and at what stage it is diagnosed.

Types Of Gynaecological Cancers

There are five types of gynaecological cancers. These are as follows:
  • Cervical cancer: This type of cancer starts in the cervix, also known as the neck of the womb. When there is an abnormal proliferation of cells, cervical cancer occurs.
  • Womb cancer: The womb, also known as the uterus, is a muscular bag that is pear-shaped. Once the fetus is implanted, the role of the uterus is to nurture the implanted fetus. When there is an abnormal division in the lining of the womb, it is termed uterine or endometrial cancer.
  • Ovarian cancer: The development of cancer in the ovary is ovarian cancer. When there is a rapid increase of the cell in an uncontrollable manner in the ovary, it is ovarian cancer.
  • Vaginal cancer: Vaginal cancer is usually a very rare condition. It occurs when the cells in the vagina start to increase rapidly. It is very common to occur in older women.
  • Vulval cancer: Vulval cancer occurs when the cancer cells start to develop in the external female sex organ called the vulva.

Understanding Laparoscopic Surgery

Laparoscopic surgery is a specialised technique of surgery with minimal invasion of the body. It is done with a specially designed thin, long tube called a laparoscope. It has a very high-resolution camera and high-intensity light. Once the laparoscope is inserted into the body through a small incision in the abdominal wall, it starts sending images to a video monitor. The surgery is performed with the help of these video images.

Laparoscopic Surgery’s Role In Gynaecological Cancer

Treatment Laparoscopy surgery is low-risk, has minimal invasion of the body and requires very small incisions. Laparoscopic surgery is a brief surgery and requires only 2-3 days of rest in the hospital. Generally, patients recover from laparoscopic surgery within a week and can resume their daily routine. Gynaecological cancer treatments now include laparoscopic procedures as well. Generally, the surgery is performed for all small size cervical cancers and ovarian cancers and also for endometrial cancers. Laparoscopic surgery is also performed for borderline and benign tumours. Laparoscopic Surgery In The Treatment Of Ovarian Cancer Although ovarian cancer is a scary experience, it can be treated with the laparoscopic treatment in select cases. In cases that are advanced, laparoscopy is required for confirming the diagnosis and to determine receptibility and 2nd look laparoscopy. Laparoscopic Surgery in the Treatment of Uterine Cancer or Endometrial Cancer Laparoscopic surgery can treat almost 95% of the uterine cancers with the help of total laparoscopic hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-opherectomy (TLHBSO) and retroperitoneal lymph nodes removal (RPLND).

At Motherhood Hospitals, we have a team of experienced super specialists backed by the latest in infrastructure and facilities. We have the best fetal medicine specialists in Alwarpet, Chennai. We are experts in handling complex deliveries, gynaecological, and other surgeries including a range of laparoscopic surgeries. Do take an appointment with the best fetal medicine specialists in Alwarpet, Chennai at a centre closest to you. Meet with our doctors who will carry out the required investigations, diagnose the issue and recommend the most appropriate treatment, enabling you to lead an active life.

If you wish to get in touch with Dr. Kavya Krishna Kumar, please book your appointment here.

Laparoscopy – The Miracle Of Keyhole Surgery And Its Benefits

Best Minimal Access and laparoscopic Surgery

Author: Dr. Beeresh C.S MBBS, MS(OBG), Fellowship in Minimal Invasive Surgery

Consultant – Obstetrician & Gynaecologist Surgeon at Motherhood Hospitals, Banashankari

Best Minimal Access and laparoscopic Surgery

In recent years, Laparoscopy has been widely used as a surgical procedure of choice to address a range of ailments and conditions. The surgery has become widely popular with doctors and patients alike considering the large number of benefits it offers and the faster time to recovery. Let’s look at what exactly this procedure involves and where it can be deployed.

Laparoscopy as a surgery has become widely popular in recent years. It takes a revolutionary approach to conducting the procedure wherein several smaller cuts are made instead of the traditional approach of making one large incision to access the site to be operated. The procedure uses a device called the laparoscope, a narrow tube with a tiny video camera and a bright light at the tip. The doctor inserts this tube through a small cut of width of about 1 cm to take a clear look at the internal organs.

A few more incisions are made in other regions in and around the site through which a few other tools are inserted to perform the surgery. Laparoscopy is also known as ‘minimally invasive’ surgery. This kind of surgery was initially used for gallbladder surgery and a few gynaecological operations but it is widely used now to operate various other organs such as intestines, liver, abdomen and other organs.

Best Laparoscopic Treatment

Benefits of laparoscopic surgeries

  • The patient can get discharged from the hospital quicker
  • There will be less scars post-surgery
  • The patient experiences less discomfort as the scars heal, and they heal quicker
  • The patient can resume normal activities quicker

To elucidate the advantages of laparoscopic surgery, let’s take an example of a typical intestinal procedure.  If a patient stays in the hospital for around a week with a traditional surgery and takes about 4 to 8 weeks to recover, under a laparoscopic surgery, the patient would have to stay for 2 nights in the hospital and the recovery could be as little as 2 – 3 weeks. A shorter hospital stay translates to less cost and the patient can also resume his/ her activities within a shorter time. 

The following surgeries are done using a laparoscopic procedure: 

Hernia Surgery: Hernias occur when an internal organ pushes against a wall of muscle or tissue that it is contained in. Usually hernias occur within the abdomen or between the hips and chest. The common hernias are: 

Inguinal Hernia: The inguinal canal consists of a ligament that supports the womb. With an inguinal hernia the fatty tissue or portion of the intestine pushes into the groin at the upper end of the inner thigh. This type of hernia usually affects women more than men. 

Hiatal (hiatus) Hernia: In this case a portion of the stomach pokes against the chest cavity through a gap in the diaphragm.

Umbilical Hernia: Another very common type of hernia usually occurring in women, in this case the fatty tissue or portion of the intestine pushes out of the abdomen near the navel.

Femoral Hernia: In this case fatty tissue or a portion of the intestine pushes into the groin at the upper end of the inner thigh. This commonly affects older women.

Appendectomy: An appendectomy is the process of surgically removing the appendix. It is a small, tube-shaped sack attached to the large intestine and situated in the lower right side of the abdomen. The functioning of the appendix is not very clear though it is presumed that it may help us to recover from infections of the small and large intestines. Usually, appendectomy is performed as an emergency surgery to address appendicitis, a condition that causes the inflammation of the appendix.

Gallbladder removal: The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ positioned just below the liver on the right side of the abdomen. A cholecystectomy is performed to surgically remove the bladder using a laparoscopic procedure.

Colon Surgery: Laparoscopic procedures are commonly used to treat Fistulas, Haemorrhoids and other colorectal conditions.

Bariatric Surgery: A Bariatric Surgery is performed when diet and exercise do not yield the expected results and the patient is posed with serious health problems due to excessive weight. Some procedures govern and limit the amount of food the patient can consume while some work to reduce the body’s capacity to absorb nutrients.

Anti-reflux Surgery: Anti-reflux surgery, also referred to as Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication is a decisive approach for GERD when regular medication fails to offer relief towards stopping acid reflux into the stomach. Here the upper portion of the stomach is wrapped around the LES to reinforce the sphincter and prevent acid reflux.

At Motherhood Hospitals, we deliver exceptional healthcare services to women and children with highest standard of care and competence.

Book your Appointment with Dr.Beeresh C.S for all the Gynaecological issues.

The dreaded, “M” is here! Fatigue. Hot Flashes. Body Ache.

Best Gynaecologist Motherhood Hospitals, Lullanagar, Pune

Author: Dr. Payal R. Narang MBBS, DGO 

Consultant – Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at Motherhood Hospitals, Lullanagar, Pune

Best Gynaecologist Motherhood Hospitals, Lullanagar, Pune


As women reach their 40s and move on towards early 40s, most of them realise their levels of activity and energy is not at its peak. Coupled with this would be lack of interest, fatigue, body ache, hair fall and other niggling issues. They tend to feel they don’t have the kind of enthusiasm to do things like they did in the past – work, children, household chores etc. Talk to friends, elders the family doctor, they all have one thing to say, ‘You must be reaching menopause’. Now the questions begin. Will it get worse? What else would I have to endure? How long would it last? How much suffering would I have to bear? And so on…

Let’s dry to decipher the dreaded M that all women have to go through with some suffering and the lucky ones just about scraping through.

Dr. Payal R. Narang, Best GDr. Payal R. Narang, Best Gynaecologist near meynaecologist near me

 

Typically, menopause occurs in three stages – perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. Perimenopause is the time before menopause – it is the period when the body is approaching menopause which means the hormones are reducing and the menstrual cycles are becoming irregular. A woman would know she has reached menopause when she has skipped a period for 12 consecutive months.

Once you enter menopause, you could have a slew of symptoms for an average of 4 to 5 years which could usually reduce in intensity over time. There are a few women who could experience a menopause for up to 10 years too. The average age for menopause is 51 though it could vary in case of people from region to region across the world. About 1 percent of the women have a menopause before they are 40 which is referred to as premature menopause or primary ovarian insufficiency. Early menopause is when women undergo menopause between the ages of 40 and 45. When a lady begins menopause, depends on genetics and the health of her ovaries. Many women begin perimenopause and enter menopause quite quickly.

Symptoms of Menopause

Each woman will have a different menopause experience. Some will have severe symptoms particularly if menopause occurs over a shorter period of time. Factors like health of the ovaries, surgeries like hysterectomy or lifestyle habits like smoking could aggravate the symptoms.

Apart from variations in menstruation, the symptoms of perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause are more or less similar.

These include:

  • Erratic menstruation cycles
  • Variation in the intensity of cycles – heavy or light
  • Hot flashes, night sweats, flushing – referred to as vasomotor symptoms In fact 75% of all women experience hot flashes with menopause

Other symptoms of Menopause are:

  • Insomnia – lack of sleep or disturbed sleep
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Weight gain
  • Depression or mood swings
  • Anxiety
  • Memory recall issues
  • Reduced sex drive
  • Dry mouth and eyes
  • Hair loss
  • Frequent urination
  • Soreness of the breasts
  • Racing heart
  • Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
  • Stiff joints
  • Increased hair growth on other areas – neck, face, chest, back etc.

Other Impact could include:

  • Vulvo-vaginal atrophy
  • Pain at the time of intercourse
  • Reduction in the rate of metabolic function
  • Osteoporosis or weakening of bones
  • Heart or blood vessel disease
  • Body weight gain and diabetes

The Reason for Menopause

Menopause is a natural process – the result of the aging of ovaries leading to a drop in the production of reproductive hormones. The body begins to undergo several changes as there is a drop in the levels of Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH).

Among the key changes is the reduction in the number of active ovarian follicles, structures that produce eggs from the wall of the ovary causing menstruation and fertility.

The onset of menopause is heralded when the woman first notices the frequency of her periods dropping in consistency and the flow becomes heavy. This begins to occur in her mid to late 40s and her menopause sets in in her early 50s. A menopause could also be induced due to injury or surgical removal of the ovaries.

Diagnosing Menopause 

You are advised to speak to your doctor if you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned and are 45 years of age or younger. A recently approved blood test named PicoAMH Elisa diagnostic test can determine whether a woman is approaching menopause, or has entered menopause. The doctor may also advise tests to measure the levels of hormones in the blood – FSH which is a kind of estrogen and estradiol.

A menopause is confirmed when FSH blood levels are consistently elevated with levels of above 30 mlU/ mL coupled with no menstruation for one full year. In the case of perimenopause, the levels of FSH and Estrogen vary daily and doctors will diagnose menopause based on the medical history and symptoms. Additional blood tests initiated during menopause include thyroid test, lipid profile, kidney function tests and hCG tests.

Treatment for Menopause

Menopause is addressed by treating specific symptoms such as hair loss, vaginal dryness, excessive hair growth, depression and anxiety, sleep medications for insomnia, antibiotics for recurring UTIs, and calcium supplements to counter osteoporosis. In a few cases the doctor could also recommend hormonal treatment.

Home remedies include comfortable clothing to manage hot flashes, avoiding heavy blankets, using a fan, exercising to reduce weight, stretches to manage muscle aches and controlled food and diet. You could speak to a psychologist or a counsellor if you are feeling depressed or anxious. Also recommended are yoga, meditation and breathing techniques.

At Motherhood Hospitals, we deliver exceptional healthcare services to women and children with highest standard of care and competence.

Book your Appointment with Dr. Payal R. Narang, please here.