Menopause Health Guide

Menopause is a normal physiological transition stage from strong ovarian function to decline in women. It is neither the "original sin of aging" nor an "emotional disease." The core principle of health management is "not to bear discomfort, not to blindly supplement, and to make individualized adjustments." There is no need to pursue the so-called "standardized perfect state". The most effective conditioning plan is suitable for you.

Speaking of which, I just met 48-year-old Sister Zhang in the outpatient clinic last week. She has had hot flashes and night sweats for almost half a year. She has to wake up three or four times every night to change clothes. I heard from sisters in the community that this was kidney deficiency. I followed suit and bought more than 3,000 yuan of kidney-tonifying oral liquid and ovary maintenance essential oil. I ate and applied it for three months, but the symptoms were not relieved. A routine physical examination showed that the liver function was slightly abnormal, and I was so scared that I hurried to see a doctor. In fact, there are quite a few patients like Sister Zhang. They either think that menopause is just a matter of "bearing it off" and don't come to see a doctor until they suffer from insomnia, depression, and osteoporosis; or they are led away by various marketing and stuff their mouths with expensive supplements, which in turn causes problems.

At this point, someone must want to ask, can menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), which is widely spread now, be used? There is indeed no completely unified conclusion in the academic community: Supporters believe that as long as there are no contraindications (such as a history of breast cancer, unexplained vaginal bleeding, active thrombosis, severe liver and kidney dysfunction, etc.), the benefits of starting MHT during the "treatment window period", that is, within 10 years of menopause and before the age of 60, far outweigh the risks. Not only can it quickly Relieving discomforts such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness can also effectively prevent long-term osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. The conservative view is that if the symptoms are mild enough not to affect normal life, they can be improved through lifestyle adjustments. There is no need to take additional exogenous hormones to reduce the risk of possible breast and endometrial lesions. Judging from my own clinical experience, the key is to look at your own needs: If you are already so uncomfortable that you can’t sleep well and can’t work and live normally, there is no need to take it hard. See a gynecological endocrinologist for evaluation and regular follow-up. If you only have occasional hot flashes and do not affect eating and sleeping, then just do whatever makes you feel comfortable.

Don’t tell me, small adjustments in life are often more effective than taking medicine. I met two aunties of the same age before. One of them drank a cup of warm light soy milk every morning for three months. She said that the number of hot flashes dropped from five or six times a day to one, and her mood became much more stable. The other drank it and got gas and acid reflux. Later, she learned abdominal breathing from a friend. Every time a hot flash came up, she breathed slowly and deeply for 30 seconds, and she was able to suppress it quickly. Some people go hiking with a hiking group twice a week, and their insomnia is gone without even realizing it; some people just like to stay at home and practice calligraphy, which can also stabilize their emotions. There is really no unified "magic formula". If you try it yourself and it works, and there are no side effects, you can stick to it.

Oh, by the way, there is another pitfall that everyone is most likely to fall into: those "postponing menopause" and "ovary maintenance" products that are so popular are basically IQ taxes. The ovaries grow deep in the pelvic cavity, and it is impossible for externally applied essential oils or massage to penetrate into the ovaries and affect the ovaries. Menopause is the result of the natural decline of ovarian function. Forcibly "postponing" it with products of unknown ingredients may stimulate abnormal proliferation of the endometrium and breast glands, which is not worth the gain. Of course, this does not mean that all supplements are useless. If your physical examination shows that you are deficient in calcium or vitamin D, or your doctor assesses that you need to supplement oryzanol or B vitamins, just follow the doctor's advice and don't buy them blindly.

Many people ignore physical examinations when they reach menopause. In fact, you really need to pay more attention at this stage. After all, as hormone levels decrease, the risk of gynecological tumors, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular problems will increase. Annual gynecological ultrasound, breast ultrasound, cervical screening, and bone density testing, as well as blood lipids, blood pressure, and blood sugar, don’t forget to check them, no matter how many supplements you take. If you have irregular menstruation, such as heavy menstrual flow, anemia, or irregular menstruation for more than ten days, don’t take it for granted that it is a normal symptom of menopause. You must get checked in time to rule out the possibility of endometrial lesions. Last year, I met an aunt who had irregular menstruation for a year without taking it seriously. In the end, it was found that endometrial cancer was in the early stage. Fortunately, it was discovered early, and the prognosis is very good.

Actually, to put it bluntly, menopause is really not as scary as everyone thinks. It is just like acne and mood swings during adolescence, edema and lethargy during pregnancy and childbirth. It is just the body adapting to the new stage. Some people have severe reactions, and some people may pass it without knowing it. There is no need to compare with others, and there is no need to force yourself to "live it gracefully" or anything like that. When a hot flash comes, take off your clothes. If you feel bad, just say "I don't feel well today, don't mess with me."