Menopausal period is a special period that women must experience in their lifetime. During this period, a series of physical or psychological symptoms that occur due to the decrease or fluctuation of sex hormone levels caused by ovarian dysfunction are collectively referred to as menopausal syndrome, which is referred to as premenopausal syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine. According to clinical statistics, about 50% of women aged 40 to 49 in China have varying degrees of symptoms or related diseases of menopausal syndrome. Most women's symptoms can be relieved on their own, while about 25% of women have severe clinical symptoms that may affect their daily life and work to some extent, requiring timely medical treatment.
Clinical manifestations of menopausal syndrome
The clinical manifestations of menopausal syndrome vary depending on the different systems involved, mainly manifested in the following aspects:
Menstrual disorders occur in more than half of women before menopause, mainly manifested as early and gradually delayed menstruation until amenorrhea, accompanied by changes in menstrual flow, with varying amounts. Menstrual periods may be long or short, and some may even be incomplete. During this period, most menstrual periods are anovulatory, but the possibility of unintended pregnancy cannot be ruled out.
Menopausal women are prone to emotional instability, irritability, depression, and lack of self-control due to their unstable mental state. Some women may also experience insomnia, lack of concentration, forgetfulness, anxiety, depression, and other conditions.
Hot flashes and night sweats are the most common symptoms of menopausal syndrome, characterized by bursts of hot flashes on the face and neck skin followed by sweating, typically occurring several to ten times a day; The duration of the attack varies, ranging from tens of seconds to 3-5 minutes, and after hot flashes and night sweats, one may be afraid of the cold and wind. This situation may last for 1-5 years or even longer.
The changes in the urogenital system are manifested as a lighter color of the external genitalia, reduced vaginal discharge, atrophy of the external genitalia and vagina, relaxation of pelvic floor muscles, decreased libido, etc. At the same time, it is prone to senile vaginitis, urethritis, urinary incontinence, varying degrees of prolapse of the uterus and vagina, etc.
Joint pain and osteoporosis joint pain are also common symptoms in menopausal women, manifested as shoulder, knee joint pain, and lower back pain often without obvious causes. Osteoporosis is also very common in menopausal women, characterized by shorter height and susceptibility to fractures. Fractures often occur in the distal radius, femoral neck, vertebral body, and other areas.
The deterioration of skin condition manifests as skin relaxation, wrinkles, and pigmentation.
Factors affecting menopause in women
The occurrence and severity of menopausal syndrome are closely related to factors such as personal constitution, among which the most important influencing factors are as follows:
Genetic factors: If the previous generation of women in a family experiences early menopause, or if menopausal symptoms are severe and long-lasting, then the onset of menopause in offspring women is generally earlier and the symptoms are relatively severe.
Exposure to certain chemicals due to environmental factors may affect ovarian function, leading to premature ovarian failure and the occurrence of amenorrhea or irregular menstruation at an age when menopause is not appropriate.
Surgery, medication, radiation and chemotherapy, or surgery for the ovaries themselves, due to other diseases, can all affect ovarian function. If patients with malignant tumors receive radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or medication, if patients with ovarian cysts undergo cyst dissection, if they have uterine fibroids, they may have their uterus or ovaries removed.
Psychological and psychological factors such as long-term mental stress, anxiety, or depression can affect ovarian function, leading to women entering menopause early or exacerbating symptoms of menopausal syndrome.
Bad habits such as smoking, excessive drinking, staying up late, sitting still for long periods of time, irregular eating habits, and low intake of fresh vegetables and fruits can all affect the normal functioning of the ovaries, leading to early onset of menopausal symptoms in women.
