100 questions about menopause health knowledge

A word of advice for all women who are experiencing hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia and irritability, or who are afraid that they are about to enter menopause - menopause is a normal physiological transition from strong ovarian function to decline in women. It is neither "proof of old age" nor "The original sin of personality deterioration", clinical data shows that 92% of menopausal discomforts can be significantly relieved through personalized adjustments. There is no need to bear it, and don't blindly buy "ovary maintenance packages" on the market that often cost thousands. It is useless and may harm the body.

These 100 questions are real questions from patients that I have collected over the 12 years I have been practicing in the gynecology clinic. They are not logically sorted according to any textbook. They are all questions that people are really stuck in their hearts and are embarrassed to ask, or they can’t get accurate answers even if they ask their elders.

The most frequently asked question: “Am I going through menopause? Do we have to wait until complete menopause? ”

Not really. Generally, after the age of 40, two consecutive menstrual cycles are more than 7 days different from your previous regularity. For example, you used to have menstrual cycles every 28 days, but recently they either come in 20 days or disappear in 40 days. At the same time, occasionally you will suddenly feel hot from your chest to your face, and you will wake up in the middle of the night sweating. It is basically perimenopause - which is what everyone often calls premenopausal. You don't have to wait until menstruation is completely gone before you take it seriously. Last month, there was a 42-year-old business executive. His menstruation had been irregular for half a year. He thought it was due to work. He drank donkey-hide gelatin every day to replenish qi and blood. As a result, the menstrual flow became heavier and heavier. When he came to check, he found out that the function of the corpus luteum was declining. He had been in vain for several months.

The most frequently asked question is: "Can hot flashes and night sweats be tolerated and passed?" This is how everyone came here, so there’s no need to take medicine, right? ”

It really depends on the situation. The older generation always say "just tolerate it for a few years and it will be fine." This is not entirely wrong. If your symptoms are very mild and you only have one or two hot flashes a week, it will not affect your sleep. You can really get through it smoothly by drinking more soy milk, staying up less late, and going for a walk more often. But if you have more than a dozen hot flashes a day, your face is suddenly so hot that you can fry an egg during class or a meeting, you wake up so wet that you have to change into pajamas, and you can't sleep well for half a month, then there is really no need to bear it.

Here we also talk about different treatment ideas. The hormone replacement therapy (MHT) currently recommended by Western medicine, as long as you first see a doctor for a full examination, rule out contraindications such as breast lesions, endometrial lesions, and thrombosis risks, and use the lowest effective dose of hormones, the benefits far outweigh the risks, and there is no need to talk about hormone discoloration.； If you really don’t want to use hormones, you can find a regular Chinese medicine doctor to take a pulse and use some prescriptions to nourish yin and clear away heat, which can also relieve you a lot. You don’t have to stick to a certain method. Your own comfort is the most important.

Oh, yes, there are many people who blush and ask: "I can't help but quarrel with my family recently. Am I turning into a bad-tempered old lady?" ”

Don't be so PUA yourself. The decrease in estrogen will directly affect the secretion of neurotransmitters in the brain. Just like if your mobile phone only has 10% of the battery left, and you still have 5G, navigation, and Bluetooth turned on at the same time, it will naturally be prone to lag and automatic shutdown. It is not that your personality has deteriorated, but that your body's "power" is not enough. Say hello to your family members in advance. Most people will understand. If you really can't control your emotions, you can also ask a doctor to prescribe some medicine to regulate your autonomic nerves, which is better than holding your breath to create nodules.

There is another health-related question that gets asked a lot: “Can drinking bone soup cure osteoporosis? Will my bones become brittle after menopause? ”

First of all, let me tell you something disturbing. The calcium content in bone soup is not as high as the same amount of milk. It is full of fat. If you drink too much, you will not be able to compensate for the osteoporosis. You will increase your blood fat first. The bone loss rate of postmenopausal women is 3-5 times that of childbearing years, and they are indeed more likely to develop osteoporosis than men. The best way is to drink 300ml of pure milk every day, supplement 1000mg of calcium and 400IU of vitamin D, and bask in the sun twice a week for 15 minutes each time. It is more effective than drinking ten pots of bone soup. If you already have backache and leg pain, and you feel bruised after a slight knock, it’s best to check your bone density. Don’t wait until you fall and break a bone to take it seriously.

There is a very controversial issue. Almost one out of every three patients asks: "Can I buy soy isoflavones myself?" Can I take estrogen supplements? ”

The views of the two sides are different. Western medicine believes that soy isoflavones are phytoestrogens and have very weak effects. People with mild symptoms may be of some use, but those with severe symptoms have basically no effect. Moreover, people with breast nodules and uterine fibroids are not recommended to eat them casually, as they may stimulate the growth of the nodules.； Traditional Chinese medicine generally recommends eating more natural soy products, such as soy milk and tofu, which are relatively mild in nature and flavor and will not cause too much burden. It all depends on your own feelings. Eat when you feel comfortable. Stop when it doesn't work. Don't worry about "it works for others but it doesn't work for me."

Oh, yes, there is another question that a lot of people get into trouble with: “I’m already menopausal, do I no longer need contraception? ”

I just received a doctor last month from a 52-year-old aunt who was 8 months postmenopausal. I thought she no longer needed contraception, but she unexpectedly got pregnant and had an abortion. I felt dumbfounded. Remember, you must wait for more than one year after complete menopause and your ovaries have completely stopped ovulating before you can use contraception. Don’t take chances before this happens.

There are also many people who are embarrassed to ask: "I am leaking urine when I cough or sneeze. Do I have some strange illness?" ”

It’s so normal. Six out of ten menopausal women will have this problem. It is caused by the decrease in estrogen after menopause and the relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles. It is not something to be ashamed of. Usually do Kegel exercises at home, which is the contraction movement when you hold in your pee. Each contraction is 3 seconds and then relaxed for 3 seconds. One set of 15, 3 sets a day. If you persist for 3 months, you will see significant improvement. In severe cases, you can also go to the hospital for pelvic floor muscle repair, and you don’t have to secretly wear a urine pad to carry it out.

There are too many questions left, such as "Will menstrual irregularities lead to anemia during menopause?" ”“Can you have sex after menopause? ”“Will hair fall during menopause? ” I won’t list them one by one. If you have anything that hasn’t been mentioned, just ask in the comment area and I’ll reply as soon as I see it.

Finally, let me tell you my own feelings. My aunt is 51 years old. Last year, her menopausal symptoms were very severe. She had more than 20 hot flashes a day and could not sleep all night. At first, she refused to take hormones, saying she was afraid of getting cancer. Later, I took her to the director of our department for a full physical examination. She had no breast nodules and no uterine fibroids. She took the lowest dose of hormone supplements. Now she dances in the square every day and travels with her little sisters. She is happier than anyone else.

Menopause is really not a hurdle that cannot be overcome. Just like acne during adolescence and hair loss during pregnancy and childbirth, it is just a stage in life. Don’t put yourself in the shackles of “mom” or “grandma”. Do whatever makes you feel comfortable. You are yourself first, right?