1: Climateric and Menopause Flashcards
Define menopause
End of women’s reproductive life, defined as 12-months of amenorrhoea with no underlying physiological or pathological cause
Define climacteric
phase encompassing transition from reproductive to non-reproductive state
Explain relationship between menopause and climacteric
menopause occurs in the climacteric
What is the peri-menopause
period from first onset of clinical, biological and endocrinological symptoms of the menopause and ends 12 months later
Define pre-menopause
1-2y pre-menopause
What is post-menopause
period following final menstrual period
when does perimenopause usually start
45
what is the average age of menopause
51
Explain symptoms menopause involving following
a. periods
b. vasomotor
c. urogenital
d. psychological
a. Irregular cycle length, Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
b. Hot flushes, Night sweats
c. UTI, Urinary incontinence, Frequency
d. Depression, Anxiety, Short-term memory impairment
what are the 2 long-term complications of menopause
Increase osteoporosis
IHD
what % of menopausal women experience hot-flushes
75
what cause hot flushes
Pulsatile LH release
what genital changes are associated with menopause
Vaginal atrophy
why does vaginal atrophy occur
Decrease in oestrogen causes thinning vagina and myometrium
what are the two urological symptoms of menopause
Increase UTI
Urinary incontinence
why does urinary incontinence occur
Trigone is derived from same embryological tissue as genitals and therefore also sensitive to oestrogen
why does osteoporosis occur in menopause
Oestrogen normally inhibits osteoclast activity.
Drop in oestrogen, causes increase in osteoclast activity and bone reabsorption
why does menopause increase risk of IHD
Oestrogen normally maintains HDLs as high and LDLs as low. Loss of oestrogen, reduces this effect
describe levels of oestrogen during menopause
low levels of oestrogen
why is oestrogen low during the menopause
- Less follicles for LH and FSH to bind to
- Remaining follicles are less sensitive to LH and FSH
explain LH levels in menopause
High.
Due to less oestrogen removing negative feedback on HPA axis, increasing LH
explain FSH levels in menopause
Very High.
Less oestrogen removing negative feedback
Less inhibin produced by granuloma cells
outline hormonal changes in menopause
- Low E2
- High LH
- High FSH
why may irregular bleeding happen in the menopause
Anovulatory cycles: E2 produced by follicles causes proliferation of endometrium. As there is no dominant follicle, no corpus luteum forms and no progesterone is released. Therefore secretory endometrium is not maintained - this results in breakdown of endometrium.
what investigations are ordered for the women if over 45
No investigations required. If women has symptoms of menopause it is a clinical diagnosis
what are symptoms of peri-menopause justifying clinical diagnosis
Hot flushes
Irregular cycles
what are symptoms of menopause justifying clinical diagnosis
Amenorrhoea 12m
when should FSH be used to determine if a women is in menopause
<45-years and symptoms menopause
how will FSH present in menopause
Very High