Block 5: Menopause Flashcards
What is perimenopause?
Time before menopause and menstrual pattern changes from decreasing estrogen and ovarian function decrease
What are the sx of perimenopause?
- Anovulation
- Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
- Extended menstrual intervaals
- Hot flashes
- Oligomenorrhea
What are the labs and primary sx of peri and menopause?
What are tx options for perimenopause?
- Progestins
- Low dose COC
What is DUB?
Anovulatory bleeding from vagina
Tx for DUB?
Investigate other possible causes first
1. Progestin only IUD
2. Systemic progestin therapy
3. COC
What is menopause?
- Permanent cessation of menses(at least 1 year) following the loss ofovarian follicular function
- FSH levels are > 40 IU/L.
- Estrogen has decreased by > 90%
- 40-58
What are sx of estrogen deficiency?
Vasomotor:
1. Hot flashes
2. Night sweats
Vaginal:
1. Burning, drynesss, itching, irritation
2. GU atrophy
3. Impaired sexual function
4. Lubrication difficulty
Urinary:
1. Urgency
2. Dysuria
3. Recurrent UTI
What are GSM?
Both vaginal and urinary sx of menopause
What is the tx for GSM?
- Local urinary estrogen (creams, tablet, ring) Only menopausal sx
- FemRing (vaginal ring): vulvovaginal candidiasis, vaginal bleeding, breast pain, nausea
- Ospemifene (SERM): for painful intercourse and no cancer risk
How do you counsel on local vaginal estrogen use?
Therapeutic response after 2 weeks of daily use
Maintenance dose is decreased to 2-3 times per week
What are the advantages of local estrogen?
- Minimizes systemic absorption
- More effective than PO
- No progesterone necessary with low dose vaginal estrogen
What are the medical concerns associated with perimenopause/menopause?
CV health:
1. Estrogen is cardioprocective
2. After menopause -HDL down, LDL up, total cholesterol up
Bone health:
1. Decline in bone health
How do you assess for menopause?
- Complete med hx
- CV exam
- Thyroid assessment
- Breast/pelvic exam
- Assess the baseline risk of breast cancer and CVD, and consider risk when making recommendation
How do you treat mild vasomotor and vulvovaginal sx?
Nonpharmacologic
How do you treat moderate/severe vasomotor and vulvovaginal sx?
- Menopausal hormone therapy
- Systemic estrogen (w/ progesterone if women has a uterus)
- Estrogen agonist/antagonist
How do you treat moderate-severe GSM sx?
Local vaginal estrogen - progesterone therapy not recommended with low dose vaginal estrogen
What are the non-pharm therapy for menopause?
- Limit alcohol
- Low fat-diet
- Limit spicy foods
- Use cold therapy
- Practice relaxation techniques
- Massage
- Loose Clothes/ layered clothing
- Exercise
- Lubricants