Menopause Flashcards
what is the definition of menopause
- this is a year after the women had her last menstrual periods
how many people does menopause occur in
12 million
what is the average age of menopause
52 - in markscheue
(51.4) or 51-52
what is the life expectancy of a women
82
what is the early menopause
20% of women aged 40-45yrs
what is premature menopause
1% of women lower than the age of 40
what is perimenopause/ climacteric
this is the time leading up to and around the menopause
- it is the transitional phase during which reproductive function decline and ceases
if menopause occurs around the age of 50 than the perimenopause can last for..
1-3 years
what are the climacteric symptoms
Changes in length of menstrual cycle
Hot flushes / night sweats
If menopause at 50 yrs, climacteric begins a year earlier
If menopause less than or equal to 40 yrs, climacteric begins 4 years earlier
what are the symptoms of menopause due to
- an decrease in oestrogen this is mainly due to the ovarian reserve being depleted
what are the types of symptoms experienced in menopause
- short term symptoms
- long term symptoms
Name the short term symptoms that occur
- vasomotor
- psychological
- urogenital
- collagen
describe the short term symptoms that occur
Vasomotor - hot flushes and night sweats, headaches, palpitations
Psychological - depression, mood swings, insomnia, memory loss, panic
Urogenital urinary frequency, dysuria, stress & urge incontinence, vaginal dryness, dyspareunia (pain with sex)
Collagen - dry inelastic skin, brittle nails, hair loss, joint/muscle pain
what is the most frequent short term symptom
- vasomotor symptoms
- these are mainly related to oestrogen
in how many women do psychological symptoms occur in
occurs in 50% of women
what are the long term consequences of menopause
CVS Skeletal skin genito-urinary psychological
describe the long term consequences of the symptoms of menopause
CVS - hyperlipidemia, ischaemic heart disease
Skeletal - osteopenia & osteoporosis
Skin - inelastic thin flaky skin, easy bruising
Genito-urinary – atrophic changes, prolapse, incontinence,
depressed libido & dyspareunia
Psychological - Alzheimer’s Disease
how is oeseoporosis pathophysiological caused in women with menopause
- In the bones there is a balance between reabsorption and oestogensis in menopause resorption increases by oesotgensis decreases thus there is a reduction in bone mass
what women is otesoporsis common in
Common in white women
- (50% have 1 fracture by 82 years)
Lowest risk in Afro-Carribeans
what happens to the uterus during menopause
can prolapse
- there can be utero-vaginal prolapse - this is when the uterus is 2nd degree as it does not go through the vagina
- there can be 3rd degree prolapse this is when it goes completely through the vagina
how can you diagnose menopause
- triad of diagnostic features include - typical symptomatology, 12 months amenorrhoea, FSH greater than 15 iu/ml
- serum estradiol levels (decreases) - these are only useful at the age of less than 45 years, these
Bone mineral densitometry (this decreases as well)
- this is helpful int he diagnosis of osetoprosis
what are the 2 treatments for menopause
- hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- non-hormonal treatments
what are the two types of HRT
if uterus present :
oestrogen + progesterone
If uterus absent :
oestrogen alone
why do you give oestrogen and progesterone as a hormone related therapy if you have a uterus
-If you only give oesrogen – lining will become thick and lead to metaplasia therefore you need to give progesterone at the same time
