Menopause Flashcards
When dose the menopause start?
Average age is 51 years
Do you still need contraception?
Yes, for 12 months post last period if over 50 and 24 months if under 50 years old.
Symptoms?
Change in periods, vasomotor symptoms e.g. hot flushes and night sweats, vaginal dryness, vaginal atrophy, increased urinary frequency, anxiety, depression
Management?
Exercise, weight loss, good sleep hygiene, and stress reduction.
Hormone replacement therapy- contraindications include breast cancer, undiagnosed vaginal bleeding or endometrial hyperplasia. Don’t give unopposed oestrogens due to increased risk of endometrial cancer. Give oral or transdermal combined HRT.
Risks: VTE, stroke, CHD, breast cancer, ovarian cancer.
For the vasomotor symptoms you can give fluoxetine, citalopram or venlafaxine.
Premature ovarian failure
Onset of menopause before 40 years. Causes: idiopathic, oophorectomy, previous radiotherapy or chemotherapy, mumps, autoimmune conditions.
Symptoms: hot flushes, night sweats, amenorrhea, infertility, raised FSH and LH but low oestradiol.