Common postmenopausal symptoms that you should know

Hot flushes a postmenopausal disorder lasting as a rule for a period of time ranging between 1-3 years and is characterized by the feeling of heat lasting for few seconds (a minute or so), arising in the night, while sleeping, affecting particularly the face and the upper part of the body, and resulting in extreme sweating.

Dryness of the vagina, loss of libido, and atrophic vaginitis are disorders commonly related to hormonal dysbalance.

Depression, nervousness and irritability are common in postmenopausal women. These negative symptoms arise from estrogen deficit, as decreased estrogens level reduces their modulatory role on brain monoamine synthesis, leading to dysmenorrheal tension that increases the severity of symptoms. The symptoms are less frequent in Asian and black women, possibly associated with better genetically related maintenance of estrogen levels by peripheral conversion in these groups.

Wrinkling of the skin and uterovaginal prolapsed are mainly caused by collagen deficit.

Dry vagina and dyspareunia are the worst symptoms to affect a postmenopausal woman. Because the superficial cervical glands cease to secrete estrogen (an essential hormone), and the vaginal epithelium (an estrogen dependent) loses its elasticity over time, consequently the epithelium becomes thin with a reduced perfusion (blood supply) and elasticity, following atrophic vaginitis develop leading to chronic dryness, and dyspareunia (pain during sex)

Estrogen cream an external lubricant is used to elevate the symptoms.

Other postmenopausal symptoms

Chronic estrogen deficit eventually lead to atrophy of the urethra causing frequency of micturition, dysuria and urgency (urethral syndrome).

Increased risk of developing coronary heart disease, as chronic estrogen deficit often leads to an increase in the levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), cholesterol and triglycerides.

Long-term symptoms

Long-term symptoms are those that affect the skeleton and bones, as they are permanent (stay forever), because most of the symptoms related to the sexual organs disappear within a year.

In the postmenopausal period females lose calcium at different rates, a progressive process that eventually leads into osteoporosis, building upon these facts the need for estrogen replacement therapy differs from one woman to another.

Females with established osteoporosis prior to menopause are best treated with biphosphonates.

Estrogen protects women from cardiovascular disease. However, in the long postmenopausal period (over years) the risk of developing coronary thrombosis in women and men become the same.

HRT (Hormone replacement therapy) is an effective way to reduce the risk of

Developing IHD (ischemic heart disease), as estrogen promotes high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and fights against the low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and cholesterol causing cardiovascular problems.

Verified by: Dr.Diab (January 7, 2017)

Citation: Dr.Diab. (January 7, 2017). Common postmenopausal symptoms. Medcoi Journal of Medicine, 1(2). urn:medcoi:article15872.