Postmenopausal metrorrhagia is a spotting from the uterine cavity that is irregular in nature and independent of the menstrual cycle. The reason for the appearance of such secretions can be a state of severe stress, physical or mental stress, the effects of intoxication of the body or a malfunction of the endocrine system.
To make a diagnosis, the vagina, cervix, urinary tract and rectum are examined. An external examination reveals or excludes pathological changes, such as: polyps, tumors, injuries, foreign bodies. The next step excludes the causes associated with intrauterine and ovarian pathology. Such uterine bleeding can occur with the wrong appointment or taking hormonal and non-hormonal drugs.
Clinical and biochemical blood tests, ultrasound of the pelvic organs are taken to the laboratory, blood is taken to determine the level of hormones. If tumors are suspected, an analysis of tumor markers is given.
Postmenopausal metrorrhagia
Postmenopausal metrorrhagia can be characterized either cyclically or acyclicly. The causes of such bloody discharge may be age-related changes in the vaginal endometrium or more serious diseases, therefore self-medication is unacceptable.
Postmenopausal metrorrhagia is expressed by clinical manifestations such as prolonged uterine bleeding lasting 7 days or more. Often occur after a delay in menstruation, are irregular in nature and can cause anemia.
Metrorrhagia, causes
Before prescribing treatment, it is necessary to accurately determine the cause of uterine bleeding. To this end, a series of laboratory studies are carried out that help to identify the disease, the result of which is metrorrhagia. In some cases, this may be an overdose of drugs with a high estrogen content.
In this case, it is recommended to stop the use of the drug, replacing it with another, or completely abandon such therapy. Sometimes the appearance of uterine bleeding in the postmenopausal period is caused by the occurrence of cancer of the body and cervix.
If anovulation is observed, then curettage is made from the body of the uterus for diagnostic purposes and to achieve a therapeutic effect. Immediately after curettage, a hormone therapy complex is prescribed. If such treatment is not effective, and bleeding occurs again, the doctor prescribes surgical removal of the uterus.
Uterine bleeding with menopause can also be caused by the appearance of polyps, inflammation in the endometrium of the uterus, hormone-active neoplasms in the ovaries, hyperplasia, hypertosis, and tecomatosis.
Diagnostics
For the timely diagnosis of metrorrhagia apply:
- Collection of anamnesis of the patient’s lifestyle, past diseases.
- Clinical examination on a gynecological chair.
- Blood tests for hemoglobin level, clinical, biochemistry, coagulability, for hormones.
- Analysis of smears from the cervix and endometrial biopsy.
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs.
- Metrorrhagia treatment
The treatment of metrorrhagia depends on the pathology. If glandular fibrous polyps are detected, they are removed under the control of hysteroscopy. If after this a relapse occurs and there is a suspicion of cancer, removal of the uterus and appendages is prescribed. But individually, the use of an oxyprogesterone course intramuscularly for a period of up to 4 years may be recommended.
Such treatment is carried out under strict control with regular sampling of a scraping of the uterine endometrium. If it is not effective and relapses still occur, then the only solution to this problem is to remove the uterus and appendages.
If chronic inflammatory processes that cause the appearance of uterine bleeding are detected, an intrauterine administration of a mixture of dimexide, deoxyribonuclease, ribonuclease, chymotrypsin, lidase, hydrocortisone and isotonic sodium chloride solution is prescribed. The proportions are determined by the doctor.
What else to do
If staphylococcus is attached to the inflammatory process, an alcoholic solution of chlorophyllipt is added to such a mixture. This is a long-term therapy, the course of which lasts more than 1 thousand procedures. The prognosis of treatment depends on the nature of the inflammatory process. Postmenopausal metrorrhagia is treated by eliminating anovulatory dysfunction, eliminating metabolic and endocrine disorders, and using hormonal contraception.
In addition to treating the cause of uterine bleeding, the patient is prescribed complete rest, bed rest, cold is applied to the lower abdomen, preferably the raised position of the pelvis is 25-30 cm above the level of the body position. Thus, it is possible to alleviate the condition, reduce blood loss.
Uterine bleeding with menopause can be significantly reduced by using herbal preparations that can reduce or stop bleeding, but it should be remembered that these are only auxiliary methods of control and they cannot be used as the main treatment. Improvement after herbal medicine is observed after 2-3 weeks. Before use, it is necessary to carefully study the composition, contraindications and the presence of side effects.
Physiology and pathology of the postmenopausal period
Postmenopause is the period of a woman’s life after the cessation of the onset of menstruation. The condition of menopause can be put on the basis of analyzes of estradiol levels (less than 30 pg /) and an increase in FSH of more than 40 IU / l in blood serum. The average age of menopause is 51 years. Due to a decrease in estrogen levels, this age period accounts for the largest number of genital cancer diseases.
Changes in the work of the ovaries and adrenal glands begin even before menopause. Decreased levels of progesterone, estrogen and estrone entail many disorders in the body. On the one hand, this is a normal physiological process, and on the other, it can cause significant damage to a woman’s health. About 70% of women are affected by such diseases associated with a violation of the normal activity of the ovaries.
Symptoms of menopause and their treatment
Older women are more likely to suffer from urogenital disorders 2-5 years after the start of the postmenopausal period. Under the influence of a decrease in estrogen levels, a symptom of diseases such as atrophic vaginitis, dyspareunia, decreased curious function and pistourethritis, pollakiuria, and urinary incontinence occur. Genital prolapse may also appear during this period.
Due to the occurrence of estrogen deficiency, the number of cardiovascular diseases caused by atherosclerosis increases. Preventive measures can help in the fight against such symptoms: exercise and healthy, nutritious nutrition. Diseases of this nature are treated as prescribed and under close medical supervision.
Older women face problems with unwanted facial hair. Its solution may be depilation and hormone replacement therapy.
Loss of skin elasticity leads to sagging breasts, contours of the face and body. Massage courses, sports, healthy nutrition, skin care products and hormone therapy courses will come to the rescue.
One of the most serious consequences of postmenopausal women is osteoporosis, which makes bones fragile and thinns the skeleton. In addition to hormone replacement therapy, a diet high in calcium, magnesium, sunbathing and gymnastics is prescribed.
The walls of the vagina atrophy, flatten, itching appears. It is necessary to deal with such a problem with the help of creams with estrogen, the use of artificial lubricants. A good measure would be the continuation of sexual activity.
The increased risk of arthritis decreases with regular exercise, taking light painkillers, and applying ointments to the joints. Severe pain can only be treated under the supervision of a specialist.
Often, postmenopause is accompanied by infectious diseases of the urethra and enuresis. Infections are killed by antibiotics. Enuresis is treated with hormone therapy in combination with strengthening the pelvic muscles and a diet high in fiber.
Discharge
Vaginal discharge during the postmenopausal period does not change its consistency, color and smell - this is the norm. Postmenopause does not affect these indicators. Except only the amount, which is significantly reduced. But if the discharge after menopause has changed, this may be the first symptom of the development of pathologies. The cause can be both an infection and a hormonal malfunction.
During menopause, urogenital disorders can develop. Depending on the rate of progression of hormonal deficiency, complaints of dryness in the vagina, itching, burning sensation and extreme discomfort appear. Against the background of such symptoms, a secondary infection may join. Allocations acquire an unpleasant, specific smell, change color, increase in volume.
Against the background of all the changes that characterize postmenopause, discharge is one of the first sources of information for a woman that a failure has occurred in the body that requires immediate treatment.
The hormonal imbalance that occurs during this period can also lead to bloody discharge, which should cause an urgent appeal to a gynecologist. Problems of this nature are solved by both medical and surgical methods.
Postmenopausal Pain Syndromes
Menopause pain is experienced by most women. The nature and location of the location may vary.
Chest pain occurs due to the replacement of glandular tissue with fibrous and fatty. If breast disease is not detected, the cause of such pain can be severe psycho-emotional stress.
Pain in the abdomen indicates problems in the genitourinary system or intestines, which may be caused by a decrease in estrogen levels.
Headaches are constant companions of menopause. They are a common reaction of the body to stress and depression. The treatment will be the elimination of the causes and the administration of analgesics.
Pain in the back, lower back, joints should not just be stopped by painkillers, as they are a manifestation of the diseases that have arisen, such as arthritis and arthrosis, osteoporosis. Complex treatment is required under the supervision of specialists.
If nipples are sore with menopause or incomprehensible discharge from them appears, this can be a symptom of serious diseases, such as duct papilloma, mastopathy, mastitis, galactorrhea, breast duct ectasia, and cancer. Consultation and examination of a mammologist is simply necessary.
Chest pain during menopause is often confused with pain in the heart. Cardialgia is one of the companions of the menopause. It is manifested by the appearance of chills, increased sweating, flushing of the head. These symptoms are worse at night. The appearance of such signs should be an occasion for visiting doctors of a cardiologist and rheumatologist.
Herbal medicine for postmenopausal women
Herbal medicine for the treatment of postmenopausal manifestations has a very effective effect on the general condition of the patient. However, it cannot be a substitute for hormonal therapy prescribed by your doctor.
In nature, there are plants that are organic substitutes for estrogen. These include:
- St. John's wort It is used to treat climatic neurosis, reduces the frequency and strength of hot flashes.
- Ginseng. Reduces fatigue and stress levels.
- Licorice. Causes estrogenic activity of the body, improves the condition of bone tissue.
- Angelica Sinensis. Improves sleep quality, relieves anxiety and irritability
- Sage. Significantly reduces sweating, and is also used for insomnia, nervous exhaustion, heart palpitations. Jujube and astragalus have the same properties.
Postmenopausal Lifestyle
Significantly facilitate the manifestations of postmenopause will help everyone known "three pillars" of a healthy life.
- Change your diet in favor of a healthy one. It is absolutely necessary to switch to proper nutrition, taking into account the age-related needs of the body in vitamins and minerals.
- Playing sports and physical activity does not harm anyone, and during the postmenopausal period it will also help to reduce the risk of joint diseases, as well as energize.
- Stressful and depressive states will help to overcome a full, healthy sleep, consultations of a psychologist.
- You definitely need to give up bad habits, such as smoking and overeating. Excess weight leads to a decrease in the production of estrogen, which is not enough at that time. Therefore, getting rid of these habits will help the body feel better.
Conclusion
It is impossible to prevent the onset of postmenopause, as well as menopause, but each woman has the power to improve her condition and quality of life in this difficult period. And the women's health clinic and its specialists will help in this difficult test.