THE SECRET OF A “HAPPY” MENOPAUSE? A PERSONALIZED THERAPY

The menopause is not a disease, but a physiological moment of life that coincides with the end of fertility. During this phase that can last several months or years many women complain disorders for which exist proper cares to ensure a good quality of life. A hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is absolutely recommended and MD Alessandro Albiero, gynecologist, explained us how is important – further the prevention – to implement a therapeutic strategy as soon as possible.

What to do when approaching this delicate moment for many women?

“Generally the menopause occurs from 45 to 55 years-old, but early and late menopauses are not rare. Already a few months before the end of menstruations can be observed alterations of the menstrual cycle and is just in this period that the ovaries decrease their activity with a lower production of estrogens. This decrease can provoke some disorders or symptoms, both neurovegetative (hot flush, profuse sweating, palpitations and tachycardia, changes in blood pressure, sleep disorders, vertigo, vaginal dryness and genital itching), and psychoaffective (irritability, unstable mood, fatigue, anxiety, demotivation, concentration and memory disorder, reduction of sex drive). The most important consequences of estrogens decrease are: increase of cardiovascular risk (heart attack, cerebral stroke, hypertension) and osteoarticular diseases, in particular the increase of osteoporosis incidence. Therefore the menopause prevention must actually begin much earlier, from the puberty implementing a healthy lifestyle, correct diet and constant sport activity. However, when the menopause occurs with an important symptomatology, creating a hard discomfort, then a hormone replacement therapy must be performed. This kind of therapy has to be introduced selectively, that is not necessarily administered to all women, and has to be personalized, or rather, aimed at lightening every type of symptom. The most common and annoying symptom is certainly that defined “hot flush” caused by an increase of adrenaline in the brain. Now recognized as risk factor, for a patient who suffers in the following years might develop the arterial hypertension and for this should not be underestimated at all. The women who suffer it are about the 40% and in the 90% of treated cases with a proper hormone replacement therapy the menopauses disappear. An appropriate and personalized therapeutic approach allows to make the patient feel better, improving her quality of life and sleep. In order to get the maximum of advantages it is important to begin this therapy as soon as possible”.

A personalized therapy to restore a good living, but how long is it?

“The hormone replacement therapy must be continued at least for 5 years to get the maximum of advantages. It may be extended for other 5 years up to a maximum of 10 years. Then it must be abandoned because the oncologic and cardiovascular risks increase. It has to be administered for a limited period of time, varying the prescriptions depending on the symptoms that the patient each time shows. It may involve cardiovascular and sexual troubles as the reduction of sex drive and this can represent a family problem, or vaginal dryness that involves a painful intercourse and can be resolved even thanks to the use of  creams. So it is essential to follow the patient during all this course precisely to ensure her more and more a best standard of living”.