Every woman knows that she will have to face such a period in her life as a menopause. During the menopause, a serious hormonal restructuring occurs in the woman’s body, which is reflected not only in the functions of the reproductive system, but also in the overall quality of life and the state of the organism.
The pathogenesis of menopause and the causes of aging are complex and diverse. Currently, the dominant hypothesis of the onset of the climacteric period is the inadequate generation of inhibin by aging ovaries, which is controlled by the aging gene. Decrease in inhibin level causes a constant increase in the concentration of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and later of luteinizing hormone (LH), which leads to the appearance of anovulatory cycles and complete follicular atresia. Cessation of ovulation disrupts the cyclical secretion of estradiol and progesterone, resulting in the development of sclerosis of the ovaries. The menstrual cycle lengthens, menstruation becomes scarcer. The process of ovarian aging begins after the age of 35, there is a noticeable progression after 40 years old.
Reduction and cessation of production of sex steroids by the ovaries leads to functional and organic changes in those organs and systems that have receptors: uterus, breast, urethra, bladder, brain cells, myocardium, vessels, etc. In recent decades, the role of sex steroids in the maintenance of the functions of the nervous, cardiovascular and immune systems. The fact of their participation in the cellular synthesis of proteins, lipids, energy complexes, in maintaining the electrolyte balance and enzyme activity is indisputable. The change in secretion of sex steroids in 40-60% of women leads to a pathological course of the climacteric period, which worsens the quality of life.
Hormone analysis with menopause
Human organism is to some extent controlled by hormones, and women are more exposed to them than men. There are many phases when the hormonal background changes due to births and the reception of contraceptives. In a healthy woman of reproductive age, the ratio of estrogens, progesterones and testosterones is basically normal, but with the advent of menopause serious problems may begin. It is recommended to pass an analysis on hormones in menopause in order to diagnose this problem.
Why do you need to make a test?
The transition to the climacteric phase has its own symptomatology. Some women have an illness normally; others have a hard time. And this is due not only to tides and rapid heartbeats – women have problems of urological nature, metabolism is disrupted, and there is a great malfunction of the psychoemotional state. All this does not pass without a trace, and if you do not pay attention to health, old age with all the ensuing consequences will come quickly enough.
In order to monitor the transition to menopause, it is recommended to periodically take tests for hormones. Only in this way the doctor will be able to make the necessary appointments in time to maintain the optimal background. This will allow a woman to keep the signs of youth longer, because the decrease in hormones leads to a weakening of cell regeneration.
Sometimes tests can show that estradiol starts to grow. This situation is even more dangerous than described above, since an increased percentage of the reproductive hormone can be considered a symptom of excessive (abnormal) activity of the thyroid gland, kidney failure and even the development of a tumor in the chest or genitals.
A woman should take a periodic blood test, which will determine the percentage ratio of estradiol. Do not forget about the importance of the pituitary gland in the development of gonadotropic hormones – LH and FSH. Their control is also necessary, because they contribute to the processing of testosterone in estrogen.
After receiving the tests, the doctor will be able to determine the condition of the organism entering the menopause. The examination will help to identify abnormal processes and carry out substitution therapy on time.
With deviations from the normal development of menopause on the basis of blood tests for hormones, women are additionally prescribed osteodensitometry, mammography, ultrasound of the thyroid gland and pelvic organs, as well as a smear for cytology.