Treatment

of Menopause

Osteoporosis/Osteopenia

Menopause occurs due to decrease in

hormone levels. Hormone Replacement
Therapy (HRT), involves replacing
estrogen, progesterone or combination
of both can help reduce symptoms.

Osteoporosis is a disease in which

the bones become weak, which can
cause fractures. Osteopenia is the
stage before osteoporosis. Most
patients with osteoporosis are
postmenopausal
women,
and
therefore it is very important to go
see your doctor if you think you have
it.

HRT can help reduce hot flashes, night

sweats and reduce sleep disturbance.
HRT can also help get sex-drive back. For
vaginal symptoms, a hormone-based gel
can be applied to the vagina to improve
dryness and itchiness.
HRT may reduce depressive symptoms,
however HRT cannot solely treat these
symptoms. Your doctor may prescribe
special medications just for depression.
Speak to your Doctor to determine if HRT
is the right choice for you.

The benefits of HRT include:

-Less bone Loss

-Less hot flashes

-Less vaginal change

The negative effects of HRT include:

-More breast cancer risk

-More uterine cancer risk

-Risk of Blood Clots

There are other causes of

osteoporosis
such
as
low
calcium/vitamin D. Family history,
smoking and alcohol use are other
risk factors. Your doctor may get a
DEXA scan at the time of
menopause, which measures bone
mass.

Your doctor will treat you with
calcium pills, vitamin D and HRT.
Weight bearing exercise, quitting
smoking and alcohol also help slow
loss of bone mass.

Menopause
Nida Ali PA-SII

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A normal change

A normal change, which happens to all women. It occurs because

your periods stop, and this happens in the very early 50s, but can
occur earlier. The average age in the United States is 51. 5 years.
Menopause is the permanent end of menses 12 months after last
menstrual period. Menopause is a natural and normal process.

Symptoms of Menopause
Menopause involves changes in hormone
levels. One of the most common symptoms
during menopause or perimenopause is hot
flashes. This happens to most patients and
can cause disturbance during the night as
well as the day. Hot flashes may start from
the chest and face and quickly spread to
entire body. These last few minutes and
you may also sweat, heart rate can
increase, which creates a feeling of anxiety.
Hot flashes are most common during the
night, which often makes getting restful
sleep difficult for women. Usually, hot
flashes stop after four to five years, but for
some women they last longer.

One of the most important changes, which

occurs, is decrease in hormone levels.
Normally the vagina is lubricated, but
decrease in estrogen levels causes the
vagina to become dry. As the vagina
becomes dry, intercourse becomes painful,
which can make sex undesirable.
Depression is another common symptom of
menopause. Symptoms of depression are
thoughts of suicide, sleep changes, loss of
interest in activities, guilt or feeling of
worthlessness, decrease in energy,
decrease in concentration , decrease in
appetite, agitation, anxiety. If these
symptoms are affecting quality of life,
speak to your health care provider.