Key points:
- Climacteric causes various symptoms such as vasomotor changes, and cardiovascular and bone disorders, among others.
- Routine tests will give the doctor a general picture of the woman’s health.
- Menopause can have important implications for the organs and systems of the body.
Every woman goes through three stages:
- Reproductive stage. The moment that includes life with the children.
- Menopausal transition. It lasts four to five years before menopause.
- Menopause. It is considered after 12 months from the last menstrual period, reaching the period called climacteric.
Dr. Hugo Bustos López, an obstetrician-gynecologist specializing in laparoscopy at the ABC Medical Center, says that in Mexico the life expectancy for women is 78 years, which means that they will have menopausal symptoms for more than 40% of their life.
Climacteric, the period that occurs at the end of menopause, causes various symptoms in women such as vasomotor changes, cardiovascular alterations, bone alterations, and genital atrophy, among other alterations that could impact the woman’s well-being.
“It is important to remember that menopause is a natural stage and does not have to be prevented, only reduce the risk of long-term problems, so it is necessary to see your doctor indicate what measures should be taken.”1
So, every woman will greatly benefit from the practice of routine tests that will allow them to identify risk factors, says Dr. Bustos. Thanks to this, it will be possible to identify frequent conditions such as diabetes, osteoporosis, breast cancer, or genital cancer.
Among the tests that your doctor may request are:
- Complete blood count.
- Densitometry.
- Electrolyte panel (electrolyte determination).
- Lipid profile.
- Blood chemistry.
- Ultrasound.
All these tests will give your doctor a general picture of your health from a metabolic point of view. This, together with your hygienic-dietary habits that include smoking or not, drinking alcohol, exercising, and sun exposure, will make it possible to identify possible ailments.
One of the most important symptoms to watch out for with your doctor is osteoporosis. This condition occurs due to bone loss in the menopausal transition stage, being a very accelerated loss for about five years. Dr. Bustos says that bone loss is 0.7% per year, which causes its strength and hardness to decrease, increasing the frequency of fractures.
Menopause is not only the absence of a menstrual period, but it has important implications for different organs and systems such as the brain, heart, bones, and even sexual function.
The only way to prevent long-term problems is through the daily practice of preventive medicine. So, we recommend you see your doctor, who will decide on the diagnostic methods to achieve timely detection and take early action.
At the ABC Medical Center’s Gynecology Center we can provide you with specialized care. Contact us!
Fuente:
Dr. Hugo Bustos López – Obstetrician-gynecologist specializing in laparoscopy at the ABC Medical Center
https://youtu.be/40zp1hIthAI
1 https://www.gob.mx/salud/articulos/conoce-los-sintomas-de-la-menopausia
