Hormonal changes during menopause. Hormonal pills for menopause During menopause, what hormones are prescribed?

Throughout life, the female body undergoes global restructuring more than once. One of these periods is the age limit of approximately 50 years. By this point, reproductive function gradually fades, estrogen, which is responsible for tissue elasticity, bone strength, hydration of mucous membranes, and healthy functioning of the heart and blood vessels, becomes reduced. Other sex hormones also change in quantitative terms, which cannot but affect the full functioning of the body.

Age-related changes after 50 years

A decrease in estrogen production by the ovaries entails changes throughout the body. Sudden changes cause the appearance of the so-called menopausal syndrome, which is accompanied by:

• Hot flashes to the upper body, chest, face, shoulders several times during the day. For some, they happen up to 30-50 times a day.
• Sweating. Hot flashes often result in profuse sweating and chills, which can cause significant inconvenience (the need to change clothes more often). Sweating at night can worsen the quality of sleep, and subsequently affect your well-being and increased fatigue during the day.
• Anxiety, headaches, nervousness, mood swings. Now, more than ever, hormones control emotions, causing the mood to change from inspired to the exact opposite of depressed and sad.
• Vaginal dryness, painful sensations during sexual intercourse. Estrogen is no longer enough to maintain the previous elasticity of the vaginal walls and a sufficient amount of natural lubrication of the mucous membranes.
• Urinary incontinence with sudden movements, coughing, laughing. Muscle tissue is no longer able to provide proper tone, including to the bladder.
• Osteoporosis. The most dangerous complication caused by changes in hormonal levels.

These symptoms may appear with varying severity or not appear at all for various reasons. To understand what is happening in a timely manner, you need to take a blood test during menopause.

Analysis of hormones during menopause

Hormonal indicators reliably show whether menopause has begun.

Deterioration in health requires immediate medical attention. Self-assessments and attempts to make a diagnosis can lead to the development of severe diseases that can only be treated in the early stages. What a woman mistakes for the beginning of aging may turn out to be a disease that has nothing to do with age.

The norm for the hormones FSH and LH during menopause is considered to be their ratio of less than one.

Therefore, after 45 years, if there are complaints, the gynecologist can send you for hormone tests. To understand whether menopause is occurring, it is enough to determine:

• Follicle stimulating hormone (FHS). Produced by the pituitary gland to stimulate the production of estrogen by the ovaries. During reproductive age, the level of FGS is low, during menopause it is above 20 IU/l.
• Luteinizing (LH). Affects the maturation of eggs, the possibility of fertilization, and the formation of the corpus luteum. Also becomes elevated. The FGS/LH ratio is also taken into account. It becomes below 1.
• Estradiol during menopause drops to 35 pmol/l.

The picture of the tests will help to correctly assess the need for taking hormonal drugs and select treatment.

Hormone replacement therapy

It is important to understand that the concept of “best medicine” does not exist. Under no circumstances should you start therapy on your own without consulting an experienced gynecologist.

Today's market includes more than 50 hormone replacement therapy drugs. However, only a qualified doctor can decide on the need for their use.

The answer to the question of how to replace hormones during menopause is obvious. If we are talking about replacement, and not about symptomatic treatment, then hormone replacement therapy is necessary. It has both many advantages and its contraindications.

HRT preparations contain artificial substitutes for estrogen and progesterone (sometimes only the first). The method is the most effective today. Thus, the frequency of strokes, heart attacks, and pathologies of the musculoskeletal system decreases, the state of the nervous system improves significantly, the tone of the pelvic floor and bladder is preserved, and the symptoms characteristic of menopause disappear.

However, it should be understood that HRT is a serious intervention in the functioning of the body. If used incorrectly, the damage caused can be disastrous. Before determining the need and dose, the doctor will definitely send the patient for examination. Usually prescribed:

• cardiogram and blood pressure control;
• examination by a mammologist and mammography;
• blood tests;
• cervical smear;
• Ultrasound of the pelvis;
• osteodensitometry.

The duration of the appointment is determined by the doctor, also based on the presence of complaints and examination indicators, which must be repeated periodically. In the absence of contraindications, HRT can be used for a long time, up to 5-8 years. The reason for discontinuing treatment is often that women are tired of ongoing menstruation.

Medicines can be prescribed orally (tablets, capsules), intramuscularly (injections), transdermally (in the form of creams, ointments, gels), vaginally (suppositories).

Treatment with estrogens is not prescribed if:

• suspicions or occurrence of pregnancy;
• a malignant tumor in the mammary glands, uterus, cervix or the risk of its formation;
• circulatory disorders, including varicose veins and related diseases;
• uterine bleeding of unknown origin;
• previous strokes, heart attacks;
• liver diseases such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, etc.

A diagnosis of breast cancer in close relatives is also a signal that it is impossible to use HRT.

Phytohormones

An alternative to replacement therapy is therapy with herbal products. With mild symptoms of menopause, phytohormones are quite capable of improving well-being without having any serious side effects.

The prescription of herbal preparations and dose calculation are also carried out by a doctor and are based on test results. Natural medicines contain estrogens similar to those in women and help support a woman during the period of adjustment, improve the condition of the skin by increasing its elasticity, normalize blood circulation, and improve the quality of sleep.

Condition of the female body and lifestyle

Regardless of whether you take artificial or phytohormonal drugs, the general condition of the body is closely related not only to your age, but also to the kind of life you live. Environment, nutrition, mobility, work activity, mood and much more have a significant impact on sensitive hormonal levels, which change several times even within one day.

Living in such a way as to maintain and prolong your health as much as possible is important at any age. At 20-30 years old, nutritional deficiencies, lack of sleep, overwork, smoking, etc. they are not yet acutely reflected on the face and well-being, but, having crossed the 45 mark, it is worth seriously reconsidering the attitude towards your body. Taking care of yourself is what distinguishes beautiful, healthy, well-groomed women from everyone else.

Therefore, to prevent changes during menopause from turning into a serious hormonal imbalance, use the following levers of influence on the body.

Nutrition adjustments

No matter how much you would like it to be otherwise, metabolism slows down over the years. This easily leads to excess weight, which is no longer as easy to get rid of as in youth. Additional kilograms are not only a deterioration in appearance, but a serious burden on the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, digestive systems and the emergence of new diseases.

To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to exclude overeating in advance, especially in the evening, large amounts of flour, fatty, fried, and sweet foods. Conversely, fresh vegetables, fruits, berries, lactic acid products, and vegetable oil instead of butter should take a confident place in the daily menu. It is advisable to completely or partially replace coffee and strong tea with herbal infusions, for example, chamomile, mint, lemon balm, thyme, rose hips, clover, etc.

In addition, many products contain plant hormones, which will provide additional support during a difficult transition period. Estrogen-containing products include: soybeans, lentils, rice, beans, flaxseed and sunflower oil, nuts, apples, pears, grapes, carrots, onions, dill.

Water

The importance of water cannot be overestimated. All organs and systems depend on a sufficient amount of it. Lack of fluid affects the blood, the free movement of nutrients, the removal of breakdown products and toxins. Thick blood affects the condition of the veins, which are already prone to varicose veins in older people. Skin deprived of fluid becomes dry and flabby. Whatever method is chosen to normalize hormonal levels, water plays a very important role. Therefore, in order to feel cheerful and look young, the daily volume of liquid you drink should not be less than 1.5 liters.

Sports and outdoor activities

Excessive stress in older age is useless, but short jogging, yoga, fitness, gymnastics or in the gym under the guidance of an experienced instructor are definitely useful. Active movement:

• helps improve blood circulation and metabolism;
• relieves unwanted stagnation in tissues;
• improves complexion and skin condition;
• has a beneficial effect on joints and spine;
• lifts the mood;
• promotes the production of natural hormones.

If your health does not allow you to actively take up physical exercise, you can start with walking in the fresh air. The effect will be almost the same, and the advantages will be additional relaxation, good sleep, the opportunity to be alone with yourself, to feel your own needs more deeply.

Getting adequate sleep and planning your rest

Hormonal changes put a strain on the nervous system. Therefore, right now it is most important to fully relax and rest. Don't skimp on sleep. At night, the body restores its strength, replenishes energy reserves, and normalizes many subtle and important processes. Cool fresh air and a comfortable bed are a must in the bedroom. If you can’t get enough sleep in the morning, don’t delay going to bed in the evening.

Daily plans and routines must certainly include dedicated time for rest. Not random 10 minutes, but planned 1-2 hours every day. You can do something that gives you pleasure, take a walk in the park, lie down, listen to pleasant music, etc. Severe symptoms will subside and, perhaps, hormone therapy will not be needed if you allow the body to recover on its own without overloading it with work and everyday problems.

Communication with loved ones, interesting people, sources of inspiration

Mood swings, fears about health and approaching old age are not so scary when there are caring relatives and friends nearby. For communication, you should choose those who will fill you with joy and faith in the best. These could be young people or those who, having lived for decades, have not lost a keen interest in life. Communication with depressed people, who are sure that there is nothing good around, life has passed, etc. will contribute to an additional deterioration of the already unpleasant menopausal syndrome.

Timely visit to the doctor

To eliminate false fears, and sometimes to promptly detect the onset of diseases, periodic visits to specialized medical specialists are necessary. In addition to the gynecologist, this could be a mammologist, endocrinologist, phlebologist, cardiotherapist, dentist, psychologist. Knowing that you are okay definitely impacts your overall emotional balance and quality of life. Timely treatment of untreated diseases will certainly be successful.

Take care of yourself and it is quite possible that the question of how to balance hormones will never become vitally important to you. If you need a free consultation or an appointment with a specialized specialist, follow the link.

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INTERACTIVE

It is extremely important for women to know everything about their health - especially for initial self-diagnosis. This rapid test will allow you to better listen to the state of your body and not miss important signals in order to understand whether you need to see a specialist and make an appointment.

The transformations in the body that occur during menopause cause many unpleasant sensations in women. The skin wrinkles and dries out, and deep wrinkles appear. , due to which blood pressure begins to fluctuate and sexual desire is weakened. To eliminate the symptoms of declining reproductive ability, patients are prescribed hormonal therapy.

A woman’s whole life is subject to her hormonal levels. In young girls, sex hormones, increasing to a high level, regulate the development of the mammary glands and reproductive organs. Cyclical hormonal fluctuations cause menstruation every month. Monthly changes affect follicle-stimulating and luteinizing compounds.

It is the above substances that cause transformations in female systems and organs during menopause. Inhibition of estrogen synthesis begins at age 35. This is due to a reduction in the number of eggs in the gonads. Hormonal transformations in the body are closely interrelated, therefore, following estrogens, the production of other biologically active compounds deteriorates. This leads to ovulation not occurring every month.

Hormonal changes during menopause include a decrease in the synthesis of progesterone, which regulates the cyclic change of the endometrium. The mucous membrane of the uterus becomes thinner and ceases to be renewed every month. Consequently, menstrual flow becomes impossible. When it comes, the production of active compounds by the ovaries is completely completed, the reproductive organs stop functioning and dry out.

Why do hormonal changes occur during menopause?

Changing hormonal levels during menopause is a natural and inevitable process. But too pronounced or premature manifestations of menopause can be caused by the following factors:

• hereditary predisposition to early decline of reproductive function;
• diseases of the reproductive organs;
• infectious diseases of the genital tract;
• unsystematic, unsupervised use of contraceptives;
• disorders of the thyroid gland and other endocrine glands;
• previous surgical operations on the pelvic organs;
• frequent abortions;
• late or early entry into sexual activity;
• long abstinence from sexual relations;
• sleep disorders;
• constant stress;
• inactive lifestyle.

What are the consequences of hormonal changes during menopause?

The endocrine glands work in a strong connection; a failure in the functioning of one gland leads to disruptions in the functioning of many organs. Therefore, when hormonal levels change, problems arise throughout the female body. Hormonal changes begin at 45–50 years of age, last about 5 years, then the condition gradually stabilizes.

If the above symptoms of menopause are not treated, then due to hormonal deficiency, signs of a nervous disorder will appear.

What hormones are missing in the body during menopause?

In order not to become a victim of pathologies associated with menopause, a woman must constantly keep her hormonal levels under control. During menopause, estrogens, progesterones, follicle-stimulating and luteinizing compounds undergo significant changes.

FLH fluctuates cyclically in young women, but with the onset of menopause, the concentration of the substance soars to maximum values. During the period of fertility, the normal level of the hormone is 10 mIU/ml; the normal value during menopause becomes 30–40 mIU/ml. In some cases, the concentration of the substance at the postmenopausal stage can jump to 135 mIU/ml. If an elderly woman's blood test shows a high level of follicle-stimulating compound, then we can talk about the onset of menopause.

Estrogens determine the physical condition and appearance of a woman, her ability to conceive and bear a child. Due to estrogen deficiency caused by menopause, the following symptoms are observed:

• blood pressure surges;
• nausea;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• drying of the skin;
• the appearance of deep wrinkles and senile pigment spots;
• the occurrence of hot flashes, accompanied by redness of the face and upper body, and excessive sweating.

The severity of menopause symptoms is determined by the level of estradiol in the blood. A deficiency of this hormone provokes increased manifestations of the decline of reproductive ability. The lowest concentration of the substance in the blood is 6–9 pg/ml. When estradiol drops to very low levels, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is urgently required.

When is it necessary to test your blood for hormones?

During menopause, hormones begin to fluctuate at about 45–50 years of age; it is during this period of time that a woman should undergo regular examinations by a gynecologist and donate blood for a hormonal test. A woman can understand that it’s time to go to the doctor and get tested by the appearance of the following symptoms:

• periodic and severe attacks of fever;
• drying out of the mucous membranes of the genital tract;
• excessive sweating;
• sleep disturbance;
• character change for the worse;
• rapid formation of deep wrinkles.

Based on the test results, the medical specialist prescribes the patient a course of hormonal medications based on synthetic or natural components. The doctor also determines the optimal dosage, focusing on the severity of symptoms of diseases associated with menopause.

What hormones should you take during menopause?

Hormone therapy (HRT) is selected based on the intensity of fluctuations in female hormones during menopause. The age and physical condition of the patient also play a big role when choosing medications. Hormonal pills for menopause are indicated for women suffering from severe symptoms. Hormones during menopause are selected by the doctor for each patient individually.

Phytoestrogens

Menopause is followed by a sharp decrease in estrogen concentration, leading to the accumulation of harmful cholesterol in blood vessels, weakened immunity, and deterioration of lipid metabolism. To reduce the risk of age-related pathologies, doctors advise patients to take plant hormones during menopause. do not affect hormonal levels during menopause, but reduce symptoms. Treatment of menopause is carried out mainly with the following drugs.

1. Klimadinon. A preparation based on black cohosh root extract. Reduces the manifestations of hot flashes, eliminates estrogen deficiency.
2. Femicaps. A complex product including extracts of vitex and passionflower, evening primrose oil, vitamins E and B6, magnesium, lecithin. Normalizes estrogen balance, restores mental state.
3. Remens. A complex homeopathic preparation based on extracts of cohosh, sanguinaria and pilocarpus, secretory secretions of cuttlefish, substances from the venom of the surukuku snake. Strengthens the body, eliminates estrogen deficiency, reduces the likelihood of mental, nervous, metabolic, vegetative disorders during menopause, extinguishes inflammatory reactions in the endometrium and uterine appendages.

Bioidentical hormones

During menopause, female hormones are replenished by taking bioidentical hormonal medications. These products must be used for up to 5 years, until the symptoms of menopause disappear. The most effective and affordable drugs are listed below.

1. Duphaston. Substitute for natural progesterone. Prevents estrogens from negatively affecting the endometrium, reduces the likelihood of malignant tumors of the reproductive organs.
2. Femoston. A complex drug including estradiol and dydrogesterone. Eliminates mental and vegetative manifestations of menopause, helps reduce blood cholesterol levels.
3. Janine. A complex contraceptive drug based on dienogest and ethinyl estradiol. Intended to suppress estrogen deficiency.

Preparations with estrogen

Medicines containing only estrogens help normalize menopause. The hormones contained in these drugs restore the functioning of the nervous system and stimulate collagen synthesis. The best medications are listed below.

1. Klimonorm. A drug to eliminate estrogen deficiency. Normalizes the condition of the mucous membranes of the genitourinary organs, reduces the likelihood of developing pathologies of the heart and blood vessels.
2. Premarin. Relieves the symptoms of menopause and prevents osteoporosis.
3. Ovestin. Normalizes the condition of the vaginal walls, prevents inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary organs.

Negative aspects of hormone therapy

You should start taking hormonal medications only after your doctor's permission. When menopause begins, hormones, if selected incorrectly and taken uncontrolled, can cause serious side effects: from allergies to genital cancer.

It is prohibited to replenish female sex hormones with drugs during menopause if the patient has the following pathologies:

• malignant tumors of the genital organs and mammary glands;
• bleeding from the vagina;
• disorders of the liver and kidneys;
• diabetes;
• and adenomyosis;
• deterioration of lipid metabolism;
• increased blood clotting;
• bronchial asthma;
• rheumatism;
• epilepsy.

Doctors prescribe hormonal medications to patients in extreme cases; they prefer to prescribe lighter and safer homeopathic and herbal remedies, as well as complexes including tocopherol, ascorbic acid, calciferol, retinol, antihemorrhagic vitamin K1, and B vitamins. Hormonal medications are not used for prophylactic purposes.

In severe cases of menopause, women are prescribed hormone replacement therapy. But there are a number of contraindications for this type of treatment. What to do to relieve unpleasant symptoms and restore functionality? Non-hormonal medications will come to the rescue: with mild menopause in women, they cope with the situation perfectly.

What are the features of non-hormonal therapy?

A decrease in hormonal levels after 40 years is accompanied by changes in the menstrual cycle and the functioning of various organs in a woman’s body. This is the so-called menopause. Sometimes it goes unnoticed, but in many women it is accompanied by the appearance of the famous hot flashes to the face and upper body (they can be single or very frequent, depriving a woman of her ability to work), changes in blood pressure (BP), accompanied by headaches and dizziness, attacks of palpitations and pain in the heart, etc. But the woman is especially concerned about mental disorders: constant irritability, aggressiveness, tearfulness, often turning into depression. The list of women’s complaints can be continued endlessly, since literally all organs and systems are interested.

If the symptoms of menopause are minor, then when menopause occurs, a woman will benefit from a healthy lifestyle, physical activity and proper nutrition. If this does not help, then hormonal drugs. The advantages of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are the rapid relief of attacks, and the disadvantages are the presence of contraindications for use and side effects.

In recent years, many non-hormonal drugs have appeared to treat menopause. The advantage of these drugs is their relative safety: they have much fewer contraindications and side effects. There is a sufficient selection of such products, from which you can individually choose the most suitable one for a given woman. The disadvantages of non-hormonal treatment include the lack of a quick therapeutic effect: non-hormonal drug therapy requires long-term treatment.

Practitioner's opinion

Watch the following video to learn how to choose medications to relieve menopause symptoms:

Products with herbal estrogen substitutes

Phytohormones are often prescribed as non-hormonal drugs for menopause in women. These are medications and dietary supplements (dietary supplements), containing plant substances that have the same effect on the body as natural female sex hormones.

Phytoestrogens have different chemical structures, but act in the same way as estrogens due to connection with the receptors of these hormones located on the surface of cells in target organs (ovaries, uterus, mammary glands). Non-hormonal medications for menopause in women (phytoestrogens), list:

Estrovel (Valeant Pharma, Belarus)

Dietary supplement with phytoestrogens (extracts of soybean seeds, chaste tree fruits, rhizomes with dioscorea roots). When taken as a course, it eliminates the symptoms of menopause and frequent flushing of the face. Drink 1-2 capsules per day for 4 weeks.

Feminal (Jadran, Croatia)

Dietary supplement with red clover extract contains 4 isoflavones, which have maximum similarity to estrogens. Effectively relieves menopausal symptoms. Drink 1 capsule per day with meals for a month. If necessary, after consulting a doctor, dietary supplements can be taken for a long time.

Klimadinon and Klimadinon Uno (Bionorica, Germany)

Medicines with dry extract of black cohosh rhizomes. A Klimadinon tablet contains 20 mg of active ingredient, while Klimadinon Uno contains 32.5 mg. The drug relieves vegetative and neuropsychic disorders well and prevents the development of osteoporosis. Klimadinon is taken one tablet 2 times a day, Klimadinon Uno is taken one tablet once a day. The course of treatment is from 1 to 3 months.

Remens (Richard Bittner, Austria)

A homeopathic remedy containing three plants containing phytohormones. Eliminates neuropsychic disorders, relieves emotional tension and anxiety, prevents the progression of osteoporosis, atherosclerosis and obesity. Drink a homeopathic remedy, 1 sublingual tablet or 10 drops three times a day for six months or more.

Klimaxan (Materia Medica, Russia)

Homeopathic medicine with black cohosh isoflavones. Available in lozenges. When used as a course, it eliminates the manifestations of menopause. Drink 1 tablet twice a day (keep in mouth until completely absorbed) for 1 – 2 months. If necessary, you can increase the dose and repeat the course of treatment after 3 weeks.

Tsi-Klim (Evalar, Russia)

Anti-climacteric herbal medicine with active ingredient from extract of black cohosh rhizomes. The medicine slowly but steadily restores the woman’s condition. Take 1 tablet twice a day for 1 – 1.5 months.

Lignarius (Provero Pharma, Netherlands)

The dietary supplement contains a patented lignan formula isolated from European spruce knots, which has phytoestrogenic properties. Contains vitamins and minerals. Normalizes a woman's condition, providing anti-anxiety and sedative effects. Prevents the development of osteoporosis. Drink 1 capsule after breakfast for a month. If necessary, taking the dietary supplement can be repeated.

Preparations with cytamines: Ovariamine

Cytamines are biologically active substances obtained from animal organs and tissues. Cytamines are used to eliminate various pathologies.

During menopause, the dietary supplement Ovariamin is prescribed, the active ingredients of which are cytamines obtained from the ovaries of cattle. The mechanism of their action is similar to phytohormones. The dietary supplement also contains vitamins A, E, group B, as well as macro- and microelements.

When used as a course, Ovariamin restores hormonal levels and metabolic processes, eliminates the main manifestations of menopausal syndrome. This dietary supplement is especially effective when simultaneously prescribing calcium supplements for the prevention of osteoporosis.

Take the dietary supplement Ovariamin 2-3 times a day for two weeks.

Vaginal suppositories

During menopause, fluid loss occurs from the skin and mucous membranes. As a result, a woman’s skin quickly ages and becomes covered with wrinkles. Dryness of the mucous membranes also manifests itself in the area of ​​the external genitalia. They become thinner, easily injured and serve as entry points for infection. Therefore, postmenopausal women often develop inflammatory processes (vulvovaginitis). Sexual life is also disrupted - the slightest injury to the mucous membranes causes pain and bleeding. Some local medications are absorbed into the blood and have a general hormonal-regulating effect.

Therefore, a course of non-hormonal therapy should include the use of local medications to restore the mucous membranes of the external genitalia: List of drugs for local treatment:

Klimaktol-Antikan (Verbena, Russia)

Rectal and vaginal suppositories with plant extracts containing phytoestrogens (hop cones), as well as oil extracts of herbs, which have a softening and restorative effect on the mucous membranes of the genital organs and urinary tract; apply 1 suppository at night in the rectum or vagina for 4-8 weeks;

Cicatridine (Pharma-Derma, Italy)

Cicatridina – vaginal suppositories with hyaluronic acid. It attracts water to itself, as a result the mucous membranes come to life and are restored. Well relieves dryness of the mucous membranes of the external genital organs and urinary tract. Use 1 suppository at night until the condition normalizes;

Vagikal (Farmina Ltd, Poland)

Vagical – vaginal suppositories with extract of Calendula officinalis flowers; have a stimulating and restorative effect on the mucous membrane; as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent, it prevents the development of infectious and inflammatory processes of the external genital organs. Apply 1 suppository 2 – 3 times a day for two weeks;

Feminella hialosoft (Angelini, Austria)

Feminella Hyalosoft – vaginal suppositories with hyaluronic acid and herbal extracts; attract water, revitalize and restore the vaginal mucosa during its atrophic changes associated with menopause; during menopause, use 1 suppository 1 time per day in the vagina; the course of treatment is 10 days; if there is a need to continue, suppositories are used twice a week.

Selective estrogen receptor modulators: Evista

Selective estrogen receptor modulators are drugs that act selectively as estrogens in some (non-reproductive) tissues and as anti-estrogens in other (reproductive) tissues.

Temoxifen was the first drug in this group to be discovered. It acted as an estrogen in relation to bone tissue (preventing the development of osteoprorosis) and as an anti-estrogen in relation to the mammary gland (suppressing cell proliferation - proliferation and their degeneration into cancer). A side effect of tamoxifen was considered to be its estrogenic effect on the endometrium - stimulating proliferation. Tamoxifen is used only as an antitumor agent in the treatment of breast cancer.

The next generation of selective estrogen receptor modulators includes raloxifene. As an estrogen, it has a positive effect on bone tissue, lipid metabolism (prevention of atherosclerosis) and the blood coagulation system (increases the risk of thrombosis). How an anti-estrogen affects the mammary gland without affecting the endometrium. Therefore, raloxifene is used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis during menopause.

Raloxifene is produced by pharmaceutical companies Lilly S.A., Spain and Daiichi Sankyo, Germany in 60 mg tablets under the trade name Evista. Taken daily for a long time and under the supervision of laboratory blood tests.

Drugs for symptomatic treatment

Menopausal syndrome manifests itself as a list of numerous symptoms. First of all, the neuropsychic state suffers. Therefore, sedative (calming), anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) medications, as well as antidepressants are prescribed. All these drugs are selected by the doctor for each patient individually for daily use and at night.

Representatives of the fair sex, without exception, dream of always remaining attractive, but time passes and the body undergoes inevitable changes. Taking special medications reduces the risk of developing various diseases that worsen with age. Hormonal medications for women after 50 years help to painlessly survive the period of restructuring of the body. A woman's age-related changes affect almost all areas of her life, causing discomfort.

Hormonal imbalance after 50 years

In the body of every person, including women, certain hormones are produced that have a specific function. Physiological and metabolic processes are under their control. Hormone imbalance leads to serious consequences. The body can react differently to sudden changes, and even minor symptoms indicate a possible malfunction.

Symptoms

Taking hormonal drugs for women after 50 years of age is often due to the onset of menopause. Menopause in women is a decrease in the secretion of hormones of the reproductive system. Symptoms of menopausal syndrome manifest themselves as:

• reduction of menstruation in time and volume;
• irregular or absent menstrual bleeding;
• rush of blood to the upper torso, neck and head;
• night sweats;
• dryness of the vaginal mucosa;
• frequent mood changes;
• blood pressure surges;
• attacks of headache and rapid heartbeat;
• frequent cases of early awakening at 4-5 am;
• rapid weight gain.

Analysis for female hormones

Hormonal imbalances can be mild or severe, and sometimes even dangerous. Tests are prescribed for various female hormones:

1. FSH is a follicle-stimulating hormone responsible for the production of estrogen. The optimal time for its detection is 3-6 or 19-21 days of the cycle. Delivery occurs on an empty stomach.

2. LH – the function of this hormone is the maturation of the follicle and the formation of the corpus luteum. It is given as FSH and compared in relation to it.

3. Prolactin is a hormone that ensures ovulation, and after childbirth it suppresses the effect of FSH and is a stimulator of lactation. To get a prolactin test, you need to donate blood twice - in phase 1 and phase 2, always in the morning on an empty stomach.

4. Testosterone - an increase in the level of this hormone leads to miscarriage. Checks are carried out on any day.

5. Estradiol is one of the hormones responsible for the development of the egg, therefore it is released during the entire cycle.

6. Progesterone is an important hormone for maintaining pregnancy; it prepares the uterus to receive a fertilized egg. It is necessary to check the quality of progesterone strictly during the period from 19 to 21 days of the cycle.

7. Thyroid hormones.

Blood for female sex hormones is donated in clinical diagnostic laboratories of public or private institutions, where sterile conditions are provided. For a referral, they turn to a doctor, who, depending on the type of problem, prescribes hormone tests for the woman. How much does the procedure cost? Their average price is 500-600 rubles. for one hormone, and a comprehensive examination for several indicators - 1500-2000 rubles.

8 hours before the test, there should be no food in the body, and a day before the test, you must give up:

• physical activity;
• sexual intercourse;
• alcoholic drinks;
• baths and saunas;
• solarium;
• taking medications.

When should a woman take hormonal medications?

It is difficult to deal with age-related changes, but hormone replacement therapy allows you to stabilize the well-being of a woman’s body and performs several other useful functions:

• eliminates hot flashes;
• improves mood;
• supports sexual activity;
• prevents the development of osteoporosis;
• reduces the risk of stroke, heart attack and cervical cancer;
• gives a woman an additional 3-5 years of life.

During menopause

Taking hormones helps a woman resist menopausal changes, which can result in accelerated aging. During menopause, the female body experiences a lack of estrogen, so menopause medications contain this hormone, sometimes in combination with progesterone or androgen. Medication should be taken daily and regularly, but not in the case of breast cancer, endometrial cancer, liver dysfunction, fibroids and endometriosis. For these diseases, female sex hormones in tablets cannot be taken.

You can buy hormonal medications for menopausal syndrome at the pharmacy. A list of popular names of medications for women during menopause includes the following:

• "Vero-Danazol" - to achieve a positive effect, it is taken for six months.
• "Divina" is a hormonal drug that is taken according to the principle of contraceptives.
• "Angelique" - in addition to easing the course of menopause, the drug improves memory and attention.
• "Climodien" - taken a year after the onset of menopause.
• "Qi-Klim" is a herbal preparation for women during menopause.

For weight loss

Metabolic disorders, which are controlled by the thyroid gland, lead to weight gain. You can’t get rid of it in the gym or with strict diets. To improve your silhouette, you will have to improve your metabolism. The drugs “Iodtirox”, “Novotiral” with thyroid hormones accelerate metabolic processes and the body begins to shed excess. Taking sex hormones contained in contraceptives, which inhibit the activity of the ovaries, also helps to lose weight. As a result, mass is not stored in reserve. Novinet or Logest can be used as such drugs.

When there is an excess of female hormones

Hormones in excess also negatively affect the condition of a woman’s body. The consequences of increasing the amount of estrogen are uterine fibroids, fullness and benign tumors. Signs of excess are:

• soreness of the mammary glands;
• painful menstruation for a long time;
• bleeding;
• frequent mood changes.

Excess estrogen occurs due to obesity or long-term use of contraceptives. In most cases, the amount of this hormone is reduced by the usual adherence to a daily regimen that balances work, rest, physical activity and a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals. It is also necessary to reduce the amount of foods containing female hormones: flax seeds, cabbage, dairy and legumes. If it is not possible to normalize hormonal levels, then the doctor prescribes anti-estrogenic hormonal pills for women.

For hair loss

Menopause is a period when women's hair becomes noticeably thinner. Due to less active ovarian activity, a lack of estrogen appears and hair loss begins. Another reason for this process is an excess of androgens and testosterone, which can increase gradually or occur as a sudden hormonal failure. Because of this, hair begins to fall out, muscle mass grows, a lot of “vegetation” appears on the arms and legs, acne becomes more common, and the menstrual cycle gets disrupted.

The thyroid gland, adrenal glands and pituitary gland can be provocateurs of decreased hair growth. To identify the cause, you need to visit an endocrinologist and gynecologist. Based on the analysis, they will be able to prescribe the correct treatment to restore hair thickness, including hormones. The latter contain antiandrogenic substances. Examples of such hormonal drugs are Diane-35, Silest.

The effect of drugs on the body

Replacement therapy has the dangerous side effect of increasing the risk of breast, ovarian or uterine cancer. Taking medications even for several years increases the likelihood of developing cancer by 40%. For this reason, doctors always study the benefit/harm ratio for a particular woman. Anamnesis, the nature and severity of menopause influence the prescription of hormonal drugs for women after 50 years of age, and if it is possible to cope without them, then the drugs are not prescribed.

Video about taking hormonal pills after 50

Women themselves often do not know what happens in their bodies as they age. This leads to physical and psychological disorders. The consequences may include diseases specific to women. In order to notice possible pathologies in time, you need to be aware of what processes occur in the body during menopause, and which of them are the norm. By watching the useful videos below, you will receive complete information about women's health, hormones and age-related changes.

In the life of women at a certain age, somewhere around 50 years old, a physiological period occurs called menopause. This condition can also be called menopause, menopause or menopause. This period can bring a lot of problems, in particular, hormonal imbalance. During menopause, female hormones (estradiol, progesterone, etc.) are often contained in the body in quantities different from normal.

Therefore, when the first symptoms of such a malfunction appear, you should undergo an examination, as well as tests that will reflect the main indicators.

Hormones in women during menopause

So, during menopause, obligatory hormonal changes occur in the body of women, represented by deviations from accepted norms. Often, during menopause, a malfunction occurs, manifested by a deficiency of estrogen (in particular, estradiol). If certain symptoms appear, women should get tested.

In case of hormonal imbalance, doctors prescribe, in order for the indicators to be normal, a course of taking medications containing synthesized or natural components, for example, steroid hormones. Modern hormonal therapy is represented by a huge number of medications that are prescribed to women during menopause to relieve symptoms of hormonal imbalance.

Drugs that are prescribed to women for hormonal imbalance due to menopause can be divided into two main categories:

Only based on the results of the tests performed and what symptoms of hormonal imbalance a woman has, a medication is prescribed, indicating the dosage and course of treatment.

Women must control the correct amount of hormones, for example, testosterone and progesterone, because they are responsible for the production of FSH and LH. Their production is carried out by the body to protect against heart disease, blockage of blood vessels, and a failure can lead to a lot of problems in the body.

Progesterone, testosterone and estradiol are sex hormones that have a significant impact on a woman’s condition.

After menopause, women must undergo tests to monitor their amount in the body. This is due to the fact that deviation from the norm leads to an increased risk of developing heart disease.

As a rule, during menopause, striking symptoms of hormonal imbalance and lack of the required amount of estradiol, progesterone, testosterone and prolactin appear. The most common symptoms are:

There are several methods to control the amount of prolactin, estradiol, testosterone and progesterone in the body. First you need to visit a doctor, take tests and compare the results with established standards. After this, the doctor will prescribe a course of therapy to eliminate the symptoms of hormonal imbalance.

Hormonal imbalances during menopause

For different women, the normal levels of testosterone, progesterone, prolactin and estradiol may differ slightly, but a failure can be determined by a significant deviation from traditional indicators.

At the initial stage of hormonal imbalance during the physiological period under consideration in women, the following points can be noted:

LH and FSH can also be called important hormones. What symptoms indicate a lack of LH and FSH? The answer is quite simple - LH and FSH have a connection with all of the above hormones and, accordingly, similar symptoms of their deficiency. FSH and LH influence the secretion of androgens and estrogens. The amount of LH and FSH can only be determined after testing.

The level of LH and FSH during menopause can be significantly increased; in particular, it has been proven that after changes in the menstrual cycle, the level of FSH and LH increases approximately 5 times. The normal level of FSH and LH after the onset of menopause is within 40 mIU/ml.

Testosterone, estradiol, progesterone and prolactin are sex hormones that, as a rule, are produced in much smaller quantities after the onset of menopause. In some diseases, the level of prolactin and progesterone, on the contrary, can increase significantly. However, hormonal disruption in a woman’s body is a purely individual process, and only a doctor can determine which hormones decrease after the onset of menopause in a particular patient.

Research and restoration of hormonal levels

With age-related changes in a woman’s body, there is a possibility of a hormonal explosion, which leads to discomfort. To avoid it, the following tests may be prescribed after the onset of menopause:

1. Blood test for follicle-stimulating hormone. Determining the level of FSH and LH allows you to understand which estrogens in the body are in excess or deficiency.
2. Separate studies to determine the level of estradiol, progesterone and other hormones.

After the onset of menopause, deviations may affect individual or all hormones. Therefore, the doctor should order tests to determine which sex hormones are causing the discomfort or physiological changes.

Once abnormalities are identified, treatment should be prescribed. An important point is that just a few years ago doctors refused to prescribe medications that could affect hormonal levels. This was due to numerous studies, the results of which indicated the adverse effects of drugs on the body. However, some changes in healthcare have determined that the patient, if necessary, to relieve pain or discomfort, can decide whether or not to use drugs, taking into account certain risks. As for the treatment itself with hormone replacement therapy, scientists are constantly arguing about its advantages and disadvantages.

When a woman contacts her, the doctor can determine which drugs are most suitable and advise the patient indicating the risks and side effects.