Hormonal changes during menopause. Changes in hormonal levels during menopause. What hormones to take during menopause

Despite the fact that menopause is a physiological process, many women need medication correction to make it easier to survive this period of life. Changes in hormonal levels during menopause, which are based on stopping the synthesis of estrogen, negatively affect a woman’s ability to work, appearance, physical health and psycho-emotional state. Then special medications for menopause can help.

Experts prescribe drug therapy to many menopausal women, giving preference to homeopathic remedies, antidepressants, dietary supplements and other drugs that do not contain hormones. Limiting the use of hormonal drugs is justified by the fact that they have a large number of side effects.

In this topic, we want to tell you how and when experts recommend taking non-hormonal medications during menopause for hot flashes, depression, fluctuations in blood pressure and other unpleasant symptoms that a woman may experience during this period of life. We will also look at in what cases and what hormonal medications a gynecologist can prescribe, as well as how to take them correctly to avoid unwanted health consequences.

Hormone replacement therapy for menopause (HRT): pros and cons

Hormone replacement therapy for the relief of menopausal symptoms is used by specialists in many European countries, as it has been proven to be highly effective and safe. But domestic gynecologists are afraid to alleviate menopause in women with the help of hormone replacement drugs, since they have an impressive list of side effects.

But in the process of clinical observations, European doctors established a number of conditions to minimize the risk of side effects, namely:

• timely prescription and withdrawal of hormonal drugs during menopause;
• presence of indications for hormone therapy;
• the use of microdoses of drugs that will not cause undesirable effects;
• selection of drugs and its dosage, based on the results of a blood test for sex hormones;
• prescribing medications that contain exclusively natural hormones;
• strict adherence by the patient to the recommendations of the treating doctor.

But many patients still refuse hormonal medications for the following reasons:

• consider the use of hormone therapy unnatural, since menopause is a physiological process;
• do not want to take hormonal drugs because they consider them unnatural;
• afraid to gain weight;
• afraid of addiction;
• are afraid of hair appearing in unwanted places;
• think that hormonal drugs damage the gastric mucosa;
• believe that taking drugs with sex hormones increases the risk of developing malignant tumors in the female body.

But these are all just prejudices, because by observing the conditions that we talked about earlier, you can avoid negative health consequences.

Thus, if the body does not have enough of its own sex hormones, then it needs foreign hormones, since hormonal imbalance leads to disruption of the functioning of all organs and systems.

Indications for the use of hormonal drugs during menopause

Hormonal drugs are prescribed in the following situations:

• pathological menopause, which developed as a result of removal of the uterus, taking chemotherapy drugs or radiation treatment;
• menopause occurring in women under 40 years of age;
• too pronounced signs of menopause;
• the development of complications and diseases that appeared against the background of menopause (hypertension, atherosclerosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, dry vaginal mucosa, urinary incontinence and others);
• the patient’s desire to eliminate unpleasant symptoms.

Hormonal drugs for menopause in women: side effects and contraindications

• increased fatigue;
• emotional lability;
• swelling;
• weight gain;
• flatulence;
• mastopathy;
• breast tumors;
• severe symptoms of premenstrual syndrome;
• painful menstruation;
• anovulatory menstrual cycle;
• development of benign tumors in the uterus and appendages;
• uterine bleeding;
• increased risk.

The correct selection of the dose, strict adherence to the specialist’s prescriptions, regularity of administration and the combination of estrogens with allows you to avoid the above-mentioned side effects.

The following conditions are absolute contraindications to hormonal drugs:

• allergy to the components of the hormonal drug;
• malignant neoplasms of the mammary glands and female genital organs, including a history of;
• metrorrhagia;
• thrombophilia;
• stroke;
• myocardial infarction;
• varicose veins and blood clots in the veins of the lower extremities;
• increased blood coagulation;
• third stage hypertension;
• severe liver diseases (cirrhosis, liver failure, hepatitis);
• autoimmune diseases (scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus and others).

Relative contraindications include:

• endometriosis;
• uterine fibroids;
• migraine;
• epilepsy;
• precancerous diseases of the uterus and mammary glands;
• calculous cholecystitis and cholelithiasis.

The best drugs for menopause: list, description, price

The best reviews from gynecologists and patients about the latest generation of combined hormonal products, which contain both estrogen and progesterone.

HRT for menopause includes new generation drugs:

• Angelica – 1300 rubles;
• Klimen - 1280 rubles;
• Femoston – 940 rubles;
• Climinorm – 850 rubles;
• Divina – 760 rubles;
• Ovidon – the drug is not yet commercially available;
• Climodien – 2500 rubles;
• Activel - the drug is not commercially available;
• Cliogest – 1780 rubles.

The listed drugs perform the following tasks:

• eliminate anxiety, improve mood, activate memory and improve sleep;
• increase the tone of the bladder sphincter muscles;
• retain calcium in bone tissue;
• prevent the development of periodontal disease;
• restore the endometrium;
• eliminate dryness of the mucous membranes of the genital organs;
• normalize blood cholesterol levels.

These drugs are available in the form of dragees and tablets. One blister, where each tablet is numbered, is enough for 21 days of use. After a woman takes the last pill, she needs to take a break for seven days and only then start a new blister. Each tablet has its own dose of hormones, which corresponds to the day of the cycle.

Femoston, Aktivel, Kliogest, as well as the drug Angeliq are produced in 28 tablets in a blister, seven of which are pacifiers, that is, they do not contain hormones.

Estrogens

Preparations that contain only estrogens are produced mainly in the form of gels, creams, patches or implants that are placed under a woman’s skin.

The most effective for menopause are the following gels and ointments with estrogens:

• Divigel – 620 rubles;
• Estrogel – 780 rubles;
• Octodiol – the drug is not commercially available;
• Menorest - the drug is not commercially available;
• Proginova - 590 rubles.

Among estrogen patches, the following have performed well:

• Estraderm - the drug is not commercially available;
• Alora – 250 rubles;
• Klimara – 1214 rubles;
• Estramon – 5260 rubles;
• Menostar.

Gels and ointments are quite convenient to use, since they only need to be applied once a day to the skin of the shoulders, abdomen or lower back.

Hormonal patches are an even more convenient dosage form because they need to be changed once every seven days.

Implants that are sutured under the skin last six months, releasing a small dose of estrogen into the blood every day.

Gels, ointments, creams, patches and implants have a number of advantages over oral or injectable forms of hormonal drugs, namely:

• ease of dosage selection;
• gradual penetration of estrogen into the blood;
• the hormone enters directly into the blood without passing through the liver;
• maintaining a balance of different types of estrogens;
• minimal risk of side effects;
• can be used even if there are contraindications to the use of estrogens.

Progestins

To avoid the development of side effects, estrogens are prescribed in combination with progesterone. But if hysterectomy was performed, then the patient is indicated for estrogen monotherapy.

Preparations with progesterone are mainly prescribed from the 14th to 25th day of the menstrual cycle.

There are many progestins on the modern pharmaceutical market, but a number of drugs have the best effectiveness.

1. Tablets and dragees:

• Duphaston – 550 rubles;
• Utrozhestan – 4302 rubles;
• Norkolut – 130 rubles;
• Iprozhin - 380 rubles.

1. Gels and vaginal suppositories:

• Utrozhestan;
• Crinon – 2450 rubles;
• Progestogel – 900 rubles;
• Prajisan - 260 rubles;
• Progesterone gel.

1. Intrauterine hormonal systems:

• Mirena – 12,500 rubles.

Recently, specialists and patients have given preference to the Mirena intrauterine device, which is not only a contraceptive, but also contains progesterone and gradually releases it into the uterus.

Instructions for the use of hormonal agents

The choice of hormone therapy regimen, selection of the drug and its dosage should be handled exclusively by a gynecologist. Medicines are prescribed based on the results of a study of a woman’s hormonal levels, as well as taking into account her overall health status. Self-medication can lead to irreversible consequences!

Treatment for menopause begins when the first signs of a lack of sex hormones appear. The duration of treatment depends on the severity of menopause symptoms and can take from one to three years, and sometimes up to ten years.

Most experts believe that taking hormonal drugs should be stopped by the age of sixty, as cancer may develop.

Rules for taking hormonal drugs:

• vaginal suppositories and tablets should be taken at the same time of day, as prescribed by the treating doctor.
• basically all hormones are prescribed daily or cyclically, that is, 21 days with seven-day breaks;
• if the patient forgot to take the drug, then the usual dose should be taken within the next 12 hours, and the next tablet at the appointed time;
• It is strictly forbidden to change the dose of the drug or the drug itself;
• You cannot take the hormone for life;
• During hormone therapy, you need to regularly visit a gynecologist - once every six months.

Treatment of menopause with non-hormonal drugs

Experts today have differing opinions about the advisability of hormone therapy. In addition, many women refuse to take hormone-containing drugs because they are afraid of their side effects, do not have the financial ability to constantly buy them, or for other reasons.

In such cases, you can use treatment for menopause without hormones, which consists of the use of phytohormones, homeopathic medicines, dietary supplements, etc.

Homeopathic remedies for menopause

Homeopathy for menopause is very popular. The effect of homeopathic remedies is based on the activation of the body’s natural mechanisms. Patients are prescribed small doses of substances that, in large doses, can lead to negative consequences.

Homeopathic medicines will help eliminate symptoms of menopause such as:

• hyperhidrosis (increased sweating);
• menopausal vertigo (dizziness);
• hot flashes during menopause;
• dryness of the vaginal mucous membranes;
• mood swings;
• and others.

The benefits of homeopathy for menopause include the following:

• natural origin of components;
• relatively low cost;
• there are practically no side effects, only allergies to the components of the product;
• safety of use in the elderly.

Let's consider the most effective homeopathic remedies used for menopause.

• Remens – 580 rubles. The drug consists of soybean phytohormones, which activate the synthesis of sex hormones at the level of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Remens effectively relieves a woman of hot flashes during menopause and prevents the appearance of vaginitis. In addition, with the help of Remens you can prevent urinary incontinence and cystitis during menopause.
• Estrovel - 385 rubles. This drug contains phytoestrogens from soy and wild yam, as well as a complex of vitamins and microelements. Estrovel allows you to reduce the number and intensity of hot flashes and sweating.
• Feminal – 670 rubles. This drug contains liquid extracts of nettle, oregano, celandine, hawthorn, shepherd's purse herb, centaury, St. John's wort, thyme, celandine and calendula. Feminal helps get rid of hot flashes, excessive sweating, psycho-emotional lability and dizziness during menopause, and women do not recover from this medicine.
• Climaxin – 120 rubles. This preparation consists of sepia, lachesis and black cohosh. The action of Climaxin is aimed mainly at regulating vegetative-vascular disorders (insomnia, irritability, palpitations, excessive sweating, dizziness) during menopause.
• Klimakt-Hel – 400 rubles. This drug perfectly eliminates the symptoms caused by menopause.

Herbal remedies for menopause

Herbal preparations for menopause contain phytoestrogens - substances that can perform the function of female sex hormones and eliminate the symptoms of aging in the female body.

Today, the most effective and popular drug for menopause symptoms is Inoklim, which is a biological supplement based on phytoestrogens.

Inoclim effectively fights such menopausal symptoms as a feeling of heat in the body, vaginal dryness, increased sweating, and also prevents the development of complications.

The drug has virtually no contraindications or side effects. Inoclim is not prescribed only to those who are allergic to the substances that make up its composition.

Thus, we have looked at what medications to take during menopause to alleviate its symptoms. But drug therapy can and should be supplemented with proper and balanced nutrition, drinking enough fluids, playing sports, and taking vitamin and mineral complexes. Also, do not forget about the positive emotions that communication with loved ones, hobbies or handicrafts can give you.

Watch a video about medications for menopause.

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.

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.

With the onset of premenopause, irreversible changes begin in the female body, which often manifest as unpleasant symptoms. The lack of sex hormones has a detrimental effect not only on the appearance, but also on the general well-being of patients. During this period, hypertension appears, headaches and chronic fatigue may develop, but the most unpleasant symptom is hot flashes.

Today, doctors advise taking estrogens during menopause to relieve severe symptoms. Let's consider what drugs based on them exist.

Types of female hormones

Women produce 2 types of sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone. The first, in turn, has three forms - estradiol, estrone and estriol. These substances are responsible not only for a woman’s ability to bear children, but also for all metabolic processes in the body, which is why during the period of age-related adjustment, patients may experience disruptions in all organs and systems.

Taking estrogen during menopause helps to compensate for the deficiency of reproductive organs that occurs due to the decline of ovarian function. However, it is not recommended to take estradiol in its pure form. This substance can provoke the degeneration of cells into a malignant form and the growth of various neoplasms.

Today, estriol is used for hormone replacement therapy in premenopausal women. This form is much safer, but when prescribing medications based on it, it is extremely important to calculate the correct dosage. With an increased content of estriol, side effects such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness and general malaise may occur.

In the second phase of menopause, the level of progesterone in the body also drops. This substance is responsible for bone density, emotional stability and weight correction. With a lack of progesterone, the patient may notice the growth of unwanted hair, weight gain, dry skin, etc. However, an excess of this substance can lead to undesirable consequences, namely depression, obesity and digestive disorders. Progesterone can only be prescribed by a doctor after clinical blood tests.

Important! Only a doctor should select a medicine with estrogens during menopause, based on test results and the general well-being of the patient!

What substances are missing during menopause?

Hormone levels in women change during menopause. In the first phase, the level of estradiol in the body begins to decrease, but it still prevails over the amount of progesterone. During this period, there are irregularities in menstruation and the manifestation of unpleasant symptoms of menostasis.

In the second phase of menopause, estradiol continues to rapidly decline, but progesterone also decreases. During this period, weight gain, the development of osteoporosis, and problems with the heart and vascular system begin most often.

In the third phase of menopause, the production of female hormones stops completely. At this time, the appendages and uterus completely fade away, they decrease in size. These organs no longer perform their functions, and the woman enters the postmenopausal phase.

Treatment with hormonal agents of synthetic or natural origin is advisable only in the first two phases of menostasis. When the uterus and ovaries stop working completely, estrogens in tablets are no longer needed, because by this time the body should already adapt and adjust to a new mode of operation.

How to delay the onset of menopause and reduce its manifestations?

Starting from the age of 40, every woman notices how her body changes. First, minor harbingers of ovarian failure appear, such as rare disruptions in the menstrual cycle, increased irritability and the first wrinkles. It is at this moment that patients need to think that age-related changes may soon occur and it is time to take measures to minimize its manifestations.

To prolong reproductive function, and therefore youth, there are several effective methods. At the first stage, when the menstrual cycle is still present, you can delay the onset of menostasis by adjusting your diet, giving up bad habits and changing your lifestyle. Experts have proven that patients who do not drink alcohol, play sports and adhere to a healthy diet experience menopause much later, and its course is mild and lacks severe symptoms.

At later stages, drug therapy is required, when such unpleasant symptoms as:

• Tides.
• Pressure surges.
• Headache.
• Heart pain.
• Dryness of the vaginal mucous membranes, etc.

Preparations containing estrogen during menopause can only be prescribed by the attending physician after a thorough examination and appropriate diagnosis. Today, there are several groups of medications that contain natural or synthetic substances that compensate for estradiol deficiency during menopause, and therefore significantly alleviate its manifestations.

Menopause and estrogens: drugs, herbs, products

Before applying any measures to increase sexual substances in the body, you need to determine their level through a clinical blood test. With the onset of perimenopause, estradiol levels decrease and can range from 53 pg/ml and below. If the level drops below 10 pg/ml, artificial replenishment of the substance is required, because at such levels, menopause is especially difficult.

Stabilizing hormonal levels may include:

• Natural hormones for women during menopause.
• Synthetic drugs.
• Folk recipes.
• Special diet.

Types and effects of phytoestrogens on menopause

In nature, there are several types of foods rich in... First of all, these are food products that are available to every consumer; analogues of female reproductive substances are also contained in some herbs.

Nutrition

It is recommended to eat right and include foods rich in natural foods in your diet long before menopause. Already at the age of 30, every woman should understand that proper nutrition is the key to prolonging youth, beauty and health. Among the foods high in natural estrogen hormone are:

• All types of legumes.
• Parsley, celery and leafy vegetables.
• Carrots, garlic, asparagus.
• Whole grains.
• Fermented milk products.
• Vegetable oil (mostly olive oil).

Regularly including in your diet foods containing natural female hormones during menopause can delay the onset of menostasis and alleviate unpleasant symptoms.

Herbs

Also, folk recipes based on decoctions of medicinal herbs will help in the fight against the manifestations of menostasis. Phytoestrogens are found in the following plants:

• Shepherd's purse.
• Hawthorn.
• Siberian ginseng.
• Red clover.
• Borovaya uterus.
• Red brush.
• Sage.
• Parsley.

Based on these herbs, you can prepare decoctions, teas, tinctures and baths. All of them, when used regularly, effectively relieve menopausal symptoms.

Important! Even plant phytoestrogens during menopause can only be taken after consultation with a gynecologist, because they can also have side effects.

The main drugs with estrogens during menopause

Today, to treat the manifestations and complications of premenopause, two main types of medications containing the necessary substances are used: hormonal and non-hormonal drugs. These medications can be produced in the form of tablets, ointments, dragees, drops, etc.

Hormonal drugs

Hormonal medications effectively compensate for the lack of estradiol and relieve the main symptoms of menopause. However, these medications have a lot of contraindications and side effects, and therefore it is necessary to strictly adhere to the dosage and schedule prescribed by the attending physician. The most popular hormone-containing products in our country are:

• Preparations with estrogen for menopause: Estradiol, Ovestin, Estrofem, Presomen.
• Preparations containing estrogen and progesterone: Norkolut, Divina, Klimonorm.
• Vaginal suppositories: Utrozhestan, Vagifem, Ovestin.
• Ointment with estrogen: Premarin, Ovestin.
• Gels: Divigel, Dermestril, Menorest.
• Plasters: Menostar, Klimara, Estraderm.

Minasyan Margarita

It's no secret that during menopause a number of changes occur in a woman's body, including at the hormonal level. But few people know for certain what changes female hormones undergo during menopause. Remembering the ancient Latin statement “Forewarned is forearmed,” one should draw the appropriate conclusion: obtaining reliable information about upcoming changes will allow you to correctly respond to their onset.

Let's talk about the main female sex hormones, their role in the life of the body and the metamorphoses that occur during menopause in this invisible, but no less real, sphere.

What happens to hormones during menopause?

From approximately 35 to 40 years old, those very first profound changes begin in the female body, the final result of which is the completion of the reproductive function. These changes do not occur overnight - nature provides for a gradual entry into menopause. Sometimes a whole decade passes from the beginning of menopausal changes to their end. And throughout this time, a woman’s hormonal system undergoes a whole complex of transformations.

The main sex hormones that regulate the activity of the body's reproductive system throughout life are: estrogens (primarily estradiol), progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Each of them performs its own important and irreplaceable function.

From the age of 35, the production of estrogen in a woman’s ovaries gradually decreases. This is explained by the gradual depletion of the supply of follicles, the number of which is established from birth and is not replenished throughout the entire life cycle. Gradually, the maturation of eggs inside the follicles occurs less and less. The whole complex of these processes leads first to a disruption of the menstrual cycle, and then to a complete cessation of monthly bleeding.

In parallel with the decrease in estrogen concentration, there is also a decrease in the production of progesterone, another important hormone for the female body. It is responsible for maintaining pregnancy during reproductive age, as well as for renewing epithelial layers. Accordingly, a reduction in the amount of this substance gradually causes thinning of the endometrium, which is also one of the conditions for stopping menstruation.

How does the body react to hormonal imbalance?

It is important to know that hormonal changes affect not only the reproductive system, but also almost the entire body.

1. For example, there are malfunctions in the functioning of the hypothalamus. This part of the brain is responsible for regulating all the basic processes in the human body, in particular, the mechanisms of falling asleep and waking up, hunger and thirst, fear and pleasure.
2. A decrease in progesterone levels causes a response from the hypothalamus - by increasing the production of follicle-stimulating hormone, it tries to stimulate the ovaries to synthesize the missing hormone. It is malfunctions in the functioning of this part of the brain that explain the presence of hot flashes. For some reason, normal body temperature begins to be perceived by him as elevated, which is supported by corresponding reactions: sweating, weakness, rapid heartbeat.
3. The autonomic nervous system is one of the first to respond to changes in hormonal levels. This is manifested by a decrease in the adaptive properties of the psyche to external stimuli. For example, inexplicable anxiety, mood swings, increased fatigue, and other troubles.
4. Lack of estrogen adversely affects mineral metabolism. As it progresses, hormonal imbalance provokes a decrease in the strength of bone tissue and deterioration of the teeth.
5. The thyroid gland can react extremely acutely to changes in hormone levels. Often a woman develops hyperthyroidism and thyrotoxicosis. External signs of trouble in the functioning of this organ are manifested by increased irritability, depression, memory loss, weight gain or, conversely, rapid weight loss, deterioration of the skin and tremors in the limbs, increased fatigue.
6. Lack of hormones also causes dry mucous membranes, including in the intimate area. It also affects the intensity of sexual desire.
7. Hormonal imbalance is a serious stress for the functioning of the adrenal glands. Against the background of menopause, women often develop hypertension, develop cardiac disorders, and lose the ability to control their emotional state.
8. Endocrine disorders are also common during menopause. Often it is at this time that women experience a disturbance in carbohydrate metabolism, which leads to the development of diabetes mellitus. In addition, problems with excess weight often appear.

The main female sex hormones: normal and abnormalities during menopause

For optimal functioning of the body, it is necessary to maintain certain quantitative proportions at the hormonal level. The main stimulants of the reproductive system are estrogens and progesterones. Their action is based on the principle of counterbalance, that is, the production of one type of hormone is regulated by the production of another. During the period of menopausal transformations, this mechanism is disrupted, which leads to the complete cessation of the reproductive functions of the female body.

Estrogen

Almost all changes during menopause are explained by a decrease in the production of the main female sex hormones - estrogens (in particular, estradiol), which are also called hormones of youth and beauty. Due to the lack of this hormone, the aging process of the skin begins, wrinkles appear, and is also a clear indicator of the presence of such a disorder.

Estrogens affect the activity of almost all organs and systems of the body. Throughout reproductive life, greater amounts are synthesized in the ovaries. With the onset of menopause, this process stops, and the production of the most important hormones is transferred to the peripheral systems - adipose tissue and adrenal glands.

If we talk about the quantitative indicators of estradiol (the most significant type of estrogen), then its norm in women during menopause changes ranges from 11 to 95 pg/ml. However, drawing conclusions only on the basis of these indicators is quite problematic; it should be borne in mind that the estradiol norm may be violated by the influence of additional factors, such as the woman’s age, the duration of menopausal changes, and the level of concentration of other types of hormones.

If estrogens are elevated during menopause, this may indicate tumors and cystic lesions of the ovaries, cirrhosis of the liver, as well as the use of oral contraceptives. Low levels indicate a decrease in ovarian function, an increase in the level of prolactin in the blood, and this phenomenon is also characteristic of vegetarianism.

Progisterone

Progesterone also begins to be produced in smaller quantities during menopause. This is another reason that provokes hormonal imbalance. It is thanks to this type of hormone that pregnancy is maintained, and the process of natural renewal of the endometrium through menstruation is also launched.

FSH

Follicle-stimulating hormone is produced in the pituitary gland. During childbearing age, its maximum concentration is usually recorded in the first phase of the cycle. As menopause progresses, FSH levels increase significantly. This occurs due to the fact that the pituitary gland tries to stimulate the ovaries by increasing the release of this hormone. When the level exceeds 30 IU/l, we can confidently speak about the approach of menopause. If the indicator falls within the range of 10-12 IU/l, then this indicates a complete “switching off” of the ovaries.

LH

Luteinizing hormone (LH) is a direct participant in the process of egg maturation. Its amount also differs in different phases of the cycle. It reaches its highest levels during ovulation. With the onset of menopausal changes, tests show increased concentrations of LH. Its norm at this time varies from 29.7 to 43.9 mIU/l. If the amount of LH is higher than FSH, then this may indicate the presence of certain pathologies, in particular, pituitary tumors, polycystic ovary syndrome, and renal failure.

Rules for conducting hormonal studies in menopausal women

The hormonal background is a finely organized structure. And many factors can influence changes in the ratio of hormones, so to carry out a reliable diagnosis it is necessary to adhere to a number of rules:

• The blood sample should be taken on an empty stomach, and it is advisable that at least 8 hours have passed since the last meal;
• before the study, you should not take hormonal medications, otherwise the results will be erroneous;
• to obtain reliable results the day before, you should refrain from excessive physical activity, including sexual contact;
• It is undesirable to drink coffee, strong tea, or drink alcoholic beverages. It is also advisable to avoid smoking;
• It is better to refrain from taking tests after experiencing stress;
• In order to draw conclusions about the state of hormonal levels, blood is taken several times (at different phases of the cycle), and based on the overall dynamics, conclusions are drawn about how severe the hormonal imbalance is.

Treatment of hormonal disorders during menopause

It would be a mistake to associate the onset of menopause with illness, but in some cases, hormones during menopause undergo such significant quantitative fluctuations that a woman’s condition sharply worsens against this background. In such cases, it is impossible to do without the use of special medications that help mitigate the effects of hormonal imbalance. In this case, treatment can be carried out both with the help of artificial hormones and with the help of plant analogues of estrogens.

Treatment with phytoestrogens

If the symptoms of menopause do not pose a significant threat to a woman’s health, then it is best to start therapy with medications based on phytoestrogens. Such products contain substances similar in composition and action to hormones produced by the ovaries. The advantage of this treatment option is the gentle elimination of estradiol deficiency in women and the absence of unpleasant consequences. The disadvantage is the need for long-term use, which is not always possible; for example, such a delay in the event of dysfunctional uterine bleeding can be dangerous. The most popular among women experiencing menopause are: Klimadinon, Qi-Klim, Mense, Menopace, Estrovel, Remens, Klimaktoplan.

Treatment with synthetic hormones

In cases where a woman’s condition worsens significantly and is accompanied, for example, by severe cardiovascular pathologies, excessively intense and frequent hot flashes, the use of hormone replacement therapy is inevitable. The most preferable is to take low-dose drugs in which the amount of estrogen does not exceed 35 mcg. Such drugs are much less likely to cause side effects. However, it should be remembered that taking hormones during menopause for a long time (longer than 2-3 years) is dangerous, since prolonged use significantly increases the risk of developing undesirable consequences. The use of HRT is often associated with the initiation of oncological processes.