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Running Header: Post-Menopausal Syndrome

Post-Menopausal Syndrome

Jonathan Bland
Pathophysiology
Professor Lori McGowan

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Running Header: Post-Menopausal Syndrome

Psychological symptoms of menopause can vary from woman to woman. They

can have anxieties that would most often times not affect the normal woman not in
menopause. They can have difficulty concentrating, overreacting to minor upsets,
quickly being irritated, they can have forgetfulness and mood swings. But studies
indicate that many cases of depression relate more to circumstances than to
menopause itself. Other events, such as worries about elderly relatives, retirement,
divorce or widowhood, children growing up and moving out of the house occur around
the period of menopause. Also some problems may be caused indirectly because of
sleep problems. To deal with emotional symptoms you should exercise regularly. This
will help maintain your hormonal balance and preserve bone strength. Talking to other
women, who experience menopause problems, can help with emotional symptoms.
Women approaching menopause often complain about memory loss and inability to
concentrate (Isoflavones.info, 2010).
Vasomotor symptoms can occur frequently to women with profound symptoms that
can affect the womans life. These symptoms can be increased fatigue, irritability,
headaches, muscle and joint pain, and in some cases depression (McGregor &
Shulman, 2008). As ovarian follicles continue to diminish during per-menopause, the
hormone signaling that leads to the maturation of estrogen-producing follicles becomes
irregular. Menopause occurs when there are no more follicles left for stimulation, thus
ending ovarian estrogen production and the menstrual cycle. Menstrual irregularity is
the hallmark sign of peri-menopause, which includes changes in cycle length and
menstrual flow (McGregor & Shulman, 2008).

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Running Header: Post-Menopausal Syndrome

All sorts of vaginal changes occur with women during and after menopause. Some
women experience vaginal bleeding after menopause. This is a condition called,
atrophic vaginitis. Which can make sex very painful because the vagina is does not
become lubricated as it normally would be during sex prior to menopause. Most often
times the vagina becomes dry and irritated. Infections can occur and be treated with
prescription medication. Diminished estrogen effects all the tissues in the vagina.
Because of the lower estrogen levels the vaginal canal shrinks in length and size. The
blood flow to the vagina also tends to decrease.
Women currently going through menopause can have long term effects to the
heart disease due to changes in cholesterol levels. The patient can also have bone pain
and tenderness. Osteoporosis is another symptom of menopause that is related to joint
pain. Bone loss is fast in the first years after menopause but continues as increase as
the amount of estrogen produced by the ovaries drops dramatically. (Isoflavones.info,
2010).
The skin also goes through significant changes during menopause. Such as
wrinkling and increased dryness, hair texture, thinning of the lining in the vagina,
sagging breasts and so on. Additionally, during and after menopause there is rapid
bone loss in women which may even result in osteoporosis. Menopause occurs when a
woman stops ovulating and her monthly period (menstruation) ceases (Isoflavones.info,
2010).

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Running Header: Post-Menopausal Syndrome

Works Cited
Gould, B. E. (2006). Pathophysiology for the Health Professionals, 3rd Edition. Philadelphia: W.B.
Sauders.

Isoflavones.info. (2010). Menopause Symptoms. Retrieved April 4, 2011, from Isoflavones.info:

http://www.isoflavones.info/menopause-symptoms.php

McGregor, J., & Shulman, L. (2008, Oct). Vasomotor Symptoms:Managing the transition from
perimenopause to postmenopause. Retrieved April 4, 2011, from OBManagement:
http://www.obgmanagement.com/supplement.asp?aid=6817