Menopause is a difficult period in a woman's life, especially if she suffers from chronic diseases. How to deal with the symptoms of menopause such as diabetes, asthma or hypertension? Won't hormone therapy (HRT) make you survive the menopause worsen your condition?

Doeshormone replacement therapyreplacement therapy( HRZ )relievingmenopausal symptoms , it is safe for women who suffer fromchronic diseases ?Menopause , which is the last menstruation in your life, followed by 12 consecutive periods months, there is no bleeding anymore, occurring on average at 51 years of age. Thus, almost 1/3 of our life falls on the postmenopausal period, when the effects of the deficiency of sex hormones intensify. Hormone therapy (HRT) alleviates them, but can it be used if you have a chronic medical condition? Of course, as long as the disease is well controlled. There are no contraindications to the use of hormone therapy in the case of:

  • diabetes,
  • hypertension,
  • asthma,
  • joint diseases
  • liver disease.

However, the gynecologist must show special care. It should take into account not only the underlying disease, but also the resulting limitations. It is difficult for a patient who has problems with small joints (RA) to recommend the disc, because she will not be able to use it properly.

Hormone therapy for menopause

Hormone therapy can take the form of oral tablets, skin patches, and vaginal tablets. The latter form is used when the symptoms associated with changes in the genitourinary tract are the most bothersome, e.g. vaginal dryness, more frequent bladder infections, stress urinary incontinence. Vaginal tablets only work locally and will not help, for example, for night sweats or hot flashes. However, you can combine vaginal tablets with oral low-dose hormones. We will find out if the therapy works after about 3 months of its use. If it is not effective or the woman does not tolerate it well, the doctor will suggest a different drug or a different form of it. The therapy can be discontinued at any time (but only after consultation with the doctor), and if the symptoms recur, it can be resumed. If necessary, you can take a shorter break from your hormone intake(e.g. during an operation).

Important

When hormone therapy is inadvisable

Hormone therapycan be used in most chronic diseases, because the doctor is able to choose a therapy that will not affect the underlying disease and will definitely improve the quality of life during menopause . There are few absolute contraindications to the use of HRT. These include:

  • vascular thrombosis (last 5 years),
  • acute liver failure,
  • unexplained vaginal bleeding,
  • recent heart attack or stroke, serious heart disease, advanced atherosclerosis,
  • cancer: breast, endometrium, melanoma, meningioma.

HRT and chronic diseases: regular checkups

During hormone therapy, a woman with a chronic disease must control it well and be under the constant care of a gynecologist. She should report for the first visit one month after starting therapy, then after 3 and 6 months. Further visits to the gynecologist are recommended every six months. In addition, breasts should be self-examined every month, and a cytology, mammography and transvaginal ultrasound of the reproductive organ should be performed once a year; in the case of osteoporosis, also densitometry. Annual tests of glucose, cholesterol, coagulation system and liver tests are also recommended. Such regular check-ups make it possible to detect the disease at an early stage of development and thus effectively cure it.

Diabetes and menopausal symptoms

Women with type 1 diabetes go through the menopause earlier than he althy people. However, in the case of type 2 diabetes with obesity and additional estrogen secretion by adipose tissue - menopause occurs later. During the menopause, the ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone. Since the hormonal linkage network is complex, these changes also affect insulin levels. Lowering the level of female sex hormones can increase blood glucose levels because insulin resistance increases. Glucose levels may drop rapidly in the months that follow, as your body becomes accustomed to the changes and regains insulin sensitivity. A lowered progesterone level increases insulin sensitivity, and estrogen reduces it. Low estrogen levels promote osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Symptoms of menopause and diabetes are similar in menopausal women. Feeling hot, sleep disturbances, night sweats or lack of concentration can lead to incorrect diagnosis of hypoglycaemia, and thus dysregulation of glucose-insulin balanceby eating excessively. In order to improve the quality of life and reduce the severity of symptoms, many women then choose hormone therapy. However, it is not recommended for women with unregulated diabetes.

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Female diseases