Menopause Flashcards
(47 cards)
Def: Pre-menopause
Regular periods
Def: Peri-menopause
Irregular periods (Less or more frequent)
≥7 day differences in length between consecutive cycles
Def: Post-menopause
No periods > 12 months
Def: Premature ovarian insufficiency
Menopause occurring < 40 years old
Def: Early menopause
Menopause occurring ages 40-44
What is the average age of menopause in the UK
51
What is the average duration of menopause symptoms?
7.4 years
What is the average number of symptoms of menopause?
7
When are menopause symptoms usually most severe?
Late peri- to early post-menopause
What are some of the impacts of menopause symptoms?
Effect on home, work, social and sex liufe
What are some symptoms that won’t improve in the menopause?
Dry vagina
Painful sex
Urinary symptoms
What are the levels of FSH and oestrogen during menopause?
Variably high FSH
Low oestrogen levels (Causing high FSH)
What are the most common 3 menopause symptoms?
- Night sweats
- Hot flushes
- Mood swings
What are some other symptoms of menopause?
- Memory loss
- Aches and pains
- Period problems
- Anxiety
- Brain fog
- Dry skin and hair (Itchiness)
- Weight gain
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Palpitations
- Depression
- Painful sex (Dyspareunia)
- Recurrent UTI symptoms
- Headaches
- Pins and needles
- Lack of energy
- Irritability
- Loss of sex drive
- Insomnia
What are some other names for vulvo-vaginal atrophy?
Genitourinary syndrome of the menopause (GMS)
Urogenital atrophy
What is the main age cut-off for FSH testing in the menopause?
45 as FSH will fluctuate with the menopause
(Unless women aged >50 who want to stop contraception before 55)
Investigations in women >45 with atypical menopause symptoms
2 x FSH levels 6 weeks apart
Investigation of women 40-45 with menopausal symptoms and/or iatrogenic amenorrhoea (E.g. hysterectomy)
2 x FSH levels 6 weeks apart
Investigation of women < 40 with menopausal symptoms
FSH
E2
TFT
Glucose
Prolactin
Free androgen index (FAI)
Investigations of women <35 with menopausal symptoms
Chromosomal and autoimmune screening
How do FSH results affect HRT usage?
HRT can be started independant of FSH results
Contraception basics in peri-menopausal women aged < 40
- Premature insufficiency of ovaries may be transitional →
- Continue with contraception
Contraception basics in peri-menopausal women aged 40-49
- Contraception can be stopped:
- 2 years after last “natural” menstrual period (Not while on hormonal contraception, etc)
- 2 years after 2 results of FSH ≥ 30 IU/L, taken at least 4 weeks apart
Contraception basics in peri-menopausal women aged ≥50
- Contraception can be stopped:
- 1 years after last “natural” menstrual period (Not while on hormonal contraception, etc)
- 1 years after 1 results of FSH ≥ 30 IU/L
