What are the projects for menopausal health management?

The core is to focus on the systemic and multi-system changes caused by menopausal hormone fluctuations and declines, and provide three related projects: basic health screening, individualized symptom intervention, and long-term chronic disease risk prevention and control. There is no need to pursue high-end packages worth tens of thousands of yuan. Only those that are symptomatic and suitable for you will be useful.

Last month, I accompanied my 52-year-old aunt to a local women's and children's menopausal clinic. She has had irregular menstruation for more than half a year, and has hot flashes seven or eight times a day. She tosses and turns at night until two or three o'clock before she can fall asleep. She has been secretly taking health supplements at home for more than half a year, but she is not getting better. After going there, I learned that many basic management items are reimbursed by medical insurance. The doctor first asked about her past medical history and found out that she had uterine fibroids of 3 cm before, so he prescribed six items of basic sex hormones, gynecology + breast ultrasound, bone density, liver and kidney function, blood lipids and blood sugar, but did not prescribe the "complete ovarian function assessment" that is very popular online. I also asked at that time, isn’t it said that ovarian function should be checked during menopause? The doctor said that this issue is indeed controversial. One group believes that all menopausal women should have anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) tests, which can accurately determine the degree of ovarian aging. The other group believes that it is useless and a waste of money for people who have already reached menopause. Clinical judgment is generally based on whether there is a need for menstrual regulation. My aunt has not had a period for almost 10 months and has no appeal for menstrual regulation, so naturally there is no need to spend this wasted money.

After checking the results, it was found that her hormone levels were indeed in the menopausal range, her bone mass had reached the critical value of loss, and her uterine fibroids had not become larger. The doctor prescribed the lowest dose of topical estrogen ointment to improve her occasional vaginal dryness. She also asked her to attend free mindfulness relaxation classes at the outpatient clinic twice a week to correct her insomnia. If she really couldn't sleep, she would consider prescribing sleep aids or oral medications to regulate hormones. If she didn't, he would prescribe a bunch of medicines. My aunt went to two classes last week. When she came back, she told me that a group of aunties of similar age sat together and talked about hot flashes and irritability. Only then did she realize that I wasn't being "hypocritical" and that most of them had the same symptoms. She felt much better and fell asleep almost an hour earlier than before in the past two days.

By the way, it was also found that her total cholesterol was a little higher than the normal value. The previous physical examinations were normal every year. The doctor said that this was also a slowdown in metabolism caused by the decrease in estrogen during menopause. She did not need to rush to take lipid-lowering drugs. He gave her a plan of brisk walking three times a week for 40 minutes each time. He asked her to replace the full-fat sweet milk powder she drank every day with skimmed milk and get more sun exposure. She could replenish vitamin D. She would be rechecked after three months. It was much easier to accept than prescribing medication.

By the way, don’t believe the “ovary maintenance” and “menopausal age reversal” programs promoted by external beauty salons. My colleague’s mother spent more than 30,000 yuan to apply for an annual ovarian maintenance card two years ago, and went for essential oil massage every week. After more than three months of doing it, she suddenly had irregular vaginal bleeding. When she went to the hospital, she found that the fibroid that was originally 2 cm had grown to 5 cm. I don’t know how much illegal estrogen was added to those essential oils. Not to mention the money spent, she still suffered. In fact, to put it bluntly, menopausal health management is like a "shifting period of maintenance" for the body. It does not make you rejuvenate, but helps you to smoothly pass through this uncomfortable period. Don't be too anxious and don't be too anxious. Just find a specialist in a regular hospital.