📩 05/10/2023 12:04
Acıbadem Dr. Sinasi Can (Kadıköy) Hospital Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist Assoc. Dr. Şafak Yılmaz Baran explained the common misconceptions about menopause.
Acıbadem Dr. stated that it is wrong that the age of menopause can be delayed. Şinasi Can (Kadıköy) Hospital Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist Assoc. Dr. Şafak Yılmaz Baran said, “When menstrual bleeding ends, hormone therapy can be started to relieve menopause-related complaints, and an 'artificial menstrual cycle' is created by thickening the uterine lining with drug therapy and then causing bleeding. However, even though menstruation occurs every month thanks to drug treatment, this does not mean that menopause is delayed.” he said.
Assoc. Dr. Şafak Yılmaz Baran said, "The idea that every woman enters menopause at a similar age to her mother and experiences similar symptoms to her mother is also a common erroneous information in society." said.
Assoc. Prof. stated that the condition that determines the menopause process of a woman is the depletion of eggs in the ovaries and the resulting inability to function. Dr. Şafak Yılmaz Baran said, “However, if two ovaries are removed through surgery, the woman enters menopause. Therefore, when only the uterus is removed, the woman does not menstruate and cannot get pregnant again, but she does not enter menopause. "Menopause begins only if the ovaries are removed along with the uterus." He underlined that the information that menopause will occur after the uterus is removed is wrong.
Assoc. Prof. stated that during menopause, approximately 70 percent of women experience complaints such as vaginal dryness, pain during sexual intercourse, reluctance, burning sensation during urination and frequent infections. Dr. Şafak Yılmaz Baran pointed out that such complaints can only be resolved with treatments and said, “The underlying cause of the complaints that develop in menopausal women is the decrease in estrogen hormone with menopause and the resulting deterioration of the elasticity, lubrication and flora of the vaginal area. "While vaginal lubricant and moisturizing treatments can be applied first, administering estrogen hormone topically or systemically in suitable patients also provides a significant improvement in the problems." Giving information, he said that sexual life will not end with menopause.
Underlining that the information that one will definitely gain weight during menopause is wrong, Assoc. Dr. Şafak Yılmaz Baran: “However, gaining weight is an effect of aging, not hormonal change.” He continued: “Due to the slowing down of metabolism with advancing age, taking in approximately 250 calories less per day will balance this process. Of course, as always, weight balance is important during menopause; "It can be achieved with a fiber-rich, fruit and vegetable-rich, protein and calcium-rich, low-fat diet and regular exercise."
Stating that many women have to endure the problems caused by menopause due to the concern that hormone therapy causes breast cancer, Assoc. Dr. Şafak Yılmaz Baran emphasized that although menopause is a natural process, it is necessary to consult a physician for complaints that negatively affect the quality of life and said, “It would be the right approach to get medical support if necessary. "While hormone treatments given in appropriate doses and duration in personally suitable patients relieve the complaints, the rate of cancer cases in the society is not as high as it is thought." said. He said that some herbal treatments that are applied without consulting a physician and whose effectiveness and reliability have not been proven should be avoided because these methods may cause damage to organs such as the liver, kidney and heart.
Assoc. Prof. underlines that pregnancy may occur, albeit with a low probability, especially within a year after the cessation of menstruation, which is called the 'perimenopausal period'. Dr. Şafak Yılmaz Baran said, "During this period, it is absolutely necessary to continue protection in sexual life." He pointed out that sexual life will not end with menopause.