Number 1: Description of the Pathophysiology.
Menopause is the end of menstruation demonstrated by 12 consecutive months of no menstrual cycle due to decreased estrogen production. Perimenopause or “climacteric is the time before the actual cessation” of menses (deWit, 2015). The signs and symptoms that lead to menopause: hot flashes, night sweats because of vasomotor instability brought about by lower levels of estrogen, menstrual irregularity and changes. These changes make the vaginal wall thinner and more delicate potentially causing vaginal pruritus and increased risk for infections. Women entering the first stage of menopause need to be aware of the potential for painful sexual experiences known as dyspareunia. The onset of menopause can also have a negative effect on the psyche of a woman, noting that with the cessation of menses comes the realization that pregnancy is no longer an option. Some women view aging as a sign that they are less attractive, menopause signals the first step in to old age for many. The average age for women to reach menopause is “50 years old, with a range of 45-55 years” (Kee, J., 2012).
Number 2: Body Systems Involved.
The body systems involved in menopause are the reproductive system due to the inability to get pregnant any longer, “the permanent end of spontaneous
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These include complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), bioidentical hormone preparations, and hormone therapy (HT). Over the past year there has been some research done on the possibility of a bionic ovary for women who may wish to undergo surgery. “Hormonal replacement therapies can help but getting the doses wrong can raise the risk of heart disease or breast cancer” (Hamzelou, J., 2017). This treatment is geared toward women who have a higher risk of cardiovascular issues, bone density issues, and weight gain. Currently the testing is being done on rats with positive
In conclusion the menstrual cycle can be impacted by the daily environment in human females. Analysis has shown that the menstrual cycle impacts females’ everyday day life such as in the work place and also devouring of caffeine drinking and smoking
Reproducing is a decision that is irreversible and produces masses of major responsibilities and changes. However large the decision may be, there are many women who decide that they are ready too late in their lives. The delay in becoming pregnant may occur for a variety of reasons, many of which include financial or career stability, mental stability, or pregnancy through outside means, such as in vitro fertilization. Women are expected a stop in the ability to become impregnated with the arrival of menopause. In the book State of Wonder, by Ann Patchett, a woman named Marina Singh travels deep inside the Amazon jungle in the hopes to find Dr. Annick Swenson, a doctor who is developing a drug for pregnancy in post-menopausal women. Dr. Swenson herself has become the first non-native test subject. Marina struggles with the ethical and moral aspects of the activities that are being done on the native cultures. She soon learns that although there are cultural practices that may lead to optimistic advances into post-menopausal pregnancies, there may be no use bringing them back into modern society. Women should not be allowed to reproduce when they have passed natural menopause and the stop in ovulation.
“High levels of hormones can cause problems in the human body, but can hormones we ingest really alter our hormone level...
Over the last century, the life expectancy of the elderly has increased. This means that the largest growing population right now, in the United States, is persons over the age of 65 (Sex Tips for Older Adults, 2000). With this in mind, it would be helpful to talk about the personal aspects or as I like to call it, "sex lives" of the elderly. When people in our society think of the elderly, they almost never think of this population having sex or good sex for that matter. But they do! Unfortunately, the elderly encounter problems with sex as they become older and that is what I will be discussing along with way of coping with sexual dysfunction.
There has been conflicting research and advice about the safety of hormones with the increase in the aging female population within the last twenty years (National Institute on Aging). Hormone therapy has demonstrated to be the most effective FDA approved medication in the relief of menopausal symptoms, but these benefits must be weighed against serious adverse effects that hormones can cause. Although many women differ in their response to hormone products, MHT has been universally linked to an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, blood clots, and strokes. Concerns about the findings discovered in the clinical and observation trials performed on MHT, have left some doctors and women hesitant in utilizing MHT to combat menopausal symptoms.
Is it time to bring OCs over the counter?. (2010). Contraceptive Technology Update, 31(7), 77-
The basic question in dealing with HRT is to first ascertain why it is actually needed. Hormonal replacement is required for the treatment of many disorders where the normal synthesis of a vital hormone is either malfunctioning or is not functioning at all. For instance, Levothyroxine (L-thyroxine) is used for thyroid hormone replacement in those suffering from hypothyroidism (Cygan and Rucker, 1983, p. 232). In case of menopausal women suffering from symptoms like hot flushes and night sweats, estrogen replacement therapy has largely helped in relieving the unpleasant symptoms of menopause (Barrett-Connor, 1998, p. 457). In othe...
There are many conflicts with both men and women during this period of life. One conflict very important to both men and women is the bodily issue. Our body weight starts to change. Fat seems to be redistributed to the hips, stomach and trunk; our complexions become drier and wrinkles start to appear. Our skin doesn’t seem to be as resilient as it was in our 20’s and 30’s. In women there is a drop in bone mass, due to the slow depletion of estrogen. Menopause is fast approaching, followed up with all the negative health complications that follow this phase. This is the beginning of a slowness of our psychomotor performance. Our reaction time ...
Making lifestyle changes can be beneficial and help to prevent possible health problems. All health care professionals recommend that you stop smoking, reduce your alcohol intake, watch your diet and begin an exercise routinely. Some women are finding that changing their diet can alleviate menopausal symptoms. Learning how to relax, training yourself to be emotionally aware, and learning to meditate can reduce the effects of stress.
During middle adulthood biological and physical changes become apparent. During this time visual perception, hearing and the reproductive system decline. Adults who have never worn glasses or contact lenses may start needing visual correction (pg 424). During this time adults may also need more light to see than their younger friends (pg 424). During middle adulthood individuals, more commonly men, develop a lower sensitivity to high pitch sounds (pg 424). This is the reason why individuals during this stage find it more difficult to hear and interpret other voices.(pg 424). The female reproductive system starts to decline, slowly ending in menopause. The decline in the circulation of estradiol, the primary hormone of estrogen, causes many differences in reproductive health. During middle age pubic hair thins, there are changes in vaginal chemistry, and the labia begins to thin and wrinkle (pg 424). The chemical changes within the vagina cause dryness and a greater likelihood of infections (pg 424). For men, the decrease in testosterone during middle age is only small however the decrease causes lower bone density and loss of muscle m...
Depression is most common in women. The rates are twice as high as they are in men. According to the National Mental Health Association, about one in every eight women will develop depression at some point during her lifetime. Women’s symptoms are similar to major depression. Some of them include being in a depressed mood, loss of interest in activities you used to like, feelings of guilt and hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts or recurrent thought of death. Women tend to blame themselves, feel anxious and scared, and avoid conflicts at all costs. They also use food, friends, and love to self-medicate. Some causes of depression in women are premenstrual problems, pregnancy and inf...
It has been estimated to affect 30% to 50% of women in the United States (Laumann, Paik, & Rosen, 1999). Over time, women often require more stimulation to achieve arousal and satisfaction. The natural aging process seems to put women at a greater risk for FSD, as does vulvar atrophy, which is often seen during menopause (Placeholder3). A subtype of FSD, female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) is defined as the persistent or recurrent inability to attain or maintain adequate swelling and lubrication of the vaginal tissues until sexual activity is complete (Leiblum, 1998). FSAD is diagnosed when a woman complains of insufficient genital lubrication that causes her personal distress. A population based survey estimated that FSAD affects 11% to 19% of women under the age of 30 (Fugl- Meyer & Fugl-Meyer, 1999) and about 24% to 27% of women over 50 years of age (Laumann et al, 1999). A survey by Gambe, Heiman, Nusbaum, and Skinner (2000) estimated that up to 75% of women who receive routine gynecological care have issues related to FSAD but may not seek treatment. Laumann et al. (1999) believe there is a 20% lifetime prevalence of women with FSAD, which is often diagnosed by a woman’s subjective and objective feelings of arousal. It is important to remember that the cause of FSAD may not necessarily be due to organic disease. The diagnosis
The reproductive system is the part of the human body that is necessary to continue the human existent. Reproduction in humans normally would begin by a male and female having sexual intercourse with each other.
In a similar case as with the brain, this causes greater sensitivity to slight changes outside of the body. Doctors are also looking at factors like age and race to see if any discrepancies arise across demographics. For example, current research shows that in general younger women affected by menopause are more likely to experience night sweats than older women, with percentages decreasing with age. Similarly, studies have shown that Asian women are the least likely to experience night sweats as a symptom of menopause.