The female body is designed in such a way that throughout the course of his life he has to undergo various changes. Men have an important role in the continuation of the human race. Therefore, in most cases, all physiological changes in their body are associated with reproductive functions. This article discusses a very delicate issue that worries many women. We will talk about blood secretions with menopause and whether they are considered by doctors as pathological phenomena.
How is menopause determined?
First you need to figure out which periods precede this condition, how the hormonal background can change at this time, what secretions you need to be careful about. The female body undergoes age-related changes gradually, menopause does not occur overnight. In gynecology, there are three concepts associated with the extinction of the reproductive abilities of patients:
- premenopause;
- menopause;
- postmenopause.
Below we will consider each of them in more detail. We will also understand what climax occurs in women at what age, in the symptoms and treatment of the negative manifestations of this condition.
Premenopause
Menopausal symptoms can bother the fair sex long before the moment when the menstrual cycle completely stops functioning in their body. This period is characterized by an irregularity of natural bleeding. Secrets secreted by the genitals are excessively plentiful or very scarce, can occur in the form of mucus and blood secretions. With menopause, there should not be a second one, since by that time damping in the ovaries will already occur. With premenopause, this process is only beginning to develop, and the onset of menstruation is considered normal.
Menopause
The body of each woman is individual, and it is not possible to say at what point a given physiological gap occurs. Some persons begin to understand that this time has come, after his arrival. In medicine, it is determined by a pronounced sign, which should be guided by. If for 12 months you have completely had no menstruation - this is menopause. However, if during this year any discharge is observed, then there is a likelihood that a gynecological disease has appeared. It is necessary to find out together with the gynecologist whether this is really a pathology or a sign of natural changes. In particular, alarming manifestations may be associated with minor disorders that are easily amenable to medical treatment. Nevertheless, in some patients, malignant tumors are found on the vagina or uterus.
In individual cases, specialists find normal blood flow during menopause. This is due to the fact that a decrease in the number of hormones leads to the transformation of the epithelium. The uterine mucosa becomes thin and sensitive. Any activity accompanied by touching its walls can injure an easily vulnerable mucous layer. A bicycle ride, sexual intercourse, and other intense effects on the abdomen can provoke a sucrose.
The finish line of menopause is the completion of the reproductive cycle, therefore, as with menopause, blood discharge during this period is considered a pathology.
Postmenopause
Postmenopause is the final stage in the appointment and functioning of the reproductive system. During this period, menstruation ceases completely. This means that the birth of the embryo and the development of pregnancy becomes impossible. After cardinal changes and loss of ovarian performance, the consistency of the secret produced is also changing. In this regard, the question arises: what discharge with menopause are considered normal? They should be transparent, uniform, without various formations and clots. Aqueous liquid may indicate the presence of pathology in the body.
Age
Premenopause can be expected after forty years. Further, each representative of the weaker sex, the decline in the reproductive system has its own pace. Before the onset of the next phase, which is called menopause, more than 10 years may pass. By the age of 55, the amount of estrogen usually decreases, and the menstrual cycle goes astray. With menopause, blood discharge sometimes appears as a few drops. Menstruation is irregular and stops over time. In rare cases, the menopause ends by 60 years.
Causes
Due to the deficiency of estrogen hormones and the thinning of the epithelial layer lining the vagina, the female genital organs are subject to mechanical damage. Spontaneous minor bleeding sometimes occurs even with minor injuries. After intercourse, they become more abundant. To protect the mucous tissues, it is recommended to use gels designed for lubrication of the vagina, which are available in many pharmacy chains. Discharge with menopause can be triggered by inflammation of the genital tract. Such diseases include:
- vaginitis;
- candidiasis;
- cervicitis.
It is important to understand that some phenomena at the stage of menopause are inevitable, natural, they must be able to survive with dignity. This is the stage of life on which the hormonal background of a woman undergoes complex changes. First of all, due to the decline in the work of the ovaries, which are responsible for the production of active eggs, their number is significantly reduced. Moreover, their insignificant percentage is lost in the process of degeneration.
Over time, the eggs stop responding normally to the hormone that stimulates the follicles, and the ovaries stop providing estrogen to the female body. In addition to the fact that these important hormones played a role in the process of procreation, they also had a positive effect on other organs. Since in the human body there is a close relationship between all systems, a sharp decrease in the level of female hormones negatively affects the health of a woman as a whole.
Representatives of the weaker sex, continuing to live sexually during postmenopause, must exercise extreme caution and carefully observe personal hygiene. Many inflammatory processes occur due to infection in the vagina. Pathogenic bacteria such as chlamydia, gonococcus and vaginal trichomonas are especially dangerous. It happens that in women with menopause, these microorganisms cause excretion.
When the symptoms of the menopause are too pronounced, for some patients, gynecologists prescribe hormones. To some extent, they alleviate the condition, but after the end of the treatment course cause brown bleeding.
So, from all that has been said, we can distinguish the main roots of blood secretions with menopause:
- age-related changes;
- gynecological problems;
- infectious diseases;
- the use of hormonal medications;
- ailments associated with the hematopoietic system, liver or other organs.
Symptoms
For the menopausal phase, signs are inherent that are the result of a negative effect on the following body systems: brain activity, bone tissue, mammary glands, skin, blood vessels, heart, urinary organs. Consider the most common symptoms:
- Tides are an integral companion of menopause. In the course of studies, it was found that they appear in 70% of patients, and their average duration is 4 years, less often they can last up to 10 years.
- Internal and external changes in the breast. The shape of the mammary glands is modified due to tissue atrophy;
- A direct effect is exerted on the appearance of women. Hair begins to fall out, the epidermis becomes dry and thinning.
- Vaginal deterioration leads to pain. At this time, the discharge in women with menopause in appearance is similar to menstrual bleeding.
- Burning and itching during urination, as well as involuntary discharge of urine.
- There is a risk of heart disease. There may be an increase in cholesterol, a decrease in blood pressure, accompanied by headaches.
- A significant decrease in bone mass occurs. Imperceptible at first glance, changes gradually lead to osteoporosis.
The nature of the discharge
As the final moment of the childbearing period approaches, gynecological problems can multiply. In addition, already existing chronic diseases are often exacerbated. Deviations that occur during hormonal changes in the body have a direct effect on the nature of the secret. Let's see what discharge during menopause indicates pathological conditions. In medical practice, the following were observed:
- excessively plentiful;
- dark
- with a pronounced yellow tint;
- cottage cheese;
- uneven consistency;
- too liquid or, conversely, cloudy and thick;
- purulent, with a rather unpleasant odor.
The above deviations can be caused by a variety of reasons. In most cases, women are interested in why there are bleeding during menopause. This question really deserves consideration. Sometimes they may appear due to the partial operation of the ovaries, but in most cases, such phenomena simply threaten the health of patients. In the postmenopausal cycle, the discharge is pathological and signals a number of serious diseases.
Mucus without an admixture of blood of any consistency is considered the norm. The main thing is that a bad smell does not come from her. If, after menopause adjustment of the body, cervical mucus is completely absent, this is considered a natural phenomenon.
Diseases
When doctors raise the question of whether there may be discharge with menopause, then most often we are talking about bleeding. Gynecologists try to warn patients about possible pathologies. We provide a list of diseases that are the reasons for the separation of unwanted secret. These include:
- inflammatory processes that were listed above;
- polyps on the uterus and on the cervix;
- vaginal cancer;
- myoma;
- oncology of the cervix;
- endometrial cancer.
Each woman should get used to the fact that one should evaluate the nature of the secret, its volume, color and texture, as well as pay attention to the smell. Excessive discharge during menopause can be a great health hazard. In addition, do not ignore other symptoms that may accompany gynecological diseases. Anxiety signs appear in the form of a rash on the intimate parts of the body, itching and pain in the lower abdomen and fever.
Treatment
The hospital should be consulted during bleeding. So it will be easier for a specialist to detect the source from which blood is released. It may be the uterus, vagina or cervix. Do not be shy about this, because it is important to establish the exact cause.
Brown discharge with menopause is not always dangerous. To identify their cause, gynecologists recommend using a special swab. Other diseases need to be ruled out here. Stains on linen sometimes indicate ailments of the urinary organs or rectum. If after removing the tampon from the vagina there is blood on it, then it is necessary to inform the attending gynecologist about this.
The reason for visiting a doctor is mainly prolonged uninterrupted blood discharge with menopause. One-time bleeding in most cases occurs due to mechanical factors. If you recently underwent a gynecological examination or ultrasound, after which discharge appeared during the day, then there is no reason for worries.
When a secretion occurs due to vaginal dryness, the doctor may prescribe vaginal suppositories that contain estrogen. They will have a beneficial effect on the epithelium.
With inflammation of the vagina, a smear should be taken to study the flora. If bacteria are the cause of the infection, then antibiotics are prescribed. Candidiasis is treated with antifungal agents.
After 40 years, women often have polyps on the uterus. Sometimes such formations do not require therapy. The doctor simply watches how they mutate and monitors their condition. This applies to formations of a benign nature.
To examine a polyp on the cervix, you need to do a biopsy and take a cytology test. If the formation is large, accompanied by bleeding, it is removed. Then a histological analysis is performed. If cancer is detected on the neck, then surgical intervention is required. After surgery, chemotherapy is prescribed, as well as radiotherapy.
Diagnosis of endometrial cancer is carried out using a biopsy, hysteroscopy, ultrasound and other methods. If there is a suspicion of this diagnosis, then this should not be delayed. The sooner cancer is detected, the sooner the operation will be done to remove the uterus.
If bleeding occurs during menopause, it may mean that you have a vaginal cancer. This disease comprehends older women and is extremely rare. Still, you need to try to exclude it as soon as possible. The concomitant symptoms of cancer are as follows: pain in the perineum, a feeling of fullness, problems with urination. The disease is treated surgically and with chemotherapy.
The presence of fibroids along with hormonal therapy may cause blood secretion. In particular, the disease appears before the onset of the menopause, since sex hormones participate in its development. During menopause, the size of the fibroids decreases. Treatment depends on the degree of its progression, the number of formations and the severity of symptoms. Drug therapy or surgery to remove pathological nodes is prescribed. In some situations, a woman has to agree to eliminate the uterus.
Conclusion
To avoid unwanted gynecological diseases, it is important to understand what changes can be expected at a certain age. Menopause in women, the symptoms and treatment of negative manifestations of which require increased attention, occurs on an individual basis, so you should take a balanced position - no need to worry too much about new conditions. At the same time, do not forget that at this age a regular visit to the gynecologist is mandatory.