Assessment
Signs and symptoms of menopause are usually enough to indicate that a woman has started the menopausal transition. Your doctors will advise you on the most appropriate tests to assess your risk factors. Abdali Hospital's Menopause Clinic has developed a series of assessment programs most appropriate to each person. All assessment programs include an initial consultation and tests performed on the same day and followed by a consultation a week after when your doctor will discuss your results and a care plan tailored to your needs. Our specialist team can advise the most appropriate assessment program for you. These range from:
- Base menopause assessment: It includes a consultation with a gynaecologist and internal medicine consultant, where pelvis ultrasound and smear test are performed to confirm diagnosis and assess the main cervix risks
- Base menopause and breast assessment: It includes base menopause assessment as well as a breast consultation, and if needed mammogram and breast ultrasound. This is appropriate for women above 40 who have not performed a breast assessment within the past year
- Preventive menopause assessment: In addition to the base menopause assessment, it includes a bone density scan and a series of lab tests that determine additional risk factors, such as osteoporosis and hormonal deficiencies
- Comprehensive menopause assessment: Includes all the tests in the preventive menopause assessment as well as breast assessment for complete peace of mind
Alternatively you can have an initial consultation with your preferred consultant.
Treatment
Menopause treatments focus on relieving your symptoms and preventing or managing related, sometimes chronic, conditions that may occur during post-menopause. Treatments may include:
- Lifestyle counselling, focused on nutrition, physical exercise, pelvic floor education, healthy sleep, mental wellbeing and sexual health
- Hormone therapy, different treatments are available, and your doctor will advice which one is recommended for you
- Low-dose antidepressants, that help emotional wellbeing and hot flushes
- Non-hormonal medications, for specific symptoms or when hormone therapy is not possible
- Specific risk factor medications, depending on individual needs, doctors may recommend medication to prevent or treat specific conditions such as osteoporosis, blood pressure, etc.
Menopause Symptoms
Menopause can be natural or driven by surgical removal of ovaries for medical reasons. The natural menopause process is staged in three phases:
- Perimenopause: It usually starts in a woman's 40s and lasts until menopause. During perimenopause, many women may experience menopause symptoms, although they are still having menstrual cycles and can get pregnant
- Menopause: It is the point when a woman no longer has menstrual periods for twelve consecutive months. This is the period when symptoms are mostly manifested
- Postmenopause: The phase after a woman has not had her menstrual period for a year. Some women continue experiencing menopausal symptoms. More important in this stage is that, as a result of a lower level of estrogen, women are at increased risk for a number of health conditions, such as osteoporosis and heart disease
Symptoms, including changes in menstruation, are different for every woman. Most likely, you'll experience some irregularity in your periods before they end. In addition, the following are indictors of menopause:
- Hot flashes
- Vaginal dryness and discomfort
- Chills and night sweats
- Sleeping problems
- Urinary urgency
- Emotional changes (irritability, mood swings, mild depression)
- Dry skin, dry eyes or dry mouth
- Weight gain and lowered metabolism
- Thinning hair and dry skin
- Loss of breast fullness
- Low energy
