The root cause of menopausal symptoms and aging manifestations in postmenopausal women is the lack of female hormones, specifically estrogen, which is essential for women's health. Where does estrogen come from? It mainly comes from the secretion of the ovaries.
The earliest declining organ in a woman's body is the ovary. What are the functions of the ovary? Besides providing mature follicles for women of childbearing age to complete reproductive functions, it also secretes female hormones—estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen maintains a woman's appearance, making the skin delicate, and more importantly, it protects bones, the cardiovascular and nervous systems, and prevents Alzheimer's disease. Estrogen protects women from head to toe, while progesterone assists estrogen in completing reproductive functions and prevents excessive proliferation of the endometrium caused by estrogen, avoiding endometrial cancer. Hence, progesterone is also known as the “protector of the uterus!”
Before and after menopause, as ovarian function declines, estrogen decreases sharply, and most women experience varying degrees of hot flashes, sweating, irritability, depression, insomnia, and other menopausal symptoms. These symptoms affect women's normal life and work, and may even lead to thoughts of despair. These menopausal symptoms are perceptible. At the same time, there are greater imperceptible risks such as cardiovascular problems, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease.
With improving living conditions and increasing life expectancy, from the average menopause age of 50 to 80 years, women have over 30 years to live without the protection of estrogen. After the lack of estrogen, many diseases will follow. The International Menopause Society recommends hormone therapy (supplementing estrogen and progesterone) for women post-menopause under appropriate circumstances. Supplementing the missing female hormones can not only improve various menopausal symptoms but also reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases, protect bones, reduce osteoporosis and fractures, and prevent Alzheimer's disease.
While hormone therapy post-menopause has many benefits, it also carries risks. Therefore, doctors will conduct relevant examinations and formulate individualized plans based on each person's different conditions.
Of course, postmenopausal women not only need hormone therapy but also comprehensive health management, including guidance on a healthy lifestyle, nutrition, exercise, and mental health.