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Post-Menopausal Syndrome
Jonathan Bland
Pathophysiology
Professor Lori McGowan
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Running Header: Post-Menopausal Syndrome
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Running Header: Post-Menopausal Syndrome
All sorts of vaginal changes occur with women during and after menopause. Some
women experience vaginal bleeding after menopause. This is a condition called,
atrophic vaginitis. Which can make sex very painful because the vagina is does not
become lubricated as it normally would be during sex prior to menopause. Most often
times the vagina becomes dry and irritated. Infections can occur and be treated with
prescription medication. Diminished estrogen effects all the tissues in the vagina.
Because of the lower estrogen levels the vaginal canal shrinks in length and size. The
blood flow to the vagina also tends to decrease.
Women currently going through menopause can have long term effects to the
heart disease due to changes in cholesterol levels. The patient can also have bone pain
and tenderness. Osteoporosis is another symptom of menopause that is related to joint
pain. Bone loss is fast in the first years after menopause but continues as increase as
the amount of estrogen produced by the ovaries drops dramatically. (Isoflavones.info,
2010).
The skin also goes through significant changes during menopause. Such as
wrinkling and increased dryness, hair texture, thinning of the lining in the vagina,
sagging breasts and so on. Additionally, during and after menopause there is rapid
bone loss in women which may even result in osteoporosis. Menopause occurs when a
woman stops ovulating and her monthly period (menstruation) ceases (Isoflavones.info,
2010).
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Running Header: Post-Menopausal Syndrome
Works Cited
Gould, B. E. (2006). Pathophysiology for the Health Professionals, 3rd Edition. Philadelphia: W.B.
Sauders.
McGregor, J., & Shulman, L. (2008, Oct). Vasomotor Symptoms:Managing the transition from
perimenopause to postmenopause. Retrieved April 4, 2011, from OBManagement:
http://www.obgmanagement.com/supplement.asp?aid=6817