Menopause

I. Introduction - The term menopause is derived from Greek Meno (months) and pause (cessation). The word means cessation of menstruation. - Cliamacteric which is by dictionary definition is period of life when fertility and sexual activity decline. It is a wide term leading to: *Pre Menopause *Peri Menopause *Post Menopause

Perimenopause Definition:
- It is 3-5 years period before menopause with increase frequent irregular anovulatory bleeding followed by episodes of ammenorrhea and intermittent menopausal symptoms. Menopause: - The point in time at which menstrual cycles permanently cease. It is a retrospective diagnosis after 12 months of ammenorrhea women classified as being menopause. - Mean age 51 years.

II. Pathophysiology

The number of primordial follicle decline even before birth but dramatic just before menopause. Increase FSH, LH from about 10 years before menopause. Close to menopause: There will be -anovulation -inadequate Leuteal phase decrease progesterone but not astrogen level lead to DUB and endometrial Hyperplasia - at menopause dramatic decrease of astrogenmenstruation ceases and symptoms of menopause started. But still ovarian stroma produce small androstenedione and testosterone but, main postmenopausal astrogen is estrone produced by Peripheral fat from adrenal androgen.

III. Symptoms of Menopause:

4. Atrophic Changes Vagina *vaginitis due to thinning of epithelium, PH and lubrication. *dysparnuedue to decrease vascularity and dryness Decrease size of cervix and mucus with retract of segumocolumnar (SC) junction into the endocervical canal. Decrease size of the uterus, shrinking of myoma & adenomyosis. Decrease size of ovaries, become non palpable. Pelvic floor - relaxation prolapse. Urinary tract atrophy lose of urethral tone caruncle Hypertonic Bladder - detrusor instability Decrease size of breast and benign cysts.
5. 6.

Skin Collagen collagen & thickness elasticity of the skin. Reversl of premenstural syndrom

IV. Late effect of Menopause

Risk factors: Gender: more in women (male to female ratio is 1:3) BMI Race *high in white women *moderate in Asian women *lowest in Black women Family History +ve Life style smoking *caffeine intake *alcohol *increase in protein diet *decrease in Calcium and Vit D intake Steriod Medication Exogenous medication - Cushing Syndrome

Diagnosis (DEXA-Daual Energy X-ray Absorptometry) -for Assessment of bone densmetry to demonstrate if bone desity above or below fracture threshold.

Prevention improve lifestyle - regular exercise - eliminate smoking & alcohol Medication a. ERT (Estrogen Replacement Therapy) b. Biphosphonate (Fosamax) that inhibit osteoclastic activity & minimal S/E c. Raloxifene (Evista) is selective oestrogen receptors moderator [SERMs] that bind with a high affinity to estrogen receptors. It has some oestrogen like effect e.g. bone density, LDL Cholesterol [cardioprotective] but act as estrogen antagonist on endometriam and breast. d. Calcitonin inhibit osteoclastic activity + analgesic effect of e. Calcium Supplement & Vit D.

D. Cardiovascular Disease

CVD is now the leading cause of death among post menopausal women -before menopause, risk of heart attack is 1/3 of man -after menopause increase in women become the same of man at an age of 70years Because of effect of oestrogen: *Before menopause: increase HDL & decrease LDL. *decrease Atherogenic plague formation by direct action on vascular endonelium.

After menopause: -HDL : LDL ratio become closer to male ratio. -Observational Studies *HRT decrease mortality by 30%. But recent epidomalogical studies do not show a beneficial effect of HRT on CHD but there is increase number of Breast Cancer when compared with non users HRT.

E. Urogenital System
Embryologically female genital tract & lower urinary system develop in close proximity from primitive urogenital sinus. The Urethra and vagina have a high concentration of estrogen receptors and there is significant evidence to support one use of estrogen in treatment of urogenital symptoms such as (recurrent UTI, vaginitis ad dysparunia). AL Zheimers Disease -prevalence of Dementia as high 50% by age 85 years. -ALZheimer s disease account for 60-65% of cases. -observation studies decrease risk of Al Zheimers by 1/3 among women taking HRT. -it has beneficial effect on brain function but no randomized studies to confirm observational data.

Diagnosis and Investigations:

The Triad of: -Hot flushes -Amenorrhea -increase FSH > 15 i.u./L Before starting treatment: You should perform -breast self examination -mammogram -pelvic exam (Pap Smear) -weight, Blood pressure No indication to perform -bone density -Endometrial Biopsy but any bleeding should be investigated before starting any treatment.

Treatment:

Estrogen a minimum of 2mg of oestradiol is needed to mentain bone mass and relief symptoms of menopause. Women with uterus add progestin at last 10 days to prevent endometrial Hyperplastic Sequential Regimens - used in patient close to menopause. Oestrogen in the first of 28 day per pack & Oestrogen & Progetin in 2nd 1/12 of 28 day pack. Combined continuous therapy who has Progesterone everyday is useful for women who are few years past the menopause and who do not to have vaginal bleeding. There is evidence that increase risk of endometrial cancer with sequential regimens for > 5 years while on combined continuous regimens decrease risk of Cancer.

Benefits of HRT:

Vagina- vaginal thickness of epithelium dysparunia & vaginitis. Urinary tract enhancing normal bladder function. Osteoporosis decrease fractures by more than 50% CVS decrease by 30% by observation studies but recent studies shows no benefits. Colon Cancer decrease up to 50%

Confirmed Risk:

Endometrial CA eliminated by 1. Add Progesterone 2. Using selective oestrogen receptors modulators (SERMS). Gall Bladder Disease -ERT: * triglyceride *total cholesterol *increase risk of Gall stone Breast Cancer risk with long term HRT adds -2/1000 after 5 years 6/1000 10years -12/1000 after 15 years background risk 45/1000 betweenthe age of 50 and 70 nott taken HRT

Contraindication to HRT

Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding Acute liver disease. -chronic impaired liver functions Acute vascular thrombosis Breast Cancer

Upper Reproductive Tract Causes:

Atrophic Endometritis Endometrial Polyp Endometrial Hyperplasia Endometrial Ca

Diagnosis:

GIT Aitology -rectal exam -stool for occult blood -Proctosigmoidoscopy Lower Reproductive Tract Causes can be identified by: *Pelvic Exam *Pap Smear & appropriate Biopsy

Upper Reproductive Tract Causes Can be Identified only by: Tissue Diagnosis Obtained by Endometrial Evaluation
1. Endometrial Biopsy but -helpful only if tre. biopsy inaccurate for diagnosis of Polyp & miss a sufficient number of hyperplasia. 2. Hysterosonography is performed by infusion saline in the uterine cavity to identify endomterial polyps. Endometrial thickness <10mm indicate risk of hyperplasiatissue should be obtained for histological studies. 3. Fractional dilation and curettage (D&C) is the good standard for evaluating post menopausal bleeding. It is performed in 2 stage: A. Initially endocervical canal is curretted obtaining the first specimen to rule out invasion of Cervix by Ca. B. Then uterine cavity is curreted obtaining second specimen to assess endometrial neoplasia or malignancy. 4. Hysteroscopy performed at the time of D&C for Polyp & operative resection. 5. Pap Smear have poor sensitivity for endometrial cancer. only 40% cases are identified.

Post Menopausal Bleeding:

Vaginal bleeding occurs after 12months of Amenorrhea in middle age women who are not receiving replacement therapy. It can never be dysfunctional or anovulatory in nature (with lose of functional ovarian follicle bleeding from normal ovulatory cycle is impossible).

Causes:

Endometrial Ca: The most common Gynecological malignancy. -Endometrial neoplasia can progress from simple hyperplasia to investive Ca caused by unopposed oestrogen. The mechanism of many End. Ca. is prolonged oestrogen stimulation of the endometrium unopposed by progesterone. The source may be: a. Exogenous Estrogen (E2) (ERT) b. Peripheral Aromatization of Androstendione to estrone obesety or PCO c. Estrogen (E2) producing tumor (like granuloza cell ovarian tumour) d. Tamoxifen Stimulation of Endometrium

Risk Factors:

No pregnancy Prolonged Reproductive Life late menopause Unopposed estrogen Triad of diabetes, hypertension & obesity

Differential Diagnosis can originate from:

Gastro intestinal (GI) tract -Hemorhoids -anal fissures -colorectal cancer Lower Reproductive Tract Causes: -Atrophic vaginitis -vaginal fissures/tumors -vulvar lesion/tumors -cervical lesion/tumors

Management:
I. Endometrial Hyperplasia: influenced by age, history, & fertility desire. A. Progestin Therapy -patient not cardidates for surgery -desire her fertility For simple Hyperplasia (no atypia) medoxy reducing progesterone for last 10days of regular cycle follow up biopsy in 3-6 months. For simple Hyperplasia with Atypia lower rate of response to Progestin. Follow up biopsy in 3/12.

B.

Surgical Treatment Indicated for: Premenopausal hyperplasia with atypia and not desire preservation of her fertility or for post menopausal patient. 1. Total Hysterectomy a. abdomen adhesion b. vaginal prolapse 2. D&C alone may on occasion be Therapeutic and Curative with on further bleeding & normal histology on follow up biopsy. *Endometrial Cancer management is primarily surgical with other modalities as adjuvanits, depending on tumour grade & stage at diagnosis.