What Post-Menopausal Women Should Ask During Their Well Woman Exam

The menopausal and post-menopausal periods are natural life stages all women who reach middle age and older will experience. Said conditions precipitate a number of physical, mental and emotional changes that can be difficult to cope with and openly discuss, especially with their doctors. However, keeping mum about specific issues could precipitate unnecessary complications that result in greater discomfort levels and a diminished quality of life.

Typically occurring in the late forties or early fifties, menopause is a normal life event in which a woman’s reproductive system rapidly decreases the production of sexual and reproductive hormones such as estrogen and progesterone.

Managing Your Moods

Menopausal and post-menopausal individuals might experience mental manifestations like anxiety, depression, significant mood fluctuations and cognitive function struggles such as concentration challenges and memory loss.

Physical Matters

Women going through various menopausal stages might witness physical issues including fatigue, hot flashes, skin disorders, insomnia, increased sweating, hair alterations, weight gain, joint problems, and a decreased libido.

In addition to many of the preceding manifestations, some women also experience vaginal problems. Medical researchers opine that vaginal issues, especially pain and dryness have become an increasingly significant and problematic menopausal manifestation because women are reluctant to mention said occurrences to their healthcare providers.

Study Results

Scientific researchers have concluded that the vast majority of all menopausal subjects neglect to discuss post-menopausal issues with their doctors. A recent study was conducted by medical professionals representing the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research based in Portland, Oregon, the findings of which were presented during last fall’s Annual Meeting of The North American Menopause Society, also abbreviated as NAMS

Examiners investigated more than 1,500 menopausal subjects. Almost half were discovered to have experienced some type of vaginal problems such as itching, pain or odor. That said, less than 40 percent of the symptomatic cases admitted to discussing said occurrences with their doctors during routine check-ups.

The lack of dialogue initiation was not merely limited to patients. Researchers further concluded that doctors can also reluctant to spark conversation on the subject. The study further claims that, of those examinees who fid discuss menopausal vaginal issues, the physician was the conversation starter in slightly more than 20 percent of the occasions.

What Is The Stumbling Block?

Researchers tend to believe that many patients or simply embarrassed to discuss vaginal issues or possess to great a degree of self-consciousness to initiate discussion. That said, said scientists suggest that physicians often feel reluctant to press the matter and would much rather wait for their patients to bring said matters to the forefront.

Potential Complications Of Dryness

Medical professionals caution that menopausal vaginal issues should not be ignored and could elevate one’s risk of untoward complications. As menopause progresses, the vaginal region undergoes several structural changes due to the systemic lack of estrogen such as atrophying, thinning and a loss of flexibility. Said occurrences contribute to physical manifestations like soreness, discomfort and itching. Over time and, if left unchecked, these symptoms could precipitate more significant maladies like an increased chance of developing infections and experiencing painful, unfulfilling intercourse.

Post- Menopausal Problems Are Manageable

Researchers who performed the Kaiser Permanente study and many other healthcare professionals caution that women who neglect to speak to their doctors about menopausal vaginal issues are only hurting themselves because most of these said maladies are treatable through the administration of remedial protocols such as medications, natural efforts like dietary alterations and estrogen replacement therapy.