Can women take estrogen supplements after menopause?

As we all know, when women enter menopause, their ovarian function begins to slowly decline and menopause begins. After menopause, due to the influence of hormones, a series of geriatric diseases will follow, becoming a problem for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Therefore, after entering menopause, female friends need to start paying attention to these diseases in order to prevent and treat them early. So, can estrogen be supplemented after menopause? Let’s take a detailed look at it below.

Menopause represents the decline of ovarian function, depletion of estrogen secretion, cessation of menstruation, and termination of reproductive function. It is generally divided into three stages: premenopause, menopause and postmenopause. Menopause is calculated based on the time of the last menstrual period for women over 40 years old. Most women go through menopause between the ages of 45 and 55.

The sudden and obvious lack of estrogen after menopause can cause some pain and discomfort, which may occur in some people before menopause. It is often manifested by changes in mood and emotions, irritability, excitability, insomnia, anxiety, inner uneasiness, depression, paroxysmal facial flushing, hot flashes, sweating, dry and itchy skin, sometimes a crawling feeling on the skin, loss of skin elasticity, increased wrinkles, gradual muscle relaxation, occasional pain, fatigue or weakness, headache, dizziness and unstable blood pressure, etc. These symptoms are called menopausal syndrome.

Can I take estrogen supplements after menopause? Yes, but it must be supplemented under the guidance of a doctor.

Effects of estrogen after menopause

1. Senile vaginitis

The ovaries of normal women of childbearing age secrete estrogen, which causes the vaginal mucosal epithelium to proliferate and thicken, and has strong antibacterial ability. After menopause, women's ovarian function declines, estrogen levels decrease, glycogen content in epithelial cells decreases, and the pH value in the vagina rises, changing from acidic to alkaline, which is not conducive to the survival of lactobacilli in the vagina, resulting in a weakening of the vagina's self-cleaning function. At the same time, due to the atrophy and thinning of the vaginal wall and insufficient blood supply, local resistance is reduced, making it easy to be infected by other parasitic bacteria in the vagina, causing senile vaginitis. It is often caused by common pathogenic bacteria, such as Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Escherichia coli or anaerobic bacteria.

2. Osteoporosis

After menopause, estrogen deficiency can cause increased bone absorption, intestinal calcium absorption disorders, decreased calcitonin secretion, reduced bone formation and weakened inhibitory effect on osteoclasts, resulting in increased bone loss. Starting from the menopausal transition period, the average annual bone loss rate is 1% to 3%, or even 5%, which lasts for 5 to 10 years. Then the bone mass is relatively stable, with less loss for about 10 to 20 years. After the age of 70, bone loss accelerates again with aging.

3. Osteoarthritis

The loss of sex hormone protection and abnormal levels of related cytokines in menopausal women play an important role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has a certain effect on alleviating the pain symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.

4. Menopausal urinary incontinence

As women gradually enter old age from perimenopause to menopause, their organs throughout the body are changing, and the changes in the urinary and reproductive systems are becoming increasingly significant. Estrogen deficiency causes relaxation of the pubic muscles, fascia, ligaments, etc., and a decrease in the function of supporting tissues, making it impossible to maintain normal urethral position and bladder tension. When coughing, holding your breath, constipation, etc. increase abdominal pressure, urine will flow out involuntarily. Its characteristic is that there is no enuresis under normal conditions, but urine flows out automatically when the abdominal pressure suddenly increases.

5. Urinary tract infection in menopausal women

Causes of urinary tract infection in elderly women: The decrease in keratinized cells reduces the self-cleaning function of the vagina, making it easier for bacteria to multiply in the vestibule and vagina. Although women are prone to urinary tract infection, whether or not they develop the disease depends mainly on the body's internal factors, and is closely related to the body's weakened resistance, changes in the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the urethra, and abnormal internal environment.

The above is all about whether estrogen can be supplemented after menopause. I believe everyone has a certain understanding of this issue. Estrogen can be supplemented after menopause, but don’t supplement estrogen blindly. It is best to go to the hospital for a comprehensive examination and then supplement according to your own body. You should also arrange reasonable living habits and healthy diet in your daily life.