Doctor Chen, I am 47 years old this year, my menstrual cycle is disturbed, it has been several months since it happened, and I am taking progesterone. However, last month, my estrogen levels increased. What could be the reason for this? Can medication be taken to delay menopause? Are there any side effects of long-term progesterone use?
Generally, women enter the perimenopausal period around the age of 47, during this time, the hormone levels in the body undergo changes. As women enter the perimenopausal period, ovarian function has deteriorated close to exhaustion. In order to maintain endocrine stability, the hypothalamus and pituitary gland may secrete excessive gonadotropins that act on the ovaries, stimulating the ovaries to secrete estrogen, leading to an increase in estrogen levels.
Normally, estrogen levels decrease after menopause, but the body has not yet adapted to the changes in endocrine function, so there may be fluctuations in estrogen levels, resulting in an increase. As ovarian function declines, estrogen levels gradually decrease.
Menopausal symptoms are a natural physiological phenomenon in women, and it is normal for a 47-year-old woman to experience menopausal symptoms. Once women enter menopause, it is generally irreversible as ovarian function declines.
After birth, women have a certain number of eggs in their ovaries, which are consumed every month during menstruation. If the eggs are completely consumed or there are very few left, menopause is reached, which is a natural biological process for women. As age increases, ovarian function deteriorates, the reserve of eggs diminishes, and when the eggs in the ovaries are depleted, ovarian reserve function declines, leading to menopause; this is a normal physiological phenomenon.
Currently, there is no medication that can reverse ovarian function, so menopause cannot be delayed. While medication can induce menstruation in women close to menopause or in early menopause, menstruation does not delay menopause or restore ovarian function. It is similar to cosmetic procedures or using cosmetics, which may make a woman look younger on the outside, but cannot reverse her age or rejuvenate her body and organs.
Women in menopause often experience menstrual irregularities, hot flashes, sweating, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, etc. Seeking treatment at a reputable hospital under a doctor’s guidance for hormone regulation is recommended. Additionally, maintaining a regular lifestyle, consuming nutritious food, exercising regularly, maintaining a stable mindset, and delaying ovarian aging are advised.
If experiencing menstrual irregularities, progesterone can be used under a doctor’s guidance. Progesterone has few side effects, common ones being gastrointestinal problems such as bloating, nausea, diarrhea, muscle soreness. Some individuals may also experience headaches or dizziness, which disappear upon discontinuation of the medication.
However, prolonged or high-dose use of progesterone may lead to liver damage and elevated liver enzymes. Some women who use progesterone long-term may develop skin discoloration, abnormal blood lipid metabolism, and an increased risk of thrombotic diseases.
Doctor Chen Qinghua Studios Medical Advice
