Long-Term Consequences of Menopause Victor manuel vargas hernandez Academic of the Mexican Academy of Surgery Secretary of the Mexican Association for the study of Climacteric

Abstract

The dramatic changes in sex hormone levels that occur during the transition to menopause and beyond are responsible for the long-term consequences, which are of primary importance to healthy aging in women. Sex hormones have a vital physiological role in maintaining the health and normal functioning of various organs; like bone, heart and brain. Disease activity is highly dependent on estrogen exposure; cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders frequently occur during postmenopause. Even cognitive decline is related to hypoestrogenism during the menopausal transition. Several lines of evidence indicate that the presence, duration and severity of menopausal vasomotor symptoms, especially hot flashes, not only have an impact on quality of life, but are biomarkers of increased risk of chronic conditions, which require prevention strategies, including menopausal hormone therapy. Nutrition, exercise, and other lifestyle measures, use of appropriate hormonal treatments in symptomatic women during the "window" of opportunity (under 60 years or within 10 years after menopause) can significantly counteract the process of aging of the female body. Meanwhile an individualized menopausal hormone therapy helps postmenopausal women overcome the burden of symptoms, including those related to Genitourinary Menopause Syndrome.