Patient's question:
The lady next door's menstrual periods are becoming less frequent. She says she's almost menopausal. Is it because her periods are getting fewer that she's approaching menopause?Doctor's answer:
The normal menstrual volume for women is 30-50ml. When the menstrual volume is less than 20ml, it is referred to as hypomenorrhea. There are many reasons that can cause hypomenorrhea, such as qi stagnation and blood stasis, cold coagulating blood stasis, qi and blood deficiency, insufficient kidney qi, and so on. Therefore, a low menstrual volume does not necessarily mean menopause is approaching. Of course, if a woman is older than 45, the decline in hormone levels and ovarian function can also lead to a reduction in menstrual volume. Therefore, to identify the cause and determine if menopause is imminent, it is recommended to promptly undergo medical examinations including a six-panel sex hormone test, gynecological color Doppler ultrasound, and ovarian function assessment.