Patient's question:
Doctor, hello! My mother is 60 years old this year. In the past three months, she has been deeply troubled by menopausal syndrome, feeling mentally weak, reluctant to speak, experiencing a sense of loneliness, poor sleep, hot flashes, palpitations, and globus hystericus. She consulted at our local traditional Chinese medicine hospital.Doctor's answer:
Menopausal syndrome is a long-term cluster of symptoms, generally appearing around the time of menopause. Your mother experiencing it at 60 is considered late. In general, for more severe symptoms, estrogen treatment can provide temporary relief, combined with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment. However, when seeking TCM treatment, it is essential to consult an experienced practitioner, as otherwise, it may sometimes have the opposite effect.The indications for estrogen medication, meaning who is eligible for estrogen treatment:
1. No history of gynecological cancer.
2. Normal cervical cancer screening (Pap smear), no abnormalities in breast exams, no abnormalities in endometrial ultrasound, no uterine fibroids or ovarian tumors.
3. Severe symptoms significantly impacting daily life.
In these cases, estrogen is recommended, which we call hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Based on the changes in symptoms after medication, the dosage can be gradually reduced or discontinued, while TCM can help maintain relief for a period. Among the patients treated in my clinic, the longest duration of HRT (with intermittent use) was five years, while some experienced relief within a few months. However, not all patients experience the same outcome, though recurring symptoms are relatively uncommon.
HRT must be taken under a doctor's prescription, as estrogen treatment alone has very serious side effects on the uterus and breasts. Therefore, it should be used in combination with progesterone under medical guidance.