Menopause is defined as the cessation of periods (or “amenorrhea”) for more than a year, without an identified cause, and occurring between the ages of 45 and 55 (at 51 on average in France). According to Inserm, 87% of women have at least one symptom of menopause, in addition to the cessation of periods. 20 to 25% suffer from severe disorders that affect their quality of life. And only 6% take hormonal treatment.
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What are the main effects of menopause?
There are many unpleasant and even disabling side effects and changes due to menopause. Hot flashes, fatigue, irritability, headaches, urinary problems, sleep problems, reduced libido, joint pain... The list could be extended. Without forgetting the increased risk of certain diseases such as osteoporosis and increasing cardiovascular disorders which can affect postmenopausal women. If some women go through this period of change without paying much attention to it and without experiencing any significant inconvenience, others see their lives turned upside down and are not spared. For the latter, solutions exist.
What are the treatments for the side effects of menopause?
Different treatments are available when menopause sets in. We often think of menopause hormone replacement therapy (THM), which combines estrogen and progestin and which can be suggested by the treating doctor or gynecologist. However, if you have a history of breast cancer, it is not possible to receive THM. Alternatives exist, such as herbal medicine or alternative medicine. For example, acupuncture is effective in reducing side effects such as hot flashes.
It is also advisable to adopt a healthier lifestyle when menopause (or at its first signs) occurs. It is better to stop smoking, consume alcohol very moderately, practice regular physical activity and eat healthily by banishing excess sugar.
Which doctor to support menopause?
When the signs of menopause arrive, it is better to find good medical support, who can advise you and direct you towards the appropriate treatment. This may be your gynecologist, your general practitioner or a midwife (who are increasingly replacing gynecologists who are insufficiently staffed). It may also be an endocrinologist.
In addition to traditional medicine, alternative medicine practitioners can have good effects on discomforts such as hot flashes or a naturopath, if you have, for example, digestion problems.
Treatment and care linked to menopause: what reimbursement from mutual insurance?
Several medical examinations may be necessary during menopause. Knowing, for example, that the risk of developing osteoporosis is higher after the production of ovarian hormones stops, a bone densitometry may prove useful. This reference examination makes it possible to measure bone mineral density in two parts of the body: the spine and the neck of the femur. It is covered by Health Insurance on medical prescription and for patients at risk, reimbursed at 70% based on a price set at €39.96. You will therefore be reimbursed €27.97. Your mutual insurance company will be able to partially or completely complete this reimbursement. To find the mutual insurance contract suited to your needs, do not hesitate to use online comparators.