Castelo-Branco C, Rostro F
Department of Gynecology Obstetrics and Neonatology, Hospital Clínic Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Minerva Ginecol. 2006 Apr;58(2):137-52.
Menopause signifies the permanent cessation of ovarian function and the end of a woman's reproductive potential. A universal experience in women's aging, it is the culmination of many years of reproductive aging; a process that unfolds as a continuum from birth through ovarian senescence to the menopausal transition and the postmenopause. The menopausal transition is known to play a major role in the etiology of many symptoms common in middle age and may contribute to chronic conditions and disorders of aging such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Recent data suggest an unacceptable increase in morbidity in a number of women using hormone therapy (HT). Thus, during the past few years, many women and doctors have revised their opinions on HT for menopause-related symptoms, and a substantial number of individuals have discontinued its use because of concerns about side-effects, owing to this, numerous alternatives to HT are promoted, and researches have pointed out the interest in a group of molecules such as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) (i.e. raloxifene) and phytoestrogens. Further studies may open a new panorama in patient-specific management of postmenopausal health. Careful assessment of the midlife woman allows for individualized risk-benefit analysis with the formulation of a specific health management plan.
绝经标志着卵巢功能的永久性停止以及女性生殖潜能的终结。作为女性衰老过程中的普遍经历，它是多年生殖衰老的 culmination；这一过程是一个连续体，从出生开始，历经卵巢衰老、绝经过渡直至绝经后期。已知绝经过渡在许多中年常见症状的病因中起主要作用，并且可能导致诸如骨质疏松症、心血管疾病和癌症等慢性疾病和衰老相关疾病。近期数据表明，许多使用激素疗法（HT）的女性发病率出现了不可接受的上升。因此，在过去几年中，许多女性和医生对用于治疗绝经相关症状的 HT 的看法发生了改变，并且相当多的人因担心副作用而停止使用它，鉴于此，HT 的众多替代方法得到推广，并且研究指出了对一组分子如选择性雌激素受体调节剂（SERM）（即雷洛昔芬）和植物雌激素的关注。进一步的研究可能会为绝经后健康的个体化管理开启新的局面。对中年女性进行仔细评估有助于进行个体化的风险效益分析，并制定具体的健康管理计划。
