Phu Tho She lost her period at the age of 36 but thought it was just a common endocrine disorder. It wasn't until she had hot flashes and insomnia that she went to the doctor to discover early menopause. The woman with two children recently continuously had hot flashes 3-4 times a day, day and night. Many nights while sleeping, she was hot, sweaty, and had to wipe her body and change clothes before she could go back to sleep. Prolonged insomnia makes her tired, stressed, irritable, moody and often thinks negatively. Vaginal dryness also makes her avoid sex, creating more psychological pressure. When the symptoms upset her quality of life, she went to the Hanoi Center for Gender Medicine, Hanoi Andrology and Infertility Hospital. Hormonal tests showed that ovarian function was seriously impaired, and the doctor diagnosed her with early menopause. MScNT Pham Minh Ngoc, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Center for Gender Medicine, said that premature menopause is a condition of menopause that occurs before the age of 40. This condition is recorded in about 5-10% of women with symptoms of secondary amenorrhea but is easily overlooked, especially in young women. In addition to menstrual disorders or amenorrhea, patients may have a series of symptoms due to estrogen deficiency such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disorders, mood changes, vaginal dryness, pain during sex and decreased libido. What is worrying is that the consequences do not just stop at the immediate unpleasant symptoms. Prolonged estrogen deficiency can increase the risk of bone density loss, osteoporosis, bone fractures and cardiovascular problems, affecting long-term health. "Many young women mistake these symptoms for stress, endocrine disorders or common signs of aging, so they delay going to the doctor. When detected late, the symptoms last longer and significantly affect health and quality of life," said Dr. Ngoc. Do not arbitrarily supplement hormones. After assessing risk factors and eliminating contraindications, the woman is advised by a doctor to use hormone therapy combined with moisturizing gel. After about a month of following the regimen, hot flashes are significantly reduced and sleep is more stable. The dryness during sex also improved, helping her physical and mental health gradually recover. Currently, she is instructed to have regular follow-up visits to evaluate treatment response, adjust dosage and individualize the regimen when needed. According to Dr. Ngoc, hormone therapy is one of the important treatment methods for women with early menopause if there are no contraindications. Besides controlling symptoms such as hot flashes, insomnia, and vaginal dryness, appropriate treatment also contributes to protecting bone and cardiovascular health. However, hormones are not a method that can be used on their own. Patients need to be examined, tested and comprehensively evaluated by a specialist before treatment. Buying and using hormone supplements of unknown origin can pose health risks. Experts recommend that women, especially under 40 years old, should not ignore menstrual disorders or prolonged amenorrhea. When amenorrhea occurs with hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, vaginal dryness or mood changes, you should see a specialist to determine the cause.
