Khaberni - Dr. Vera Seriougina indicates that the hormonal changes accompanying aging are often construed as fatigue or stress, while many of these symptoms have a clear biochemical basis.
The doctor explains how hormonal imbalances affect the quality of life for both men and women.
She says, "Hormonal changes affect both men and women. In men, this process is known as male menopause. For women, it begins long before menopause, during the perimenopausal stage when menstruation continues and reproductive function is officially active. Therefore, this phase often goes unnoticed."
She added that the same hormones are evaluated in both sexes, including Follicle-stimulating hormone, Luteinizing hormone, Prolactin, Testosterone, Progesterone, and Estradiol. The importance of these indicators is not only their absolute levels but also their ratios and balance among them.
She pointed out that testosterone levels in men usually begin to decline after the age of thirty, at a rate of 1 percent annually if there is no weight gain or chronic illness involved. Weight gain accelerates this process, accompanied by decreased physical activity, abdominal fat accumulation, metabolic deterioration, and reduced sexual desire.
For women, hormonal changes are more complex. Even with regular menstrual cycles, there may be a deficiency in progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone hormones. Estrogen levels may remain sufficient for the continuation of menstruation, which might mislead the woman into believing she is in good health. Symptoms include weight gain, swelling, emotional instability, sleep disturbances, and bouts of depression. These changes begin at an increasingly early age, ranging between 30 and 35 years, associated with stress, environmental factors, and certain medications.
The doctor emphasized that the nervous system, particularly the autonomic nervous system, is among the first systems to respond to these changes, with symptoms such as hot flashes, palpitations, anxiety, panic attacks, and fluctuations in blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
She pointed out that the Greene scale, along with laboratory and diagnostic tests, is used to assess the condition before prescribing treatment. It is crucial to accurately determine hormone levels, conduct breast and pelvic examinations, and evaluate blood clotting and biochemical indices.
She concluded by affirming that sex hormones play an important protective role for cardiovascular health, bone health, and metabolic processes. Their deficiency leads to an increased risk of associated diseases, making early diagnosis and timely therapeutic intervention fundamental factors in maintaining activity and quality of life.
