Abstract

For a woman, menopause represents a transitional phase from a fertile to a non-fertile age, in which there is a gradual reduction in ovarian function accompanied by a gradual cessation of oestrogen production. The clinical presentation can involve a series of disorders, including hot flushes with episodes of sweating, particularly at night, palpitations, changes in sleep-wake rhythm, irritability, anxiety and mood changes, vaginal dryness due to a process of progressive atrophy with thinning of the outer and inner labia, reduction of vascularisation and elastic fibres, and decreased sexual desire; subsequently, Many women use alternative therapies to treat hot flushes and other menopausal symptoms. The purpose of this review is to summarize current information on the efficacy and safety of phytoestrogens and the herbal medicine. Given the importance that these symptoms assume for the woman, not only for the perceived quality of life, but also for the increased risk of developing all the diseases, all the treatments adopted for menopausal women are directed primarily to resolving vasomotor disorder.

Highlights

  • For a woman, menopause represents a transitional phase from a fertile to a non-fertile age, in which there is a gradual reduction in ovarian function accompanied by a gradual cessation of oestrogen production [1]

  • The clinical presentation can involve a series of disorders, including hot flushes with episodes of sweating, at night, palpitations, changes in sleep-wake rhythm, irritability, anxiety and mood changes, vaginal dryness due to a process of progressive atrophy with thinning of the outer and inner labia, reduction of vascularisation and elastic fibres, and decreased sexual desire; subsequently, the process of atrophy affects the epidermis with thin, pale skin that is susceptible to bacterial and viral infections

  • The decrease in oestrogens reduces the inhibitory activity of β-endorphins on noradrenaline and causes an increase in activity of the noradrenergic system and a reduction of the dopaminergic system, which is significantly less active than in premenopausal women (Figures 2 and 3) [7,8]. All these mechanisms explain the positive effect of hormone therapy, resulting in stimulation of the D2 dopaminergic receptors and the subsequent attenuation of the menopausal symptoms associated with hot flushes and sweating, with a consequent improvement in the psychological correlations and a decrease in the risk factors for osteoporotic and cardiovascular diseases

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Summary

Open Access

Phyto-Oestrogens and Chaste Tree Berry: A New Option in the Treatment of Menopausal Disorders. Vincenzo De Leo*, Valentina Cappelli, Alessandra Di Sabatino and Giuseppe Morgante Molecular Medicine and Development Department, Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, University of Siena, Italy

Introduction
Changes in Thermoregulation During Menopause
Risk of breast Ca
Chaste tree berry
Correlations Between Premenstrual Syndrome and Vasomotor Symptoms in Menopause
Findings
Conclusions
Full Text
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