Calcium preparations for menopause

It is no secret that older people have more fragile bones than younger people. And this is not a coincidence. The fact is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the required amount of calcium in the body every year, and its costs are growing. In women, the situation is complicated by a special period called menopause. A decrease in estrogen production at the age of 40-50 leads to the fact that the absorption of calcium, which enters the woman's body with food, is noticeably slowed down, as a result of which the bones suffer. Calcium preparations for menopause help to replenish the deficiency of this important microelement, while their composition is selected in such a way that the absorption of calcium is maximum.

Where does the calcium go?

First, let's figure out why we are so worried about the loss of calcium, what are we losing? Calcium is one of the most important microelements, without which a person would be little different from the simplest microorganisms. After all, our skeleton is formed largely thanks to calcium, of which there is about 1.5-2.2 kg in the body of a young person.

So, 99% of calcium contained in the body goes to the formation of the skeleton. But this does not mean that the remaining calcium is useless. This 1% manages to regulate the acid-base balance in the body, participate in the process of blood clotting, influence metabolic processes, normalizing the exchange of water, salts and carbohydrates.

Many important processes in the body cannot do without calcium. For example, muscle contraction and hormone production, the functioning of the nervous system and maintaining enzyme activity. Thanks to calcium, the walls of blood vessels have limited permeability, and teeth, hair and nails retain their strength. Calcium is spent on all these needs of the body.

Some will say that there is nothing to worry about in losing calcium, because there are many foods that contain this micronutrient, which means that calcium deficiency can be avoided. They may be right when it comes to young women, whose annual calcium loss does not exceed 1%. The only exception is pregnancy, when the female body has to share calcium with the baby growing inside it.

During menopause, the cause of calcium loss is slightly different. Here, estrogens are to blame, which, unfortunately, become insufficient for the normal absorption of calcium from food. Calcium loss during this period rises to 4-5% and it is almost impossible to replenish it without the help of calcium preparations during menopause. You can eat crushed eggshells by the spoonful and chew chalk by the kilogram, but, apart from kidney problems, this will lead to nothing. After all, it is not enough to deliver calcium to the body, you need to help with its absorption.

Phosphates, carbonates, calcium oxalates, received by the body with food, are poorly soluble compounds, and the body is often simply unable to process them. This is especially noticeable during menopause, when the body is deprived of its main assistant regulating calcium metabolism - estrogen.

Symptoms of Calcium Deficiency

The fact that the situation with calcium absorption becomes more complicated during menopause does not mean that unpleasant symptoms will appear in the first days or months. Everything depends on whether there was some deficiency of Ca in the woman's body before menopause or whether she took care of her health in advance, regularly consuming a sufficient amount of calcium-containing products at a young age, and also whether the woman has any concomitant diseases, as a result of which calcium is excreted in significant quantities in the urine.

The human body carefully monitors that the optimal dose of calcium is maintained in the blood. The situation when the calcium concentration falls below 2.2 millimoles per liter of blood becomes a kind of "SOS" signal, to which the body reacts in a special way. Trying to replenish the deficiency of Ca in the blood, it takes this important mineral from teeth, hair, nails, bones, where this microelement was present in sufficient quantities. As a result, teeth and nails begin to crumble, hair becomes brittle and falls out, bones lose their former strength, which leads to frequent fractures and disability.

If you do not take calcium supplements during menopause, this can lead to serious health problems, such as:

• diseases characterized by a noticeable curvature of the spinal column (scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis),
• muscle spasms,
• heart rhythm disturbance (arrhythmia),
• increased blood pressure,
• anxiety and nervousness,
• memory problems,

The following symptoms indicate that the body lacks calcium:

• frequent muscle cramps,
• mild tingling or pain in the tongue and lips,
• tingling or unexplained pain in the fingers and feet,
• difficulty breathing due to spasm of the laryngeal muscles,
• active loss of teeth and hair, brittleness and delamination of nails
• frequent bone fractures due to the development of osteoporosis.

In principle, most often the above symptoms should not be expected to appear, calcium deficiency is easy to detect by laboratory tests. Blood test plus ECG (due to the disruption of electrical impulse conduction in the heart) will very quickly help to determine the pathology. Therefore, if a woman regularly undergoes a medical examination and follows the doctor's instructions, severe consequences due to Ca deficiency will not threaten her.

Indications calcium preparations for menopause

According to the rules, to avoid problems in old age, you should take care of yourself in your youth. Eating enough different types of cabbage, turnips, various seafood, milk and dairy products will help maintain an optimal calcium balance in the body. If a woman is on a low-calorie diet, or for a number of reasons her diet is limited, the body begins to experience a lack of Ca, which after some time (sometimes quite a long time) results in serious problems. For example, osteoporosis with progressive destruction of bone tissue.

This is where calcium preparations come to the rescue, which, by the way, are used not only during menopause and calcium deficiency caused by poor nutrition. The indications for the use of calcium preparations are broader, these are:

• some CNS diseases, such as depression or apathy,
• cardiovascular diseases,
• the period of active growth of the musculoskeletal system (childhood and adolescence),
• the period of bearing a child and breastfeeding for the formation of the skeleton and neuromuscular tissue in the child, as well as for replenishing calcium reserves in the mother's body,
• prevention and treatment of certain pathologies affecting the musculoskeletal system, the most common of which is osteoporosis.
• strengthening of teeth and gums (for preventive purposes, as well as part of complex treatment of caries and periodontal disease),
• normalization of the condition during accelerated growth,
• maintaining calcium balance in men over 50 years of age and preventing osteoporosis in women over 40 years of age,
• treatment and prevention of fractures,
• treatment of rickets and other disorders of vitamin D metabolism,
• therapy of hypoparathyroidism (disorders of phosphorus-calcium metabolism),
• hyperphosphatemia (high levels of phosphates in the blood),
• long-term treatment with drugs that promote the removal of Ca from the body (corticosteroids, antiepileptic drugs, diuretics),
• pathologies in which frequent urination or diarrhea are observed,
• prolonged bed rest, which results in a disruption of the calcium balance,
• as an antidote for poisoning with oxalic acid, magnesium salts and fluoride.

Taking calcium preparations is also justified in some other pathologies: allergic manifestations, various bleedings, dystrophy against the background of severe energy deficiency. And also in asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis, hepatitis, a sharp jump in pressure in pregnant women and women in labor, inflammation of the kidneys (nephritis), liver damage against the background of general intoxication of the body.

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Release form

The names of calcium preparations prescribed during menopause for the prevention and treatment of deficiency of this microelement in the body and the symptoms associated with it most often speak for themselves. The word "calcium" in one form or another is present in literally all the names of the mentioned preparations: "Calcium gluconate", "Calcemin", "Calcium D3 Nycomed", "Mountain calcium D3", "Natekal D3", "Vitrum calcium", "Calcimax", "Miacalcic", "Calcitrin", "Calcitonin".

But if we are talking about the treatment of osteoporosis, which develops due to a lack or poor absorption of calcium during menopause, then the names of calcium preparations may be far from the name of the active substance itself: "Alostin", "Osteomed", "Osteover", "Oxidevit", "Osteogenon", "Veprena", "Bonviva", "Aktonel", etc.

The main and most common form of calcium preparations is considered to be tablets. It is in this form that they are prescribed for the prevention and treatment of calcium deficiency during menopause. The drug "Calcium Gluconate", as well as drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis, are also produced in the form of an injection solution or powder, and sometimes even in the form of a nasal spray, but such forms are more suitable for the treatment of the corresponding pathologies, including those caused by calcium deficiency, than for its prevention. Thus, the injection of "Calcium Gluconate" is indicated for allergies, skin diseases (psoriasis, eczema, furunculosis, etc.), as well as an antidote for poisoning or a hemostatic agent, disorders of the parathyroid glands, diabetes, etc.

Vitamin and mineral supplements with calcium

Let's take a closer look at which calcium preparations, which belong to the group of vitamin and mineral supplements, are the most popular in the prevention and treatment of calcium deficiency in the body during menopause.

"Calcium gluconate" is the very first mineral supplement to appear on the domestic market and the cheapest one to be added to the basic diet. Although it is not the most effective, it is available to the general population of the country as a preventive measure against diseases associated with calcium deficiency in the body.

This is a single-component drug, the active ingredient of which is calcium gluconate. Doctors recommend taking it, like other calcium-containing drugs, by crushing the tablets into small crumbs or powder. The dosage of the drug during menopause is determined individually, based on the body's needs, and ranges from 2 to 6 tablets (from 1 to 3 g) at a time. The frequency of taking the drug is 2-3 times a day. It is better to take the tablets before meals or after one to one and a half hours after a meal.

It is better to combine this drug with vitamin supplements containing vitamin D, which will have a beneficial effect on the absorption of Ca.

This seemingly simple and generally safe drug has enough contraindications for use. These are increased levels of Ca in the blood and urine (hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria), the formation of calcium-containing kidney stones against the background of the above-mentioned pathologies, the formation of nodules (granulomas) in various organs, which is typical for sarcosidosis. Parallel administration of calcium gluconate and cardiac glycosides is unacceptable, since such incorrect therapy increases the risk of arrhythmia.

Drug interactions with other drugs often come down to the fact that "Calcium gluconate" when taken simultaneously either reduces the effectiveness of some drugs (tetracycline antibiotics, calcitonin, phenytoin), or slows down their absorption (oral iron preparations, digoxin, tetracyclines), or increases the toxicity of drugs (quinidine).

With a long shelf life (5 years), the preparation does not require special storage conditions. It perfectly retains its properties at room temperature and low air humidity.

"Calcemin" (forms "Calcemin" and "Calcemin advance") is already a multi-component preparation, enriched with vitamin D and citric acid, increasing the bioavailability of Ca, as well as useful minerals: magnesium, zinc, boron, manganese, copper, regulating calcium-phosphorus metabolism in bone tissues. Ca in its composition is present in the form of carbonate and citrate. The first salt saturates the body with Ca ions, and the second increases their bioavailability regardless of the health of the gastrointestinal tract.

The method of application and dosage of calcium preparations "Calcemin" and "Calcemin Advance", used during menopause for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, do not differ from each other. The daily dose is 2 tablets, which are taken in 2 doses (for example, in the morning and in the evening). It is better to take the tablets before meals, but taking them during meals is also acceptable. There is no need to crush the tablets.

If the dosage of drugs is constant, the duration of therapy may vary depending on the patient's condition.

Contraindications for the use of the drug strictly overlap with the contraindications noted in the description of "Calcium gluconate".

Overdosing on Calcemin and Calcemin Advance may result in hypervitaminosis (increased concentration of vitamin D) and increased calcium levels in the blood and urine. Treatment of this condition involves discontinuing calcium preparations and gastric lavage.

Interaction with other drugs can be both useful (reduces the toxicity of vitamin A) and undesirable. For example, barbiturates, steroid hormones and phenytoin can significantly reduce the effect of vitamin D, and laxatives slow down the process of its absorption into the blood.

The absorption of Ca ions is prevented by glucocorticoids, levothyroxine and hormonal contraceptives. And "Calcemin" itself is capable of disrupting the absorption of tetracycline drugs and sodium fluoride and increasing the toxicity of cardiac glycosides.

Caution should also be exercised when using diuretics simultaneously, since some of them (thiazide) can cause hypercalcemia, while others (loop) can provoke calcium loss by increasing its excretion by the kidneys.

Calcemin should not be used in combination with calcium channel blockers and antacids containing aluminum.

"Calcium D3 Nycomed" is a calcium preparation in the form of chewable tablets with orange or mint flavor. The main active ingredients are calcium carbonate and vitamin D ₃.

Take the tablets before or during meals. It is advisable to dissolve the tablets, but you can also chew them. During menopause, to prevent osteoporosis, it is recommended to take 1 tablet twice a day, to treat bone destruction (as part of complex therapy) - 1 tablet 2 to 3 times a day.

In addition to the contraindications for use described for the drugs "Calcium Gluconate" and "Calcemin", the drug "Calcium D3" has its own contraindications related to its composition. These include: hypersensitivity to products containing peanuts or soy, severe cases of renal failure, active tuberculosis, phenylketonuria, intolerance to sorbitol, isomalt and sucrose.

In case of an overdose of the drug, it is necessary to stop taking it and take measures to cleanse the stomach of the drug components.

Drug interactions with other drugs are identical to those described in the instructions for the mineral supplement "Calcemin".

The shelf life of this drug, like the drug "Calcemin", is 3 years, provided it is stored in a room with a room temperature not exceeding 25 degrees and low humidity.

"Natecal D3" can be considered a medicinal analogue of the previous drug with the same active substances that replenish the deficiency of Ca in the body and inhibit the production of parathyroid hormone, responsible for the resorption (destruction) of bones. The drug belongs to the group of regulators of calcium-phosphorus metabolism.

"Natecal D3" is also produced in the form of chewable tablets that can be chewed or sucked. For preventive purposes, they should be taken with food 1 or 2 times a day in the amount of 1-2 pieces. The therapeutic dosage and duration of therapy are determined by the attending physician.

Contraindications for use include sucrose intolerance, parallel intake of large doses of vitamin D, urolithiasis, the presence of tumor metastases in the bones, osteoporosis developing against the background of prolonged limitation of movement, severe renal dysfunction. Contraindications described for other calcium preparations used during menopause for prophylactic purposes are also relevant.

The shelf life of this drug is relatively short and is only 2 years from the date of manufacture. It should be stored at a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees.

"Vitrum calcium with vitamin D3" is an analogue of the above-described drug, which is produced in the form of regular tablets, which should be taken one at a time 1-2 times during the day, but no more than 4 pcs. per day. The shelf life is 3 years.

"Mountain Calcium D3" is a preparation in which not only vitamin D is responsible for the absorption of Ca, but also mumiyo, which also improves the entire mineral composition of bones.

Take the drug 2 tablets twice a day. It is recommended to do this during meals.

The drug is not prescribed in case of hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, in particular to mumiyo, as well as during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

The drug "Calcimax" has won excellent reviews in terms of prevention and treatment of osteoporosis during menopause. In this drug, Ca is presented in the form of hydroxyapatite, the digestibility of which is higher than that of gluconates and carbonates. In addition, the drug is enriched with minerals useful for bones and the whole body (magnesium, silicon, manganese, boron, zinc, chromium) and vitamins D and C.

It is recommended to take the drug in capsule form for the prevention of osteoporosis during menopause 2 times a day, 1 capsule. This should be done approximately an hour before meals or immediately before bedtime.

Contraindications to the use of the drug are: a tendency to thrombosis, severe forms of vascular atherosclerosis, and increased levels of Ca in the body.

The drug should be stored at room temperature for no more than 3 years.

The side effects of calcium preparations prescribed for menopause are not very diverse. They usually occur due to overdose or hypersensitivity to the components of the drugs taken.

Taking calcium supplements is sometimes accompanied by such unpleasant symptoms as nausea, constipation or diarrhea, headaches, a strong increase in the content of Ca in the body (usually occurs with an overdose or incorrect dosage and is treated by prolonged administration of calcitonin for 6 hours), reactions associated with an irritating effect on the gastrointestinal mucosa.

In the case of increased sensitivity, allergic reactions in the form of skin rashes may be observed. Severe reactions accompanied by coma are extremely rare.

While taking calcium supplements, it is recommended to monitor the concentration of Ca in the blood and urine by taking laboratory tests.

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Other drugs for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis during menopause

Among the popular drugs for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, which develops against the background of calcium deficiency during menopause, it is worth highlighting "Miacalcic" and "Calcitonin". The active substance of both drugs is a synthetic hypocalcemic hormone - calcitonin, extracted from salmon. This hormone is able to reduce the level of calcium in the blood, preventing the symptoms of hypercalcemia, and stimulate its accumulation in bone tissue.

Both drugs are available as solutions for intravenous, intramuscular or subcutaneous administration and as a nasal spray with medicinal action.

The method of administration and doses of calcium preparations containing calcitonin, which is effective for the treatment of osteoporosis during menopause, are determined by the attending physician, based on the diagnosis, condition and physiological characteristics of the patient's body. Thus, for osteoporosis, the effective therapeutic dose of the drug "Miacalcic" can be 50 or 100 IU. The drug is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly.

The dosage of the drug "Calcitonin" is calculated based on the norm of 5 or 10 IU for each kilogram of the patient's weight, which is divided into 2 doses.

In the form of a spray, the drug is used in a dosage of 200 IU for the drug "Miacalcic" and 100-400 IU for "Calcitonin".

Contraindications to the use of these drugs are: low calcium levels in the body, pregnancy and lactation periods, as well as hypersensitivity to the active substance. The spray is not advisable to use for rhinitis of various etiologies.

Both drugs have multiple side effects on various organs and systems of the body. The most common are: increased symptoms of menopause (hot flashes and swelling), decreased blood pressure, changes in taste, joint pain without apparent cause, allergic reactions.

When the drug is administered parenterally, the following may occur: nausea and vomiting, headaches and stomach pains, visual disturbances, cough, muscle pain, soreness and redness at the injection site.

The use of the spray may be accompanied by dryness of the nasal mucosa, nasal bleeding, runny nose, sneezing.

The shelf life of the drugs "Miacalcic" and "Calcitonin" is 5 and 3 years, respectively. The storage conditions of various forms of drugs can be found in the instructions for them.

If taking vitamin and mineral supplements does not require special supervision by the attending physician, then taking medications for osteoporosis, whether they are regulators of phosphorus-calcium metabolism or inhibitors of bone resorption, should be strictly under the supervision of the attending physician.

"Heavy artillery" in the fight for bone strength

If therapy with calcium-containing drugs and calcium metabolism regulators does not give the expected results, bone resorption inhibitors help to stop the process of bone tissue destruction. Particularly popular in this regard are nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates, the action of which is aimed at preventing bone loss.

One of the most popular drugs of this class is the drug based on sodium ibandronate (ibandronic acid) "Bonviva". Its action is based on the suppression of osteoclast activity without affecting their number. The drug does not have a negative effect on the formation of new bone tissue cells, but significantly slows down the process of its destruction. It is indicated as a preventive measure against fractures that accompany women during the postmenopausal period.

And although the drug "Bonviva" is not a calcium drug for menopause in the literal sense of the word, the action of ibandronic acid in its composition is similar to the action of calcium hydroxyapatite (remember the drug "Calcimax"). It accelerates the process of bone tissue renewal and increases its mass. At the same time, sodium ibandronate does not have a carcinogenic effect and does not cause mutations in the cell structure. Its action does not lead to a violation of bone mineralization.

The drug is available in the following forms: tablets with a dosage of 150 mg (1 or 3 per package) and 2.5 mg (28 pieces), injection solution in a syringe tube with a needle.

The drug "Bonviva" is quite an expensive pleasure, but if you take into account the fact that 150 mg tablets are taken once a month, it can be afforded by a large number of representatives of the fairer sex who have reached the age when menopause begins to negatively affect the condition of the skeletal bones, and who jealously monitor their health.

Tablets with a dosage of 150 mg should be taken on the same day of each calendar month, and with a dosage of 2.5 mg - daily. It is advisable to take the tablets half an hour before the morning meal. It is not recommended to chew the tablets, they are swallowed whole, washed down with a glass of plain water to reduce the negative impact on the gastrointestinal mucosa.

The peculiarity of taking the drug is that during taking the tablets and for an hour after it, the patient is prohibited from taking a horizontal position, i.e. lying down.

Injection (intravenous) administration of the drug according to indications is carried out once a quarter (90 days). It is recommended to give the injection in a hospital setting, using a syringe-tube with a solution once.

Taking the drug may be accompanied by the following side effects: dizziness, joint and headache pain, runny nose and some symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections, manifestations of gastritis, bowel disorders in the form of diarrhea, increased blood pressure, depression, atypical fractures, depression, etc. Allergic manifestations in the form of urticaria, facial swelling, back pain, insomnia, increased fatigue are also common.

Gastrointestinal reactions are often observed in the context of drug overdose if the frequency of taking 150 mg tablets is more than once a week (recommended once every 4 weeks!). In case of overdose, it is recommended to drink milk and conduct therapy with antacids.

The drug has slightly fewer contraindications for use, which must be taken into account when prescribing an effective course of therapy for menopause. These include calcium deficiency in the body, esophageal dysfunction, expressed in delayed emptying (stricture, achalasia), inability to remain in a horizontal position during and within an hour after taking the tablets, lactase deficiency or galactose intolerance, severe cases of renal failure, hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, periods of pregnancy and lactation.

The drug is prescribed with caution in case of various gastrointestinal pathologies.

When prescribing the drug "Bonviva", it is necessary to take into account the drug interaction with other drugs. Thus, parallel administration of this drug and calcium preparations (as well as preparations containing aluminum, iron or magnesium) will significantly weaken the absorption of ibandronate acid, therefore it is recommended to first increase the calcium level in the body, and then continue therapy with sodium ibandronate.

To reduce the negative impact on the gastric mucosa, it is not recommended to take Bonviva and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at the same time.

However, the Ranitidine solution, which is administered intravenously, is capable of increasing the bioavailability of the main active ingredient of the drug Bonviva by almost 20%.

The drug in tablet form can be stored for up to 5 years, while the shelf life of the injection solution is only 2 years, provided that any form of the drug is stored at a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees.

Pharmacodynamics

For the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, as the most common pathology during menopause, 3 types of calcium preparations are used:

• vitamin and mineral complexes rich in calcium and vitamin D, saturating the body with Ca ions and improving metabolic processes that occur with their participation,
• drugs that regulate calcium metabolism in the body and stop the process of bone destruction,
• hormonal drugs that prevent rapid bone growth during menopause.

The pharmacodynamics of calcium preparations of the 1st type is based on the properties of the main active substance, which is Ca in the form of various compounds. Vitamin and mineral supplements, both single-component and with a rich complex of useful substances, are used in cases where the concentration of Ca ions in the blood is below normal levels, even if this condition has not yet caused noticeable health problems.

The calcium compounds in these preparations compensate for the deficiency of this microelement in the human body, they reduce the permeability of vascular walls and swelling due to the release of the liquid part of the blood (plasma and formed elements) through the walls of small capillaries, relieve inflammatory processes and allergic attacks, stop bleeding,

Calcium ions help strengthen teeth and skeletal bones, being their main building material. Ca in vitamin-mineral complexes regulates the permeability of cell membranes and is responsible for the speed of transmission of nerve impulses. It is responsible for muscle contractions, including the work of the heart muscle - the myocardium.

The mechanism of action of the drugs of the 2nd group is slightly different. They are aimed not so much at replenishing Ca in the body, but at improving its absorption and activating the functions assigned to it.

These drugs have another useful property, which makes them indispensable in the treatment of osteoporosis that develops during menopause and postmenopause. During a person's life, bones constantly undergo changes, they grow and renew themselves.

In a young organism, the processes of destruction and renewal of bone tissue are mutually compensated, due to which their structure remains relatively constant. In women over 40, the process of tissue destruction, for which special cells called osteoclasts are responsible, prevails over the restoration processes provided by osteoblasts. So, the drugs of the 2nd group affect these very “destructive” osteoclasts, significantly reducing their activity, as a result of which the resorption (destruction) of bone tissue stops.

The pharmacodynamics of the 3rd group of drugs differs significantly from the previous 2. A decrease in bone density is also observed during active bone formation under the influence of female sex hormones. It is for this reason that low bone density is diagnosed in women during menopause. The situation can be corrected with the help of special hormonal drugs prescribed during menopause, which stop excessive bone growth by normalizing the hormonal background during menopause, thereby preventing the development of osteoporosis during the postmenopausal period.

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Pharmacokinetics

The pharmacokinetics of drugs of various groups depends on the substances included in the composition of the drugs. Calcium itself is absorbed mainly in the small intestine, after which it enters the blood and is supplied to various organs and systems of the body. An insignificant part of Ca (up to 30%) enters the systemic bloodstream from the digestive tract.

The inclusion of vitamin D in calcium preparations used during menopause is due to the fact that this component improves the absorption of Ca in the body, and such microelements as magnesium, phosphorus and sodium improve phosphorus-calcium metabolism in bones, which is much more important than simply saturating the body with calcium. Magnesium, among other things, also helps to retain useful mineral elements in bone tissue.

Ca is excreted from the body with the participation of the kidneys, intestines and sweat glands; vitamin D is excreted primarily by the kidneys and intestines.

Biophosphonates in bone resorption inhibitors prevent Ca leaching from the body. They promote bone tissue compaction.

Synthetic or natural sex hormones contained in hormonal preparations stimulate not only sexual and reproductive function in women, they also affect other processes in the body, including the growth and regeneration of bone tissue. In this regard, their use is relevant during menopause, when the natural production of hormones in the body is disrupted.

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Hormonal balance and bone health in women during menopause

The menopause period is characterized by certain changes in the hormonal background of the female body. Hormonal imbalance has a negative impact on the general well-being of a woman during menopause and on the condition of her body in the following years.

The situation with the skeletal system is very bad. The decrease in the production of sex hormones by the ovaries leads to an acceleration of bone metabolism, accompanied by a loss of bone substance. Bone density decreases, they become fragile, prone to fractures and other damage. In old age, this condition manifests itself in the development of osteoporosis.

To prevent the process of weakening bones during menopause, it is not enough to limit yourself to taking calcium preparations that replenish its deficiency in the body. It is also necessary to correct metabolic processes in the body with the help of special preparations so that calcium intake is beneficial.

Such drugs that help normalize hormonal levels and metabolic processes in a woman's body during menopause include "Klimen", "Proginova", "Sinestrol", etc. The benefits of taking such drugs are obvious, but this does not mean that you can prescribe them to yourself without a medical examination by an endocrinologist and a special hormone test.

The health of a woman's skeletal system during menopause depends on many factors that must be taken into account when prescribing effective treatment. And yet the main role in preventing bone destruction is given to calcium preparations, which, according to doctors, are simply irreplaceable during menopause. Calcium deficiency during menopause with all its features cannot be compensated for by food products rich in this valuable microelement alone. And even adding vitamin D and citric acid to the diet, which improve calcium absorption, will not be able to solve the problem as effectively as specialized preparations do.