The ovaries produce and release eggs and secrete sex hormones, which are the most important gonads in women.
Once the ovaries begin to age, it will not only affect menstruation, but also affect the cardiovascular, nervous, urinary, immune, bone and other systems.
On May 8, World Ovarian Cancer Day, "Life Times" invited experts to teach you how to take care of your ovaries scientifically.
The ovaries are the earliest senescent organs of the reproductive system
Cao Zeyi, former vice minister of the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China and a well-known gynecologic oncologist, said in an interview that the deterioration of ovarian function and structural aging are the fundamental reasons for the changes in other female reproductive organs.
From puberty, fertility, perimenopause (refers to the period before and after a woman's menopause, generally from about the age of 45 to one year after menopause) to postmenopause, there are a series of dynamic changes in ovarian morphology.
After entering puberty, the ovaries gradually mature, and in each menstrual cycle, about 3~11 follicles in the ovaries develop together, but generally only 1 is fully mature and discharged.
A woman can ovulate about 400 ovulations in her lifetime for about 30 years. Until perimenopause, estrogen levels drop, the ovaries shrink and become smaller, and ovulation gradually stops.
The female reproductive system is regulated by estrogen, and the ovaries are the main organs that secrete estrogen, and they are also the earliest aging organs in the reproductive system.
When the ovaries are old, what happens to the organs of the whole body?
Affected by ovarian aging, the entire female reproductive system will undergo significant degenerative changes.
For example, the vulvar epithelium is thinned, the vagina is narrowed, elastic fibers are missing, and the discharge is significantly reduced; The cervix becomes shorter, the uterine musculature atrophies, the uterine body shrinks, the weight is reduced, and the fallopian tubes become shorter and thinner.
Ruan Xiangyan, director of the endocrinology department of Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, said that not only the reproductive system, but also many organs in the body will be affected.
Cognitive system
Many menopausal women experience forgetfulness, the root cause of which is a drop in estrogen levels, which leads to atrophy of gray matter in the brain, resulting in memory loss and a significantly higher risk of dementia.
Cardiovascular system
Studies have confirmed that in women of the same age, the risk of cardiovascular disease is increased by 2~6 times in postmenopausal people compared with non-menopausal people.
In addition, estrogen can also dilate blood vessels, and menopausal women often have headaches due to blood vessel constriction and spasms.
nervous system
Estrogen regulates the emotional center of the hypothalamus, and a lack of estrogen can lead to mental or neurological problems such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, and gray matter atrophy in the brain.
immune system
If the ovaries fail prematurely, estrogen decreases, immunity decreases, pathogens can take advantage of the pathogen, and the original tumor cells may also expand rapidly.
Skeletal system
Estrogen promotes bone formation and reduces bone destruction. Postmenopausal women are prone to osteoporosis or fractures due to their inability to make full use of calcium.
In addition, the decrease in estrogen can also reduce the elasticity of the bone and joint ligaments, which is prone to herniated discs.
Urinary system
Atrophy of the external genitalia can lead to dysuria, urgency to urinate or urinary incontinence in women, leading to urinary tract infections, vulvar itching and vulvitis and other diseases.
To prevent premature aging, do 6 things as soon as possible
Ovarian aging is a natural phenomenon of human aging, but more and more young women are beginning to experience irregular or no menstruation, emotional irritability and other manifestations.
Ruan Xiangyan emphasized that once the ovaries fail prematurely, it means that the whole body will age early, and various chronic diseases will also come early. Prevention as early as possible is more important than treating premature ovarian failure.
Maintain a sensible diet
Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins, dietary fiber and other nutrients, don't overeat, and don't lose weight excessively.
Try to stay up as little as possible
Quit smoking and drinking, work and rest regularly, and try not to stay up late.
Keep moving
If you have the opportunity, you should ensure 30 minutes of exercise every day, 5~7 days a week.
Pay attention to annual medical check-ups
Cao Zeyi said that there are no obvious symptoms of early gynecological diseases, which can generally be found in gynecological examinations.
The World Health Organization recommends that all sexually active women over the age of 18 should have an annual gynaecological screening, including a gynaecological examination, breast examination and related ancillary examinations.
Pay attention to personal hygiene management
Change your underwear every day, keep your private parts breathable and clean, and don't blindly use vaginal douches. Before and after every sexual intercourse, be clean and safe.
Keep a good mindset
Be less angry, and learn to self-regulate or find a professional psychologist to help you when you encounter unhappiness.
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◎If there is an abnormality, you must seek medical attention in time
If the following situations occur, you must be vigilant and need to go to a regular hospital for treatment in time.
- Abnormalities of the reproductive organs
If there is vulvar itching, genital redness and swelling, etc., it may be a gynecological disease. Don't think that getting a gynaecological disease is a difficult thing to talk about, women can get a gynaecological disease even if they don't have sex.
- Abnormal menstruation, pain in the lower back and abdomen
Tumor cells can affect the normal function of the ovaries, and some also have the role of secreting hormones, causing endocrine disorders and leading to menstrual disorders.
A large retrospective review in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology showed that more than 70% of ovarian cancers have symptoms, the most common of which are abdominal and pelvic pain, and symptoms such as bloating, increased waist circumference, decreased appetite, and lower/vulvar edema may also occur. ▲
Editor of this issue: Xu Menglian
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