Discussion: Women’s and Men’s Health, Infectious Disease, and Hematologic Disorders NURS 6521

Discussion: Women’s and Men’s Health, Infectious Disease, and Hematologic Disorders NURS 6521

Educate the patient that hot flushes and night sweats are common symptoms affecting 85% of menopause as they transition to the initial phase of menstrual irregularity (Bansal & Aggarwal, 2019). Additionally, various factors such as obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and smoking are related to hot flushes. Therefore, it is essential to include lifestyle changes and advise the patient on proper diet, physical activity, and smoking cessation as needed. It may also be beneficial to educate the patient more about other signs and symptoms of menopause, such as vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, mood changes, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and sexual dysfunction. Furthermore, in most women in their menopause, hot flushes may subside within several months to a few years or more (Rosenthal & Burchum, 2021). Moreover, it is also helpful to explain to the patient that urethral and vaginal atrophy happens in menopause, explaining the genitourinary symptoms such as incontinence or urinary frequency. Hence, it is essential to educate the patient on proper genitourinary hygiene and adequate oral hydration to prevent urinary infections and combat constipation (a side effect of progesterone).

Instruct the patient to adhere to proper medication administration and maintain regular communication with the health care team. It is also beneficial to schedule the patient for a yearly pelvic exam with frequent follow up clinic visits for safety and evaluation of treatment and as needed.

References

Bansal, R., & Aggarwal, N. (2019). Menopausal Hot Flashes: A Concise Review. Journal of mid-life health, 10(1), 6–13. https://doi.org/10.4103/jmh.JMH_7_19

National Cancer Institute (NCI). ASCUS. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/ascus