女性の生涯を通じて考える女性医学とは

In obstetrics and gynecology, there were three major fields such as perinatology, oncology and reproduction. “Menopausal medicine” in women during the menopausal transition, including menopausal symptoms, urogynecology and osteoporosis, has entered as new field, and the scope is going to extend to “Medicine of women’s health”. Medicine of women’s health is covered the field throughout the life of women based on the menopause.
Low vitamin D level during pregnancy may induce hypertension and diabetes in the future and follow-up of blood pressure and glucose metabolism is needed for pregnant women with low vitamin D level. Women with bilateral oophorectomy before menopause may induce bone fractures, coronary heart diseases and cognitive disorders due to estrogen deficiency. The proportions of pregnancy induced hypertension （PIH） and gestational diabetes （GDM） are high in pregnant women more than 40 years of age, and PIH and GDM are involved in the occurrence of hypertension and diabetes in the future, respectively. Women with past history of infertility associated with endometriosis and women with cigarette smoking are associated with earlier menopause, suggesting that these women have risk factors for the diseases due to estrogen deficiency. Menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweaty and depression are associated with high levels of IL‐8 and IL‐6. These high levels of IL‐8, IL‐6 and MCP‐1 may be involved in the occurrence of atherosclerosis and osteoporosis. Hormone therapy and Japanese Kampo medicine may be useful for prevention of atherosclerosis and coronary heart diseases in the future. Recently, menopausal transition is classified in detail since endocrinological features are complex during the menopausal transition. Studies for menopausal transition may be important.
Medicine of women’ s health is important as a field throughout the life of women for total health.