Glossary
Menopause words, in plain English and Taglish
- CBT
- Cognitive behavioural therapy. A talking therapy with good evidence for hot flashes and sleep in menopause.
- continuous combined HRT
- Estrogen and a progestogen every day, usually after periods have stopped. Aims for no bleeding.
- DXA
- A low-dose X-ray scan that measures bone density.
- dydrogesterone
- A progestogen (Duphaston is one brand) used to protect the womb lining in HRT.
- estradiol
- The main estrogen your ovaries make. Also the hormone in estradiol gel.
- FSH
- Follicle-stimulating hormone. Rises around menopause but swings a lot in perimenopause.
- GSM
- Genitourinary syndrome of menopause: dryness, pain with sex and bladder symptoms from low estrogen.
- hindi makatulog
- Can't sleep. In perimenopause often means waking at 3 am.
- hot flashes
- Sudden waves of heat in the face, neck and chest, often with sweating. Also called vasomotor symptoms.
- HRT
- Hormone replacement therapy, also called menopausal hormone therapy (MHT): estrogen, plus a progestogen if you have a uterus.
- matiisin
- Long-suffering, enduring. The habit of putting up with symptoms instead of seeking help.
- menopause
- The point 12 months after your last period.
- menopos
- Everyday Filipino word for menopause.
- MHT
- Menopausal hormone therapy. Same thing as HRT for menopause.
- micronized progesterone
- Progesterone identical to the body's own, ground fine so it absorbs. Utrogestan is one brand.
- nakakalimot
- Forgetful. Brain fog is a common perimenopause symptom.
- perimenopause
- The years before menopause when hormones swing and periods change. Usually starts in the 40s.
- pinagpapawisan sa gabi
- Night sweats: hot flashes that happen in your sleep.
- POI
- Premature ovarian insufficiency: periods stop or ovaries slow down before age 40.
- postmenopause
- All the years after menopause is confirmed.
- progestogen
- Any progesterone-like medicine. Needed with estrogen if you still have a uterus.
- regla
- Filipino word for your period (also 'mens' or 'dalaw').
- sequential HRT
- Estrogen daily plus a progestogen for part of each month. Usually gives a monthly bleed.
- STRAW+10
- The standard system doctors use to describe reproductive aging stages.
- surgical menopause
- Menopause caused by removal of both ovaries.
- T-score
- DXA result compared with a healthy young adult. -2.5 or lower means osteoporosis.
- tibolone
- A single tablet that acts like estrogen, progestogen and a little testosterone.
- tiis
- To endure or put up with.
- transdermal
- Through the skin, like a gel or patch.
- TSH
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone. The first test for thyroid problems, which can mimic perimenopause.
- tuyot
- Dry. Often used for vaginal dryness.
- vasomotor symptoms
- Hot flashes and night sweats.