Menopause
Expert care for providing menopause symptom relief
Menopause is a natural biological process. It marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years and menstrual cycle and occurs very slowly over a period of seven to 10 years on average. There are some telltale signs when the process begins such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness due to hormonal shifts. Luckily if symptoms impact the quality of your life, they can be treated.
Perimenopause
Most women begin perimenopause in their 40s, however this varies individually. At this time, you’ll experience sporadic menstruation, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and trouble sleeping. Perimenopause usually lasts about four years until menopause begins. It’s important to remember despite irregular periods, pregnancy is possible during perimenopause.
Menopause
Once you’ve gone 12 full months without a period, you’ve entered menopause. This signals the end of your reproductive years when your ovaries have stopped releasing eggs and releasing most of their hormones. This phase usually starts around the age of 50. While menopause is a natural part of the aging process, symptoms vary from women to women. These can include the following:
- Fatigue and sleep disturbance
- Mood changes, anxiety and depression
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Headaches or migraines
- Racing heart or palpitations
- Weight gain
- Changes in libido or discomfort during sex
- Urinary dryness, irritation, itching, burning
How Can Menopause Be Treated?
Many women can mitigate initial side effects via lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, stress management techniques. However if symptoms are impacting the quality of your life, there are many treatment options available that can help you navigate this natural stage of life. Your ob/gyn provider can create an individualized treatment plan with one or a combination of multiple treatment options.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) commonly refers to a low-dose estrogen patch or oral progesterone. This is meant to replace the hormones that are no longer produced by the ovaries. This therapy is often used to treat hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and other symptoms. Typically, patients are started on the lowest level of estrogen that treats their symptoms. There may be an increased risk of certain health conditions, such as blood clots, stroke, and breast cancer after five years or more of use. The rule of thumb is the appropriate dose for the patient for the ample amount of time.
There are numerous other anti-depression medications that could help with mood swings and hot flashes. There is also a new class of medications called tissue selective estrogen complexes (TSECs), which include a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) with an estrogen.
Most women have never heard of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). A woman’s vulva, vagina, bladder, and uretha have many estrogen receptors. With the decrease of estrogen produced in the body, symptoms can evolve such as vaginal dryness, irritation, itching, burning, discomfort with intercourse, and other urinary symptoms. Patients can apply moisturizers or natural lubricants to benefit vaginal tissues.
Post Menopause
Post menopause occurs in the years after menopause. At this time, hot flashes and other symptoms usually ease or go away, but there are health-related risks associated with decreasing estrogen production including: heart disease, osteoporosis, urinary incontinence, and weight gain. Speak with your physician about effective treatments available, from lifestyle adjustments to hormone therapy to manage any symptoms you may have. If you have any bleeding from your vagina after menopause, make an appointment with your gynecologist.
With the right support and management strategies, women can navigate menopause with grace and confidence. Schedule your gynecologist appointment today.