Menopausal Treatment & Care

Menopause is a natural biological phase that occurs when a woman’s period has not transpired after a 12 month span and marks the end of her menstrual cycle and fertility.  The average age for menopause is 51 but is often different for everybody. In actuality, the menstrual period may stop anywhere between the ages of 30 and 60 with perimenopause symptoms arising before a woman hits menopause.  Perimenopause typically lasts 3 to 6 years (sometimes up to 15 years) and involves a series of changes in a woman’s body due to natural fluctuations in levels of estrogen and progesterone.  Common symptoms of perimenopause include menstrual irregularity, mood swings, vaginal problems (such as dryness), cholesterol level changes, and hot flashes.

Menopause symptoms can be either very obvious or in some cases, menopause can be silent.  Some women may only know about their menopause because their period has stopped, while others experience more severe symptoms caused by hormonal imbalance.  Many women going through menopause experience a wide range of varied symptoms, including those mentioned above during perimenopause (which may continue into the menopause phase).  Additional menopausal symptoms may include: depression, night sweats/hot flashes, fatigue, insomnia, irritability, urinary track changes (increased urination and/or bladder infections), bone changes (loss in bone density), decrease in sex drive, and more.

There are many effective management and treatment options available to help relieve symptoms of menopause.  These range from lifestyle adjustments to hormone therapy.    Woman can do certain things to help relieve menopause symptoms such as:

• Exercising more: Exercising at least 20 minutes a few days per week may help ease hot flashes by decreasing hormones.
• Improving nutrition: Eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of fruits, veggies, water, and vitamins can lessen menopause symptoms and help keep bones strong.
• Vaginal cream: Vaginal estrogen cream can give women a small dose of estrogen and minimize pain during intercourse.
• Lifestyle changes: Certain lifestyle changes, such as decreasing the amount of caffeine and alcohol consumed can aid with emotional issues such as mood swings or depression.

In addition, there are medical treatment options available such as Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT) and Bio Identical Hormonal Therapy (BHT).  HRT involves prescription medication with estrogen and progesterone, thus replacing female hormones no longer produced by the woman’s ovaries during menopause.  It is popular for treating the symptoms of menopause and can also reduce the risk of osteoporosis.  BHT involves the use of “natural” hormones or phytoestrogens (found in plants) as opposed to those found in HRT.  Women can also seek treatment for their specific and individual symptoms.

Patients should consult with their physician in order explore the best possible treatment options.  Please contact our office to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced providers.