Menopause officially begins when a woman has gone 12 months without a menstrual period. As the ovaries begin producing less estrogen and progesterone, women may experience a variety of signs and symptoms leading up to and during menopause.
Common symptoms include:
These symptoms can range from mild to severe and have a significant impact on a woman's quality of life. Proper treatment from a menopause expert can help alleviate many symptoms.
Doctors specializing in menopause may recommend starting hormone therapy around the time of menopause. Estrogen therapy replaces estrogen that is no longer produced by the ovaries. Often, progestogen is also prescribed to help protect the lining of the uterus.
The benefits of hormone therapy include:
Hormone therapy works best when started early on, ideally within a few years of menopause. Treatment can be tailored based on each woman's needs and health history. Most women can take hormone therapy safely for many years.
The transition through menopause is unique for every woman. At Renew Hormone Center hormone clinic right here in , we specialize entirely in helping women navigate menopause and hormone changes.
Our clinic is led by Dr. Jane Wells, a board-certified endocrinologist specializing in menopause. With over 15 years of experience caring specifically for menopausal patients, Dr. Wells develops customized treatment plans to alleviate symptoms and help women thrive during this transition.
We also have nurse practitioners and nurses on staff specifically trained in menopause care. Our entire team stays up to date on the latest research and best practices for peri- and postmenopausal women.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Wells or our nurse practitioner specializing in menopause, give us a call today. We look forward to helping you relieve symptoms and optimize wellbeing during this transitional time of life.Here is a 500-word FAQ on menopause treatment with 5 topics and detailed answers in markdown format:
Menopause symptoms vary widely among women. The most common include hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, irregular periods, trouble sleeping, urinary symptoms, and emotional changes like mood swings or irritability. Hot flashes can range from mild to severe and last from 30 seconds to 10 minutes. Vaginal dryness can make sex painful. Sleep troubles often relate to night sweats or hot flashes waking a woman up. Be sure to track your symptoms so your doctor can best help manage them.
Lifestyle adjustments can make a big difference during menopause. Regular exercise helps reduce hot flashes and improves mood and sleep. Stress-reduction techniques like yoga, meditation, or massage therapy may also help. Staying cool with layered, breathable clothing, avoiding triggers like alcohol or hot drinks, and keeping your bedroom cooler at night aids with hot flashes and night sweats. Using a vaginal moisturizer or lubricant eases vaginal dryness during sex. Avoiding bladder irritants like caffeine, carbonation or spicy foods could reduce urinary issues.
Various prescription medications can effectively treat troublesome menopause symptoms. Low-dose antidepressants like venlafaxine or fluoxetine often help hot flashes. Vaginal estrogen creams, tablets or rings improve vaginal dryness and pain during sex. The FDA has approved ospemifene to treat painful sex from vaginal changes. Gabapentin or clonidine work for hot flashes if hormones are not an option or get stopped. Over-the-counter lubricants or moisturizers provide some vaginal dryness relief. Discuss all medication options with your doctor to find the best fit for your symptoms and health history.
Hormone therapy with estrogen alone or with progestin remains the most effective treatment for relieving hot flashes and vaginal symptoms. Estrogen therapy is typically used if a woman has had a hysterectomy. For women with an intact uterus, progestin gets combined with estrogen to avoid increasing the risk of uterine cancer. While benefits often outweigh risks for healthy women under 60 within 10 years of menopause, hormones carry some health risks like blood clots, stroke and breast cancer. Have an open discussion with your doctor about your individual situation before starting hormones.
Some women get symptom relief from herbal or natural products like soy, black cohosh, vitamins E and B6, red clover, or dietary isoflavones. Research on effectiveness and safety is limited though. Soy products with isoflavones may help hot flashes. Black cohosh seems to ease hot flashes and night sweats for some women. Always inform your doctor about any herbal products you take since supplements can interact with other medications. While herbal remedies appear relatively safe for healthy women, ask your doctor about your individual health factors before taking them.
Studies show that practicing yoga and mindfulness meditation can significantly reduce troublesome menopause symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep disturbances. These mind-body practices help ease anxiety and stress, boost mood, and promote better sleep - all without the need for hormones or medications.
