Menopause

What is Menopause?

Menopause is a period of time when a woman’s body goes through a natural and major hormonal change. During this time estrogen and progesterone, which are naturally produced by the ovaries, significantly decrease.

We will briefly discuss some of these changes and treatment options that allow a woman to be as comfortable as possible throughout this life transition.

Let’s Compare

Perimenopause

Refers to the years leading up to Menopause
Hormone production declines.
During this time, menstrual cycles are often irregular.
This is when women experience hot flashes, sleep disturbance, vaginal dryness, and other bodily changes.

Menopause

The average age is 51 years old, but ranges from age 44-55.
A woman is considered in menopause when she has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual cycle

Common Symptoms

The most common and well-known symptom of menopause is hot flashes. These occur in 75% of women. Other symptoms include:

Muscle pain
Joint pain/stiffness
Mood swings
Vaginal dryness
Weight fluctuations

Hot Flashes!

What causes them? How can they be prevented?

In simple terms, hot flashes are caused by rapid hormone fluctuations creating a rush of heat that commonly leads to sweating, heart palpitations, dizziness, and then sudden feelings of being cold.

Avoid these triggers:

Alcohol
Caffeine
Stress
Hot Environments
Spicy Foods

These are common medications for treatment:

Birth Control Pills
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Other medications recommended by your provider

Menopause & Osteoporosis

Changing hormone levels can affect the amount of calcium in your bones. This can lead to osteoporosis. To avoid these negative changes, here are some steps you can take in the years leading up to menopause: