Diagnosis & Treatment
Treatment For Menopause
At a certain time in every woman's life, the ovaries cease production of eggs and the menstrual cycle ends. A woman is born with a finite number of eggs that cause the menstruation and ovulation process. Once these eggs run out, those processes end as well. This event, known as menopause, brings about physical and emotional effects for women as their bodies adjust to the changes.
Menopause usually occurs naturally after the age of 40, with the average woman experiencing it around the age of 51. Early menopause can occur as a result of disease or damage to the ovaries, from hysterectomy or from a family history of premature menopause.
Diagnosing Menopause
Menopause is diagnosed when a menstrual period has been absent for 12 months. However, the entire process takes several years and begins when the ovaries start producing less estrogen. This stage is known as perimenopause and is when symptoms may begin. Most women are aware that this process has begun once symptoms begin to develop, but it is important to see your doctor for a full understanding of what to expect during the menopausal transition.
After more than 12 months have passed since the last period, women are then considered to be in the postmenopause period, during which the ovaries produce much less estrogen and no progesterone, along with no eggs being released. Postmenopause can last for several years.
Symptoms of Menopause
Many symptoms of menopause appear before the actual event takes place, and may vary in type, frequency and severity for each individual patient. Common symptoms include:
- Irregular vaginal bleeding
- Hot flashes
- Insomnia
- Night sweats
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Bladder control symptoms
Not all women experience symptoms of menopause. Those who do may be mild or severe. These symptoms can last from the perimenopause stage and for several years after menopause, during postmenopause. The loss of estrogen production also increases the risk of osteoporosis, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.
Treatment for Menopause
Although menopause is considered a natural process and not a medical condition, there are a number of treatments available to relieve symptoms, which may include lifestyle changes, medications, hormone therapy and more. Some of these treatments may be recommended on a continuing basis to help reduce a patient’s risk of osteoporosis and other post-menopausal complications. Treatments are also available to treat individual symptoms and often provide more immediate relief.
Women can often reduce the symptoms of menopause and feel their best by maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle throughout the process. Your doctor will provide you with a personalized treatment plan to most effectively relieve your symptoms of menopause.
At Women’s Health Specialists, we provide comprehensive care for patients going through menopause and strive to be there every step of the way to provide the information and support you need during this often difficult time.
About Hot Flashes
Hot flashes are one of the most common symptoms of menopause, affecting as many as three out of four women during the menopausal process, and causing feelings of warmth throughout the upper body, a rapid heart beat, perspiration and a flushed appearance.
While the specific cause of hot flashes is unknown, they are believed to be controlled by the hypothalamus, whose function can be disrupted by the estrogen reduction that occurs during menopause. Some women may be at an increased risk for experiencing hot flashes, including those who: smoke, are obese, do not exercise or are African American.
While not all women will require treatment for hot flashes, those who do often benefit from hormone therapy or prescription medications to relieve the frequency and severity of this symptom. Restoring estrogen and progesterone levels through hormone therapy is often used to treat menopause in general and often help relieve hot flashes, while antidepressants and high blood pressure medications may be helpful as well. In most cases, hot flashes will subside on their own within a few years.
