What is menopause?

Menopause is a natural biological process marked by the absence of a menstrual cycle for at least a year. 

Menopause follows perimenopause, a time during which your body produces fewer and fewer reproductive hormones until you stop menstruating altogether. This can happen over the course of several years.

If you have female reproductive organs, you can expect to go through menopause. On average, in the United States, women start menopause around the age of 51. You can also naturally begin menopause in your 40s.

Some women experience early menopause as a result of certain procedures, treatments, and conditions. Examples include a hysterectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, and primary ovarian insufficiency.

How can you tell you’re entering menopause?

You can recognize menopause through the various changes it causes in your body, such as:

• Irregular periods
• Vaginal dryness
• Dry skin
• Thinning hair
• Loss of breast fullness
• Weight gain
• Pain during sex

Menopause can also cause mood swings and irritability. Especially after you go to bed, you may be bothered by symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and chills.

How can I treat my menopause symptoms?

Even though menopause is unpleasant by nature, you don’t have to accept all of your symptoms. Instead, you can treat them in different ways. In particular, you should seek out treatment if your menopause causes:

• Unbearable symptoms
• Postmenopausal vaginal bleeding
• Depression

When you go to FemmPro OB/GYN for menopause care, the practice starts by talking to you about your symptoms, health history, and lifestyle.

Medical treatments like hormone replacement therapy can help ease your uncomfortable menopause symptoms. However, FemmPro OB/GYN offers and emphasizes in-office counseling that addresses your menopause symptoms by encouraging healthy lifestyle change.

For example, you can fight against the weight gain, depression, and chronic conditions to which you’re more susceptible during and after menopause by:

• Getting sufficient calcium and vitamin D for your body
• Maintaining your current (healthy) body weight
• Quitting all tobacco use immediately
• Eating a diet rich in whole grains, fibers, fruits, and veggies and low in fats

Menopause also puts you at a higher risk for osteoporosis. You can work against this by engaging weight-bearing exercises, dancing, or stair climbing to strengthen your bones.

If menopause is causing you pain and discomfort, or you’re struggling to manage your health post-menopause, reach out to FemmPro OB/GYN today. Schedule your appointment over the phone or online via ZocDoc today.