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Menopause, a natural biological process, marks the end of a woman's reproductive years and typically occurs around the age of 45 to 55. While menopause is commonly associated with the cessation of menstrual periods, the transition into this stage of life often involves a range of symptoms that can begin months or even years before periods stop altogether.
Here are several symptoms of menopause that can creep in prior to periods stopping:
Irregular Menstrual Cycles
As women approach menopause, their menstrual cycles may become irregular, with variations in cycle length, flow, and frequency. This irregularity can manifest as shorter or longer cycles, skipped periods, or episodes of heavy or light bleeding. Tracking menstrual patterns can provide valuable insights into the transition to menopause.
Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
Hot flashes and night sweats are hallmark symptoms of menopause, characterized by sudden sensations of heat, flushing, and sweating. These symptoms can occur prior to periods stopping and may vary in intensity and frequency. Hot flashes and night sweats can disrupt sleep and affect overall quality of life for many women transitioning into menopause.
Vaginal Dryness and Discomfort
Decreased estrogen levels during perimenopause can lead to vaginal dryness, itching, and discomfort. These symptoms may result in pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse and can impact sexual health and intimacy. Using lubricants and moisturizers and discussing concerns with a healthcare provider can help manage vaginal dryness effectively.
Mood Changes and Emotional Symptoms
Hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause can contribute to mood changes, including irritability, anxiety, and mood swings. Some women may also experience symptoms of depression or heightened emotional sensitivity during this time. Prioritizing self-care, seeking support from loved ones, and considering counseling or therapy can help manage emotional symptoms.
Sleep Disturbances
Sleep disturbances, including insomnia and difficulty falling or staying asleep, are common during perimenopause. Hormonal changes, night sweats, and mood disturbances can all contribute to disrupted sleep patterns. Establishing a consistent bedtime routine, practicing relaxation techniques, and creating a conducive sleep environment can support better sleep quality.
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The transition into menopause is a unique and individual experience for every woman. While the cessation of menstrual periods is a defining characteristic of menopause, it's essential to recognize that the journey often begins with symptoms that can appear years before periods stop altogether. By understanding and acknowledging these symptoms, women can seek support, explore treatment options, and navigate this transformative phase with greater ease and empowerment. Remember, reaching out to healthcare providers for guidance and support is key to managing symptoms and promoting overall well-being during perimenopause and beyond.
Entering menopause marks a significant transition in a woman's life—a time when the body undergoes various changes, both physically and hormonally. While it's a natural phase, it's essential to prioritize your health and well-being during this period. Here are five crucial questions to ask your doctor about your health after menopause:
Understanding the physical changes that accompany menopause is crucial for managing your health effectively. From fluctuations in hormone levels to potential weight gain and changes in bone density, your doctor can provide valuable insights into what to expect and how to navigate these changes.
2. How Can I Manage Menopausal Symptoms?
Hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings—menopause can bring about a range of symptoms that impact your daily life. Your doctor can discuss various management strategies, including lifestyle modifications, hormone therapy options, and alternative therapies, to help alleviate discomfort and improve your quality of life.
3. What Should I Know About Bone Health?
After menopause, women are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis, a condition characterized by weakened bones. Talk to your doctor about bone health assessments, including bone density scans, and discuss strategies to maintain or improve bone density through diet, exercise, and, if necessary, medication.
4. Are There Any Screenings or Tests I Should Consider?
Menopause can also impact your risk factors for certain health conditions, such as heart disease, breast cancer, and osteoporosis. Your doctor can recommend appropriate screenings and tests based on your individual health profile to detect any potential issues early and take proactive steps to manage them.
5. What Can I Do to Support My Overall Health and Well-being?
Beyond managing menopausal symptoms and addressing specific health concerns, it's essential to prioritize your overall health and well-being. Your doctor can offer guidance on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including recommendations for diet, exercise, stress management, and preventive care measures tailored to your needs.
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Navigating the complexities of menopause requires proactive communication and collaboration with your healthcare provider. By asking these vital questions and engaging in open dialogue, you can empower yourself with the knowledge and resources needed to prioritize your health and thrive during this transformative phase of life. Remember, your health is your greatest asset—take the initiative to advocate for yourself and invest in your well-being.
There is one thing that all women have in common: periods. But every year, over a million of those women enter a new stage in their life when their periods cease to exist–a certain special interlude called menopause.
While menopause marks a new phase in life, getting there isn’t quick or easy. The process of going through the menopausal transition takes around four years on average and can bring with it a roller-coaster of emotions.
Every woman deserves to know what to expect in menopause and how to endure the change as pleasantly as possible. Our team of Las Vegas gynecologists is here to help. Here, we will cover the basics of menopause and how your doctor can assist during this important progression of your reproductive lifecycle.
You’ve probably experienced a mature woman talking about hot flashes, an uncomfortable symptom experienced by 75% of menopausal women. And you probably understand that menopause is the stage when a woman’s body stops ovulating permanently. But other than hot flashes and the end of fertility, what is menopause really? Menopause is commonly defined as “the cessation of menstruation.” Well yes, but there’s a little more to it than that.
There are three major phases of menopause that take years to complete:
Menopause is the natural and gradual process that every woman experiences when her ovaries reduce the production of reproductive hormones and stop releasing eggs.
It’s the changes in hormones that cause menopausal symptoms. During perimenopause, your body will gradually decrease estrogen production. Here are some common symptoms that could be signs you are entering perimenopause:
Your age, along with the above symptoms will help you and your Las Vegas gynecology team identify if you’re experiencing the first signs of your menopausal transition. Most women’s bodies begin the process between the ages of 45 to 58 years old, reaching menopause at age 52 on average.
Your doctor can order lab tests that measure hormones in order to determine whether you are entering menopause. Hormone levels during perimenopause can be very unpredictable. These tests are usually only needed if you suspect early menopause.
More than two-thirds of women say that their menopausal symptoms have interfered with their quality of life. Here are some natural tips to help during your transition:
If you’re still experiencing discomfort, our Las Vegas OBGYN team is available to provide guidance as well as additional options to manage your menopausal symptoms. Some treatments include hormone therapy, mood-stabilizing medications, and prescription supplements.
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Life after periods begins a whole new era. While you won’t have to worry anymore about getting your period or using birth control to prevent pregnancy, postmenopausal women tend to have a higher risk for osteoporosis and cardiovascular problems due to the changes in hormones. Prepare for menopause early and take care of your body along the way so that you can continue to enjoy every moment of your life post-menopause.
Menopause is manageable. If you or someone you know is going through this stage of life, you may be wondering how to manage menopause.
Menopause is a natural process that many people associate with uncomfortable symptoms. Many women report mood swings, hot flashes, night sweats, and weight gain. Despite the unpredictability, menopause is manageable. With a basic understanding and simple lifestyle choices, women can thrive during this time.
How do you manage some of the common complaints? Well, it helps to start with a grasp on what causes this change.
Menopause is a time in a woman’s life when the menstrual cycle stops. During this period, the ovaries produce less of a hormone called estrogen. Changing hormonal levels affect many body processes.
Three phases make up the process of menopause:
Premenopause (“pre” means "before"): years before periods stop, estrogen levels decrease and periods may become irregular
Perimenopause (“peri” means "around"): the ovaries lower estrogen production, and periods stop; when a woman has not bled in 12 months, she has reached menopause
Postmenopause (“post” means "after"): after menopause, symptoms become milder and less frequent
Menopause generally affects women in their 40’s or 50’s. Studies show that the onset age of menopause is affected by many factors, including genetics (age the mother began menopause), the number of pregnancies a woman has had, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and other factors. The average age for menopause in the United States is 52.
Symptoms may last during the postmenopausal time for up to four or five years, but they will become lighter.
Menopause varies among women. Yet, many report some common symptoms.
Empowering women with understanding about the natural process, and recommending lifestyle changes known to improve signs and symptoms, helps patients and their doctors manage menopause.
So, below you will find details about what causes these common complaints, and ways to manage them.
Mood swings happen with menopause because of changing hormone levels. Estrogen decreases during menopause. This important hormone relates to production and regulation of other key hormones such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.
Serotonin is a mood-stabilizing hormone. Thus, fluctuating estrogen levels can lead to a disruption in serotonin production.
In other words, women in perimenopause may notice that they feel more emotional, sensitive, anxious, or worried.
To reduce or prevent mood swings, women should practice healthy habits, including:
Doctors believe that night sweats and hot flashes occur during menopause because of hormones. Estrogen and progesterone hormones help to regulate body temperature. During the natural process of menopause, when hormone levels change, many women find that they experience periods of feeling very hot to the point of sweating, even though their environment has not changed. Night sweats are episodes that occur while sleeping.
Hot flashes vary from seconds to minutes. They may happen once a day or 20 times in a day. Some women never experience them at all.
To deal with hot flashes, women could:
Weight gain is another common complaint of menopause. And it happens because, you guessed it, hormone changes. Estrogen plays an essential role in regulating fat storage. As estrogen levels go down during menopause, there are changes in the way the body stores fat. Also, for many women in their 40’s and 50’s, activity levels decrease, and metabolism slows. This triple whammy makes weight gain probable.
To prevent menopausal weight gain, women might consider:
Menopause symptoms generally become less intense and less frequent as time goes on. Some women may experience few or none at all. Yet, if you feel like your symptoms are severe or disrupt your life, you should talk to your doctor. There are other medical treatments, such as medications or hormone replacement therapies, available.
To talk with one of our board-certified physicians, click below to schedule an appointment. My Virtual Physician offers comprehensive OB/GYN services to address women’s healthcare needs. Our caring experts can treat menopausal signs and symptoms. If you have suggestions for other topics you want to read about, let us know! Don’t forget to follow us on social media.
Have questions about menopause? You're not alone. We've answered some frequently asked questions to help you learn, prepare for, and navigate menopause!
Menopause is the time in a woman’s life, usually between the ages of 45 and 55, when the ovaries stop producing eggs (aka. ovulating) and menstrual periods end.
Great question! Menopause typically lasts 4-5 years.
Menopause does not happen suddenly; most women experience changes in their periods for years (typically 8-10) before they stop menstruating completely. During this time (called perimenopause or the menopausal transition), women often start to have menopausal symptoms as a result of declining levels of estrogen in the body. The transition from perimenopause to menopause is considered complete after a full year without a period. After menopause, symptoms subside and a woman enters postmenopause.
No. After menopause, a woman can no longer get pregnant.
Symptoms vary, but can include any of the following:
Menopause symptoms are caused by the ovaries producing less estrogen - this decreases by more than 90%!
There are a number of options available to ease the symptoms of menopause. These include estrogen (hormone therapy) and non-hormonal options.
We pulled our information for this blog off of our Patient Resources page on Menopause and Hormone Therapy, but there are other great sites out there to help, too! A few of our favorites are listed below:
Top Questions About Menopause @ womanshealth.gov
Menopause FAQs: Understanding the Symptoms @ menopause.org
Perimenopausal Bleeding and Bleeding After Menopause @ acog.org
Still have questions? Talk it through with one of our board-certified OBGYNs from the comfort of your home! Click here to book now!
