When it comes to menopause, there are more myths, misconceptions and stigmas causing confusion than there is education. Many women don’t understand their treatment options. We want to help give you the information you need to make the best healthcare decisions.
Read on to learn all about menopause, the treatment options you have and how to talk to your doctor about it.
Three Stages Of Menopause
It takes your body years to go through the three stages of menopause. Here is a description of each stage and what you can expect during each.
1. Perimenopause
This is the time leading up to menopause when you have changes in your menstrual cycle, and it’s possible to experience the beginnings of menopause symptoms like hot flashes. During this time your ovaries gradually produce less estrogen. This can happen for 8-10 years before menopause. During this stage, you’ll still have periods and can still get pregnant.
2. Menopause
Menopause is when you haven’t had a period for one full year. This marks the end of reproduction because your ovaries stop releasing eggs, and they stop producing most of your estrogen.
3. Postmenopause
This stage occurs when you have gone one year without a period. You can still experience menopause symptoms, but they usually improve. During this time women are at increased risk of health conditions like heart disease and osteoporosis
Signs of Menopause
If you’re wondering if you’re experiencing menopause, here are some symptoms you can look for:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
- Pain during sex
- Urgency to pee
- Trouble sleeping or insomnia
- Irritability, mood swings
- Depression
- Headaches
- Changes in sex drive
- Hair thinning or loss
- Weight gain
- Difficulty remembering things
If you’re unsure if you’re going through menopause, talk to your healthcare provider about it. A blood test detecting elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, as well as a description of your symptoms, can help determine if you are in menopause and discuss different treatment options.
Treatment for Menopause
Menopause has been misunderstood for years, and many women aren’t offered any treatment. Knowing what treatment options are available is important so you can ask your healthcare provider if they are right for you.
Hormone therapy
Hormone replacement therapy replaces estrogen in your body to reduce your menopause symptoms. For women who have had a hysterectomy, estrogen is given. For women who still have a uterus, an estrogen-progesterone combination is given.
Low-dose vaginal products can be given to women experiencing vaginal dryness. These hormones do not go into the bloodstream but can make you more comfortable and reduce urinary tract infections.
Bioidentical hormone treatments
Bioidentical hormones are sometimes called “natural” hormones because they come from plant sources. They are made in a lab and are altered to act like human hormones. Some bioidentical hormones are FDA-approved, so regulations ensure they are safe and effective.
Other bioidentical hormones are made by a compounding pharmacy using different hormones. With compounds, each hormone is FDA-approved, but the various combinations aren’t. You can always talk to a healthcare provider or pharmacist to determine if this option is right for you.
Complementary Alternative Medicines (CAM)
Complementary alternative medicine describes practices that aren’t considered part of “mainstream” medicine. This includes the use of herbs, supplements, acupuncture and mindfulness practices.
Some supplements and herbs have side effects or interact with medications. It’s always best to contact your primary care doctor before you add these to your regimen.
Here are a few examples of complementary alternative medicine treatments:
Ginseng: An herbal remedy that may improve sleep and mood. Side effects may include upset stomach and headaches.
Melatonin: A hormone that can help you with sleep symptoms.
Acupuncture: May improve insomnia, mood swings and hot flashes.
Massage, meditation and yoga: Help relieve stress, help improve sleep and reduce stress overall.
Nonhormonal treatments
Nonhormonal treatments are a great option for women at an increased risk for heart disease and breast cancer. These treatments often use medications for other conditions that can help manage menopause symptoms. One example is the use of antidepressants for hot flashes and mood swings.
Many women don’t want to use hormone therapy, so it’s important to know that you can explore many different nonhormonal treatments with your doctors.
Lifestyle changes
Lifestyle changes like a healthy diet, exercise and getting enough calcium can reduce menopause symptoms and your risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. Here are some of the best lifestyle changes you can make to help with menopause symptoms:
- Stop smoking
- Decrease alcohol use
- 30 minutes of exercise a day
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Get mammograms as directed by your healthcare provider
What are the long-term health risks associated with menopause?
After menopause, women are at a higher risk of heart disease and osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis: Estrogen preserves bone mass and with less of it, you’re more likely to have brittle bones. You can talk to your doctor about prevention strategies and screenings like bone density tests to determine your risk.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Estrogen keeps your heart tissue healthy, so after menopause, you’re at risk for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) because of the drop in estrogen. Your overall risk for heart disease includes other factors, such as your family history and lifestyle.
If you’re worried you might be at risk for these health issues, ask your healthcare provider about your specific risk.
Questions You Can Ask Your Healthcare Provider
It’s important to understand the changes your body is going through and all of your treatment options. If you’re unsure what to ask your doctor, here are some questions to help you get the conversation started.
- What are the triggers for hot flashes?
- What treatments should I consider for my symptoms?
- Am I a good candidate for hormone replacement therapy?
- Are there side effects to hormone replacement therapy?
- What is my risk for heart disease and osteoporosis?
- What are nonhormonal treatments I can try?
Hormone Testing For Menopause
Hormone testing isn’t necessary to diagnose menopause, but you could ask your healthcare provider about it. In some cases they could run blood tests to determine your levels of:
- Estradiol
- Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
The levels of these hormones fluctuate during the stages of menopause and could help diagnose menopause if needed.
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