Managing and Treating Menopause
It is estimated that nearly two million women reach menopause each year, with menopause beginning on average at age 51. For most women, menopause is marked by the end of monthly menstruation for 12 consecutive months. Menopause is a normal part of aging for women. Menopause is not a disease or disorder, but it can have a large effect on your life.
The symptoms for menopause can vary between each woman. Symptoms include:
- Hot flashes and night sweats. Hot flashes refer to a sudden feeling of heat in the face, neck and chest, often accompanied by flushing of the skin, perspiration (sweating), palpitations, and acute feelings of physical discomfort which can last several minutes
- Changes in the regularity and flow of the menstrual cycle, culminating in cessation of menstruation
- Vaginal dryness, pain during sexual intercourse and incontinence
- Difficulty sleeping/insomnia
- Changes in mood, depression, and/or anxiety.
Symptoms from menopause are common and should be brought up to your physician during your yearly check-up.
“When they do see us for their annual well-woman visit, or any anything else, those symptoms are important to bring up, because there are treatments for them that we offer here at Med Center Health,” said Dr. Benjamin Banasiewicz, OB-GYN at Med Center Health. “If you’re to the point where you’re not able to function on a daily basis, whether it is from the mood changes, the sleep disturbances, or from something like hot flashes, that is when it would be important to see a physician.”
Treatments available at Med Center Health for women experiencing increased symptoms of menopause include:
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Antidepressants
- Estrogen cream
- Veozah for treatment of hot flashes
If you are experiencing more mild symptoms of menopause, you may be able to address those symptoms by simply making changes in your daily life. Stopping smoking can help decrease symptoms, as well as maintaining a more well-regulated sleep routine. It is also recommended to stay active and exercise to help combat mood changes.
The menopause transition usually lasts around seven years, but symptoms may not be present all the time. However, how long menopause symptoms last can vary, and for some people they can last much longer.
“Menopause is different for each person,” said Dr. Banasiewicz. “Some symptoms can draw out for more than a decade, but for most people, it’s a few years, and depending on what symptoms they are, they change over time. With hot flashes, those tend to kind of peak and then they’ll slowly go away.”
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing severe symptoms of menopause, you can contact Med Center Health Women’s Health Specialists to be seen by a professional and to go over treatment options to help get you back to normal life. To make an appointment, call 270-781-0075.
