Women begin menopause after living for one year without having a menstrual period. This natural change occurs when the ovaries stop making the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Like many women, you may think of menopause as a years-long transition marked by symptoms, such as hot flashes, but these symptoms may also occur during a period leading up to menopause called perimenopause, which usually begins during a woman’s 30s or 40s. Menopause, on average, begins when a woman is in her early 50s — although symptoms may continue for years.
For some women, the transition to menopause is relatively smooth, while for others, symptoms can disrupt life in many ways. You may have trouble sleeping, find it difficult to concentrate, feel irritable or depressed, or have problems with bladder control. The good news is that many options exist to help manage symptoms. The obstetrics and gynecology specialists at Saint Francis Health System can work with you to find solutions that can make “the change” easier and less challenging to manage.
Diagnosis
Every woman’s experience with menopause is different. Some women may experience minimal symptoms, and others may deal with uncomfortable side effects. A wide range of symptoms are possible, including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Difficulty focusing on tasks or remembering information
- Hot flashes, which tend to affect the upper body and face and vary in duration and frequency
- Missing periods
- Mood changes
- Night sweats
- Pain during sex
- Periods that are longer or shorter and heavier or lighter than normal
- Trouble falling or staying asleep
- Urinary incontinence
- Vaginal dryness and more frequent vaginal infections
Your physician can diagnose perimenopause or menopause based on the symptoms you report. He or she may also order a blood test to check your levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and estradiol, a type of estrogen hormone. These hormones help regulate the reproductive system, and menopause affects the levels of both.
Treatment and Services
Your experiences with perimenopause and menopause are unique. Your plan for managing symptoms should be, too. At Saint Francis Health System, our OB/GYNs have many resources available to help you find relief and rediscover life’s joys. Treatment options include:
- Menopausal hormone therapy — This prescription medication can reduce hot flashes and other symptoms. Menopausal hormone therapy carries risks, however, and may not be appropriate if you have certain health conditions. Discuss the risks and benefits of this treatment with your physician.
- Hormonal birth control — This type of birth control can help control symptoms during perimenopause.
- Prescription medications — Your physician can prescribe a variety of medications that target certain symptoms. These drugs include antidepressants and selective estrogen receptor modulators that can help with hot flashes.
- Over-the-counter medications — Non-prescription drugs and other products may help relieve specific symptoms, such as pain and vaginal dryness.
- Complementary therapies — Some women find acupuncture, yoga or herbal supplements helpful for treating symptoms. Research into these therapies’ effectiveness is ongoing. Your physician can help you decide whether they’re safe and worthwhile for you to try.
We're Here to Help You Through Menopause
The years leading up to and following menopause can be challenging, but you don’t have to face them alone. Saint Francis Health System can help. Call Saint Francis HealthLink at 918-488-6688 to learn more or find an OB/GYN near you.