- Average age women experience menopause is 51
- Menopause is reached when a woman has not had a period for 1 year
- Symptoms for menopause can be mild to severe
- Biodentical hormone therapy available as treatment for menopause
- Natural and herbal therapies for symptoms for menopause
Menopause is the point in a woman’s life when her period ends. Perimenopause is the time leading up to a woman’s last period. For most women, this occurs after the age of 45, with the average age being 51. A woman is considered to have reached menopause when she has not had a period for one year. But, a woman can experience changes and mild to severe symptoms for several years before menopause.
Symptoms for Menopause include:
- Irregular periods – longer or shorter, heavier or lighter, more or less frequent
- Trouble sleeping
- Hot flashes
- Vaginal dryness / discomfort having sex
- Urinary incontinence
- Mood swings
- Osteoporosis
- Become forgetful / Have trouble focusing
Symptoms for menopause could become severe enough that they disrupt your normal lifestyle. This is the point that you want to talk to your doctor. All the practitioners at Partners in Women’s Health Care are available to discuss how to best manage the effects of menopause in your body.
Help your doctor help you by writing down your menopause-related symptoms. Track what bothers you, how often it occurs, and the severity with which it happens. Take this to your appointment to discuss with your doctor. Download this Menopause Symptom Tracker to help you in your efforts.
One of the most common and effective treatments for menopause is biodentical hormone therapy. Biodentical hormones are sometimes called “natural” hormones because they are identical to the hormones that a woman’s body makes. Biodentical hormones are synthesized in a lab and are available in two types: pharmaceutical products that have been approved by the FDA and custom-made products that may have FDA approved ingredients but are not regulated by the FDA. Both types are available as pills, creams, rings, patches, gels, or injections. Patsy Harman, CNM specializes in the treatment of menopause symptoms with biodentical hormone therapy.
It’s important to remember that you have alternatives available to you when treating symptoms for menopause. Whether it’s working with your doctor on natural alternatives and herbal treatments, or menopausal hormone therapy (formerly called hormone replacement therapy), you have options.
The best way to determine which treatment option is the best for you is to make an appointment with Partners in Women’s Health Care. Your practitioner will discuss your medical history, your risk of side effects, and what your goals for treatment are.
Make an appointment today by calling us at 304-599-6811 or fill out an appointment scheduling form, and start dealing with your symptoms for menopause.
