Menopause
Hot flashes, mood swings, and painful sex can be just a few of the frustrating symptoms of menopause. There’s no need for menopause to derail your everyday life, but to move through this transition comfortably and confidently, you need help from the OB/GYN experts at Fort Worth Obstetrics & Gynecology. The team offers tailored menopause solutions for every woman, so call the Fort Worth, Texas, office or schedule an appointment online today.
What is menopause?
Menopause is the normal biological transition when you stop menstruating at the end of your fertile years. Most women enter menopause at age 40-58, with the average age being 51.
During perimenopause, the period before menopause, you’ll typically have irregular periods and may have some symptoms as well.
You’re officially in menopause when you go 12 consecutive months without a period. Your hormones decrease significantly during menopause, which can cause many uncomfortable symptoms.
If you have an operation to remove your ovaries as part of a hysterectomy you’ll enter surgical menopause immediately. These are the primary reasons women in their 20s and 30s enter menopause.
What symptoms does menopause cause?
Menopause symptoms arise as your hormone levels change. Every woman may have different symptoms, but the most common menopause symptoms include:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Fatigue
- Disturbed sleep
- Mood swings
- Chronic fatigue
- Weight gain
- Decreased libido
- Vaginal dryness
- Painful intercourse
- Urinary incontinence
For some women, menopause symptoms are unbearable, while others have only mild sporadic issues. Fortunately, the team at Fort Worth Obstetrics & Gynecology is here to help you move through menopause comfortably.
What kind of treatments help with menopause symptoms?
Fort Worth Obstetrics & Gynecology offers a full range of menopause treatments, including individualized counseling to help you make helpful lifestyle changes.
Many women experience excellent symptom relief with hormone replacement therapy. With hormone replacement therapy, you take supplemental hormones to bring the levels back to their normal levels.
There are many different types of hormone replacement therapy, with estrogen options including:
- Oral tablets
- Pellet therapy
- Topical gel
- Patches
- Vaginal ring
If you still have your uterus, you’ll typically need progestin along with estrogen. This combination of hormones reduces your chances of developing uterine cancer. Progestin comes in several forms, including tablets, patches, creams, suppositories, and intrauterine devices (IUDs).
The team prescribes hormone replacement therapy based on your particular symptoms and health needs.
We have therapies tailored to vaginal health as well. Emfemme 360. This is a short, painless – 8-minute – in-office vaginal treatment that addresses so many of the concerns women have from painful intercourse, vaginal dryness, and urinary incontinence.
Bone and muscle loss during menopause
Beginng at age 30, women typically lose 3-5% of their muscle mass every decade! not only does this loss affect our ability to loss weight, but affects our balance and daily lives. Maintaining the muscle mass is also key to bone health. Having a daily regimen for weight bearing exercises will assist women to maintain their strength and decrease the future consequences that could include: balance loss, falls and, losing mobility.
With the proper symptom management, menopause can be a joyous transition rather than a difficult one. The Fort Worth Obstetrics & Gynecology team compassionately supports all your menopause needs; call the office or schedule an appointment online for help today.