Menopause

What is menopause?

The female body produces fewer reproductive hormones as part of the natural aging process. When the ovaries decrease egg production and eventually stop producing eggs entirely, hormones change and cause the menstrual cycle to stop, resulting in menopause.

The average age of women entering menopause is 52. You are in menopause if you haven’t had a period for at least 12 consecutive months.

Before reaching menopause, most women experience perimenopause during their mid-to-late 40s. Women often experience the start of hot flashes and moodiness during this stage of life which lasts about four years before officially reaching menopause. 

What are the symptoms of menopause?

Menopause symptoms are a side effect of the decreasing hormone levels in your body and can last for many years. As you enter perimenopause, it’s common to experience irregular menstrual cycles that become further apart and occur less frequently. 

Symptoms of perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause include:

• Hot flashes
• Moodiness or irritability
• Anxiety
• Headaches
• Depression
• Vaginal dryness
• Decreased sex drive
• Urinary leakage
• Fecal incontinence
• Night sweats
• Weight gain
• Insomnia
• Hair loss and thinning hair 
• Memory problems 
• Breast tenderness

The list of perimenopause and menopause symptoms is long and can adversely affect a woman’s quality of life, but there are treatments available from Ideal Gynecology, LLC, to offer relief. 

What is postmenopausal bleeding?

Vaginal bleeding occurring a year after your periods have stopped is called postmenopausal bleeding. Postmenopausal bleeding can have a number of causes, including inflammation and thinning of the vaginal lining or womb lining, cervical or uterus polyps, and low estrogen levels. Post menopausal bleeding can be cancerous or precancerous.

If you experience postmenopausal bleeding, schedule an appointment at Ideal Gynecology, LLC, to determine the cause. Your provider can diagnose the cause using an in-office ultrasound, hysteroscopy, and biopsy.

How do I relieve menopause symptoms?

While menopause is an inevitable stage of life for women, you don’t have to live with the discomfort of menopause symptoms. Ideal Gynecology, LLC, offers a variety of treatments, including personalized pelvic muscle training to reduce urinary leakage and fecal incontinence, hormone replacement therapy, and a non-estrogen vaginal cream to relieve vaginal dryness.

The hormonal imbalance of menopause doesn’t have to cause an imbalance in life, too. To learn more about your perimenopausal or menopause symptoms and find relief, call Ideal Gynecology, LLC, or schedule an appointment online.