Menopause Specialist

What is Menopause?

Menopause is the time when a woman concludes her fertile years. As a woman goes through menopause, her hormone levels (particularly estrogen) will decline. This lower hormone level leads to some changes as the body makes the adjustment. Menopause is not confirmed until a woman has missed her period for 12 months consecutively. If there are any other causes for any of the missed periods, it may take longer to confirm menopause.

When Does a Woman Enter Menopause?

It can vary from one woman to another. On average, most women are around age 51 when they start menopause. However, it can happen much earlier or much later than this as well.

How Does the Body Change While in Menopause?

Not every woman has all menopause symptoms. Some people have very notable and difficult symptoms while others have a relatively easy menopause. Some common problems during menopause include: Night sweats, trouble going to sleep and staying asleep, hot flashes, mood swings, decrease in sex drive, vaginal dryness, and memory problems. These changes can be difficult, but they are manageable with the help of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) or other treatment options.

How Does HRT Work?

Hormone replacement therapy works by replacing the hormones that the body is no longer producing. Adding the estrogen and other hormones back into the body will allow the patient to start functioning more like they did before menopause began. Symptoms like hot flashes are often eliminated with hormone replacement therapy. Hormone replacement therapy can be done in a number of different ways, including pills, patches, and topical gels. There are also plant-based bio-identical hormones that can be inserted in the body and then regularly delivered through a pellet delivery system. Every delivery method has its own advantages and possible drawbacks, so each woman can work with her doctor to determine the best route for her.