Menopause Specialist

What is menopause?

Menopause is the time in your life when your menstrual cycle slows to a stop. You’ve officially reached menopause when you haven’t had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. Once you reach menopause, you can no longer ovulate or get pregnant.

As you approach menopause, you might have periods that come irregularly or infrequently. When they come, they might be shorter or longer than normal. The average woman reaches menopause at age 52, but you might get there a little later or earlier than that.

A stage leading up to menopause called perimenopause features hormone fluctuations of sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone. Perimenopause can last for up to a decade, but the average length is around four years. Symptoms happen during this time because of hormone fluctuations.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

Menopause symptoms start during perimenopause. They tend to be worse when perimenopause is shorter and the transition into menopause more abrupt. Beyond the changes in your periods, you might experience:

• Insomnia
• Weight gain
• Trouble concentrating
• Headaches
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Depression
• Hair thinning or loss
• Dry skin
• Reduced libido
• Vaginal dryness

The hormone changes that happen leading up to menopause can also have an impact on your bone health and density, putting you at a higher risk for osteoporosis, which can cause bone fractures. 

Menopause is a normal part of your lifespan, and mild symptoms aren’t of any concern. If your symptoms start to have a significant impact on your well-being, meet with Dr. Fomitcheva at South Shore Women's Care about treatment options. 

What treatments are available for menopause symptoms?

Treatments won’t and shouldn’t put a stop to menopause, but they can help ease some of the symptoms that often result from it. Hormone therapy, a treatment for severe menopause symptoms, helps replace some of the hormones your body stops producing. 

Aside from hormone therapy, Dr. Fomitcheva can recommend other strategies to ease specific symptoms, like sleep medications for insomnia or vaginal lubricants for sexual health. The following strategies can also help with menopause symptoms:

• Nutritional counseling
• Nutritional supplements
• Exercise
• Relaxation
• Skin care products and regimens
• Smoking cessation
• Limiting alcohol intake

If you have any questions or concerns about your periods as you approach menopause or any of your symptoms, South Shore Women's Care is happy to help.

To find out more about menopause and treatments for your symptoms, schedule an appointment over the phone or online at South Shore Women's Care today.