My Menopause Symptoms Are Making Me Miserable; Can You Help?

Menopause (and the perimenopause that comes before it) is a major milestone in a woman’s life, the time at which she can no longer bear children. Unfortunately, though, the lead-up time before it can be tumultuous, with uncomfortable symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, moodiness, and dry tissues.

Our team of experienced physicians at Women's Health Specialists, PLLC, understands the difficulty of perimenopause and menopause, which is why we offer a number of different treatment options to help you get through the rough patches. In this blog, the team tackles the symptoms you may experience and explains how we can help.

What are perimenopause and menopause?

Menopause occurs when a woman hasn’t had a menstrual cycle for 12 consecutive months and can no longer bear children. Symptoms, though, start a number of years before, and this period is called perimenopause.

Every woman is different, but perimenopause generally starts in your mid- to late 40s and lasts till you’re around 51-52. During this time, you may have more or less frequent periods and  heavier-than-normal or lighter-than-normal flow, and your periods may skip a month or two, then return.

The most common symptoms are:

• Shifting moods, irritability, and/or anxiety
• Hot flashes, especially in the face, neck, and chest
• Night sweats
• Palpitations
• Skin changes, including dryness or adult acne
• Trouble sleeping
• Vaginal dryness
• Loss of libido
• Feelings of loss of self and self-confidence
• Problems with memory and concentration
• “Brain fog”
• Joint stiffness and/or pain
• Headaches or migraine attacks
• Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Urinary urge and stress incontinence

The changing hormone levels in your body at this time also increase your risk of developing other problems, such as osteoporosis (bone thinning) and cardiac disease.

Treatment options: how we can help

Women’s Health Specialists, PLLC, specializes in helping you manage your menopause symptoms and reduce your risk of developing complications. 

If you’re experiencing severe or numerous symptoms, we find one of the most effective ways to manage them is through hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT increases your estrogen levels, either with synthetic or bioidentical hormones, the latter of which come from plants. 

Another option is to target specific menopause symptoms directly, like prescribing antidepressants for depression and sleep medications for insomnia. In addition, we may suggest healthy lifestyle changes you can make that will promote your overall health and well-being. 

Women’s Health Specialists, PLLC, can also help you manage the issues that come with sexual dysfunction, such as painful sex or low libido. As your skin becomes drier, so, too, does your vaginal tissue. Topical estrogen can correct the problem quite easily. And HRT, by balancing hormone levels, takes care of low libido.

Want to learn more about what your body goes through during menopause? Are you ready to schedule a consultation to learn how to manage your symptoms? Call our office today in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, at 615-907-2040, or book your appointment online.