Menopause Specialist

What is menopause?

Menopause describes the time in a woman’s life when her menstrual cycles end and she can no longer bear children. Your ovaries gradually stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone that regulate your monthly cycle, and the process is completed when hormone production has ceased, and you’ve had no periods for a year or more. The process can take several years to complete as hormone levels adjust quite slowly, and this transition phase leading up to menopause is known as perimenopause.

Some women find they have little trouble with menopause, but for others, it can be a trying time with unpleasant side effects that disrupt their daily lives. If you’re struggling with menopausal symptoms, the team at The Guirguis Obstetrics & Gynecology Group has the skills and experience to help make the process more comfortable for you.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

There are a variety of symptoms, and women may be affected by one or all of them. Common problems women encounter include:

• Irregular periods
• Night sweats
• Hot flashes
• Depression
• Irritability and mood swings
• Changes in libido
• Vaginal dryness
• Painful intercourse (dyspareunia)
• Problems sleeping

These symptoms may be mild or severe. For example, some women find they feel warmer than normal every so often, while others feel distressingly hot to the point of dripping with sweat. Every woman is affected differently, so tailoring a treatment plan to your individual needs is essential.

What treatments are available for menopausal symptoms?

Thankfully, there’s a range of possible treatment solutions for the side effects of going through the menopause. One of the most well-known and effective is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). If you’re a suitable candidate for HRT, your doctor prescribes either estrogen alone or both estrogen and progesterone, the two hormones that your body is ceasing to produce.

These replacement hormones restore your body’s functioning and therefore reduce the side effects of menopause. You may be prescribed HRT in a variety of forms, such as pellets, creams, or patches, depending on which symptoms are troubling you the most.

Are there any side effects when taking HRT?

While it can be very helpful in reducing the unpleasant side effects of menopause, HRT may also cause side effects of its own. At your consultation, your doctor discusses the pros and cons of HRT, and together you’ll decide which treatment is most appropriate for you.

In some cases, like if you have a history of blood clots, HRT may not be recommended, in which case you’ll be able to discuss alternative treatment methods with your doctor.

The team at The Guirguis Obstetrics & Gynecology Group dedicates themselves to finding the safest and most effective solutions to problems associated with menopause, so call one of the offices today and make an appointment.