In their mid to late forties, women begin the journey to menopause, with many suffering for years with distressing side effects. If you have trouble coping with menopause symptoms, visit Burlington OBGYN Associates Inc. in Burlington, Massachusetts. The dedicated doctors and nurse practitioners offer comprehensive menopause management that helps you overcome problems like hot flashes, mood swings, and vaginal dryness. Call Burlington OBGYN Associates Inc. or book an appointment online today for compassionate help managing your menopause.
The menopause management services Burlington OBGYN Associates Inc. provides help you get through the challenges menopause can cause.
Menopause is a natural process occurring as women age. Production of estrogen and progesterone (the hormones necessary for reproduction) slows, and your ovaries stop releasing eggs. You no longer have periods and can’t conceive any more children.
Menopause officially happens when you haven’t had a period for at least 12 consecutive months. Before this, your menstrual cycle is likely to change and become irregular, so your periods may happen every three or five weeks and then gradually get more infrequent. You might also experience spotting between periods.
The time leading up to menopause is perimenopause, which could last five or more years. The average age for menopause in American women is 51, but some women reach it earlier and others later.
Some women experience few or no problems during perimenopause and menopause. For others, it’s a distressing and uncomfortable experience. Symptoms that menopause can cause include:
If you suffer from symptoms like these that affect your quality of life, Burlington OBGYN Associates Inc. can help with comprehensive menopause management.
Menopause management is a whole-body approach to reducing your symptoms. Many women benefit from hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which increases estrogen and/or progesterone levels. HRT addresses some of the more severe menopause symptoms but isn’t suitable for everyone, so it’s vital to consult with your gynecologist.
Other treatments that can help with menopausal symptoms include medications like antidepressants. Topical estrogen creams and lubricant gels reduce vaginal dryness and prevent painful sex. You can also significantly improve your well-being by eating a nutritious, varied diet, exercising regularly, and reducing stress.
Postmenopausal years can create additional problems because low estrogen levels cause loss of bone density. This leads to osteoporosis and a high risk of fractures. Your gynecologist can order a bone density scan to check your bone health and advise on taking supplemental vitamin D and calcium to prevent the condition from worsening.
Call Burlington OBGYN Associates Inc. to schedule a menopause management consultation or book an appointment online today.