Menopause Specialist

What is menopause?

Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when she stops menstruating. You officially reach menopause when you go 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. However, the time leading up to this is called perimenopause and can cause numerous bothersome symptoms and complications.

During perimenopause, your hormones fluctuate a lot as they trend downward. Eventually, your ovaries produce far fewer estrogen and progesterone hormones than before. Your menstrual periods become irregular and hard to predict, and you might not get them for months at a time. For some women, perimenopause can last up to a decade.

Most women start perimenopause in their mid-40s, but it can start earlier or later for some. While you can no longer get pregnant once you reach menopause, there is still a possibility of pregnancy during perimenopause.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

In most cases, symptoms associated with menopause start to appear during perimenopause and often level out once you reach menopause. If you have a hysterectomy that removes your uterus and ovaries, menopause happens immediately. 

Also, certain factors, like smoking, can make your menopause symptoms more prolonged or severe. 

Beyond the changes in your menstrual cycle, the symptoms of menopause vary among women and may include:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Insomnia
• Vaginal dryness
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Weight gain
• Memory and concentration problems
• Headaches
• Tender breasts
• Dry skin
• Hair loss or thinning
  
  

Additionally, the process of menopause can make your bones weaker and leave you prone to osteoporosis, a condition that depletes your bone mass. The LoneStar Clinic team assesses you for this complication and others if you come in for menopause treatment. 

How can I manage the symptoms of menopause?

For many women, the symptoms of menopause are severe enough to interfere with their work, relationships, or other parts of day-to-day life. This is because of an underlying hormone imbalance. 

To treat your menopausal symptoms, the OB/GYN team at LoneStar Clinic might recommend BioTE® bioidentical hormone therapy. During this treatment, they implant a hormone pellet beneath your skin. To minimize potential side effects, they prescribe the lowest possible dose of hormones and for the shortest amount of time to control your symptoms. 

For menopause symptoms, hormone therapy involves either estrogen or both estrogen and progesterone. BioTE hormones are bioidentical, so they’re structurally identical to your natural hormones and function in the same way. 

If you experience menopause symptoms that disrupt your daily life, don’t hesitate to book a consultation for hormone replacement therapy at LoneStar Clinic. Call the office nearest you or book online today.