Women’s health in Atlanta and Alpharetta GA: how to navigate menopause
Women’s health specialist shares how to manage menopause
Top women’s health experts can help you to deal with the bodily changes that will occur during this stage in your life, every person’s experience with menopause will be different and it may feel both isolating and frustrating. This is the reason why self-care during this time is important.
The terms perimenopause and menopause are used interchangeably, however, they both describe changes that are experienced just before or after the last period. Menopause is described as the last menstrual period, and it is confirmed when you haven’t had a period for 12 months consecutively.
What will happen during menopause?
Early on during their transition, women will often begin to have symptoms that can become disruptive such as mood disturbance and sleeplessness even while periods are still happening during a regular cycle. The higher levels of estrogen that accompany early perimenopause can mean that you will experience heavy bleeding, tender, swollen breasts, and increased premenstrual symptoms.
As you approach your late 30’s, your ovaries will begin to produce less estrogen and progesterone, these are the hormones that regulate your menstruation, and your fertility will start to decline. By the age of 40, you will begin noticing your periods start becoming more erratic and less frequent. On average, by your early 50’s, your ovaries will eventually stop releasing eggs and your periods will stop completely.
Should you see your doctor?
It is important for you to know if you’re experiencing light or mild symptoms, that the symptoms of menopause might start to disappear on their own. However, you should see your doctor if your symptoms are beginning to interfere with the quality of your life and interrupt your regular daily activities. The symptoms of menopause are common, however, your quality of life does not have to suffer because of it.
To help manage your symptoms, your doctor may prescribe specific treatments. They may also provide you with some extra counseling or guidance in other aspects of your health that can possibly be affected by your menopause.
Managing your menopause
Your options for managing your menopause will be customized to your own needs and your medical history. One or more of the following may be prescribed by your doctor:
- Vaginal cream
- Hormone replacement therapy
- Low-dose antidepressants
- Natural supplements
- Changes to your diet and exercise
Women’s specialist in Atlanta and Alpharetta GA: outlook for menopause
Going through the menopause, as with other major life changes, can leave you feeling slightly unbalanced and unsure of what is going to happen next. The symptoms that are experienced with menopause can last from a few months to years after your last period and can be unpredictable. Your doctor is there to help you no matter wherever you are in the process.
Contact your top Alpharetta and Atlanta OBGYN for your obstetrics and gynecology care.