Menopause - Vitality Hormone Clinic

What is menopause?

Menopause is a natural biological process that all women experience as they age. It refers to the point when a woman stops having her monthly menstrual cycles. This typically occurs between ages 45-55, with the average age being 51.

Perimenopause - the period of years leading up to menopause - actually marks the start of the transition. During this time, women may experience atypical menstrual, sleep, mood, and other symptoms, as their bodies move towards menopause.

Key things to know about menopause

• It is diagnosed after 12 months without a period. At this point, a woman is considered postmenopausal.
• Estrogen levels decline during the menopausal transition. Lower estrogen causes menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, sleep problems, and emotional changes.
• Menopause signals the end of fertility. Postmenopause, a woman can no longer get pregnant naturally.
• The timing of menopause is partly genetic. If your mom had early menopause, you may too. But lifestyle choices like smoking can also influence when it occurs.
• Most women will live over 30 years of their life postmenopausal! So it's a significant life stage.

Managing menopausal symptoms

While some women sail through “the change”, others struggle with troubling symptoms that disrupt quality of life. If you're struggling, there are solutions:

• Hormone therapy - Estrogen and/or progesterone supplements can effectively treat hot flashes, night sweats, bone loss, and vaginal atrophy related to menopause. The experts at Vitality Hormone Clinic can help determine if it's the right choice for you.
• Lifestyle changes - Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, practicing stress management, and not smoking can relieve some symptoms.
• Other medications and supplements - Things like antidepressants, gabapentin, clonidine, and dietary supplements may also help when added to the mix.

The bottom line? Menopause signals the end of fertility, not the end of vibrant, healthy living. With the right solutions, you can manage symptoms and continue thriving through midlife and beyond! Vitality Hormone Clinic has helped hundreds of women successfully navigate menopause. Schedule a consultation today to discuss the latest individualized treatment options.