Menopause

What is menopause?

Menopause is the stage in every woman’s life when she stops getting her monthly period. Despite this cut-and-dry definition, you may begin to recognize some symptoms and changes long before you stop bleeding every four weeks or so. Your doctor diagnoses it after you’ve gone a full year without a period.

Most women hit menopause between the ages of 40 and 58, averaging at age 51. Women who smoke tend to experience menopause earlier than those who don’t. This wide age range encompasses woman at many stages of motherhood and life in general. It’s important to note that there is probably nothing amiss if you hit menopause earlier or later than your peers.

What causes menopause?

Menopause is a natural process that your body undergoes with age. After years of menstruating and continuously preparing to have children, your ovaries eventually stop producing eggs for reproduction altogether. Because of this, you are no longer able to have children naturally after you’ve hit menopause.

You may also hit menopause after having your ovaries removed or undergoing treatment for cancer and other diseases. Chemotherapy (for cancer) and hormone therapy can disable your ovaries’ ability to produce eggs, making you menopausal by definition.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

Menopause comes with a variety of symptoms, and it’s a different experience for each woman. Common symptoms include:

• Irregular sleep
• Irritability
• Hot flashes
• Vaginal dryness
• Chills
• Thinning hair
• Dry skin
• Weight fluctuation
• Incontinence

Since menopause can present itself in so many ways, it’s important for you to keep up on doctors’ visits to ensure that your symptoms are from menopause and not something more serious.

How can I manage my menopausal symptoms?

The symptoms of menopause can disrupt your life. Thankfully, Dr. DeLeon’s Woman’s Health Care offers several options for treatment and symptom management. First and foremost, it is important for you to come in for regular check-ups, including cancer screenings. Other options to manage your symptoms include:

• Antidepressants (for mood swings and depression)
• Consistent sleeping conditions (for trouble sleeping)
• Sleeping in a cold room (for cold sweats)
• Kegel exercises (for urinary incontinence)

Your doctor at Dr. DeLeon’s Woman’s Health Care assesses your menopause to develop a personalized treatment plan that targets your symptoms to give you the easiest transition possible into later life.

If you want to learn more about how menopause affects your body, call Dr. DeLeon’s Woman’s Health Care today.