Menopause

• Oral hormone therapy
• Topical hormone therapy
• Non-hormonal therapy
• Osteoporosis screening

About Menopause

Menopause is the absence of menstrual periods for 12 months. It affects every woman and most commonly occurs in the late 40’s and early 50’s. During menopause women experience changes in hormone levels, which can affect everything from sleep, mood and risk of osteoporosis. The physicians at Oakdale Ob/Gyn are highly skilled at helping you manage these changes and reducing the negative effects that may be caused by menopause.

Early Signs of Menopause

Menopause rarely occurs before the age of 45; however some women may experience changes in their production of the hormones several years before menopause starts.

Some early signs of menopause include:

• A change in periods - shorter or longer, lighter or heavier, with more or less time in between
• Hot flashes and/or night sweats
• Trouble sleeping
• Vaginal dryness
• Mood swings
• Trouble focusing

Menopause Symptoms Almost all women going through menopause experience hot flashes – a warming sensation over the upper half of the body accompanied by blushing and sweating. Severity of hot flashes can vary from mild to severe. Other symptoms of menopausal may include: pain during intercourse, increased anxiety and/or irritability and the need to urinate more often. Symptoms related to menopause vary from woman to woman.

Menopause Treatments

Hormone Therapy
Hormone Therapy is a popular approach to relieving some of the symptoms related to menopause. A low dose of estrogen or progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone) hormone therapy may be able to relieve:

• Hot flashes and/or night sweats
• Trouble sleeping
• Vaginal dryness
• Mood swings

Hormone therapy may also reduce the woman’s risk osteoporosis and other illnesses linked with the decrease of estrogen, such as colon cancer and possibly Alzheimer’s disease.

Hormone therapy is not for everyone. Pre-existing conditions may make it unsafe for some women. Hormone therapy does not prevent heart disease and it can increase the risk of blood clots. Prolonged use may also increase the risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Hormone Therapy can be administered topically or orally. To figure out if hormone therapy is best for you, we at Oakdale Ob/Gyn would be happy to help you look at your options.

Non-Hormonal Therapy
A number of non-hormonal therapies to help relieve hot flashes are available both over-the-counter and by prescription. The goal of non-hormonal therapy is not to eliminate hot flashes, but to decrease their frequency and intensity.

To figure out if non-hormonal therapy is best for you, we at Oakdale Ob/Gyn would be happy to help you look at your options.

Osteoporosis Screening

Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones have lost minerals, especially calcium. This condition causes the bones to become, weak, brittle and susceptible to fractures. As women age and hormonal levels change because of Menopause, Osteoporosis becomes more common.

The US Preventive Task Force recommends that women who weigh less than 154 pounds should be screened for osteoporosis beginning at age 60. Women who do not fit these parameters should begin regular screenings at age 65.