Menopause
Hot flashes, mood swings, and painful sex can be just a few of the frustrating symptoms of menopause. There’s no need for menopause to derail your everyday life, but to move through this transition comfortably and confidently, you need help from the OB/GYN experts at Fort Worth Obstetrics & Gynecology. The team offers tailored menopause solutions for every woman, so call the Fort Worth, Texas, office or schedule an appointment online today.
What is menopause?
Menopause is the normal biological transition when you stop menstruating at the end of your fertile years. Most women enter menopause at age 40-58, with the average age being 51.
During perimenopause, the period before menopause, you’ll typically have irregular periods and may have some symptoms as well.
You’re officially in menopause when you go 12 consecutive months without a period. Your hormones decrease significantly during menopause, which can cause many uncomfortable symptoms.
If you have an operation to remove your ovaries as part of a hysterectomy or during gender affirmation surgery, you’ll enter surgical menopause immediately. These are the primary reasons women in their 20s and 30s enter menopause.
What symptoms does menopause cause?
Menopause symptoms arise as your hormone levels change. Every woman may have different symptoms, but the most common menopause symptoms include:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Disturbed sleep
- Mood swings
- Chronic fatigue
- Weight gain
- Decreased libido
- Vaginal dryness
- Urinary incontinence
For some women, menopause symptoms are unbearable, while others have only mild sporadic issues. Fortunately, the team at Fort Worth Obstetrics & Gynecology is here to help you move through menopause comfortably.
What kind of treatments help with menopause symptoms?
Fort Worth Obstetrics & Gynecology offers a full range of menopause treatments, including individualized counseling to help you make helpful lifestyle changes.
Many women experience excellent symptom relief with hormone replacement therapy. With hormone replacement therapy, you take supplemental hormones to bring the levels back to their normal levels.
There are many different types of hormone replacement therapy, with estrogen options including:
- Oral tablets
- Nasal spray
- Topical gel
- Skin patches
- Vaginal ring
If you still have your uterus, you’ll typically need progestin along with estrogen. This combination of hormones reduces your chances of developing uterine cancer. Progestin comes in several forms, including tablets, patches, creams, suppositories, and intrauterine devices (IUDs).
The team prescribes hormone replacement therapy based on your particular symptoms and health needs.
Do I still need to use birth control in menopause?
You need to continue using birth control until you go 12 consecutive months with no period and the Fort Worth Obstetrics & Gynecology team confirms you’re in menopause.
Even if you have periods every few months or less, you can still get pregnant, so it’s important to continue birth control if you don’t want to have a baby.
With the proper symptom management, menopause can be a joyous transition rather than a difficult one. The Fort Worth Obstetrics & Gynecology team compassionately supports all your menopause needs; call the office or schedule an appointment online for help today.