Menopause

Menopause is a natural process but can cause problems like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and mood swings in many women. If you’re finding it hard to cope with menopause, contact board-certified gynecologist Kristen Matsik, MD, at Women’s Wellness and Sexual Health in Charleston, South Carolina. Dr. Matsik specializes in helping women thrive throughout this time of change. To schedule an appointment to discuss your concerns regarding menopause, reach out using the online booking feature today. 

What is menopause?

Menopause is the end of a woman’s ability to conceive and bear a child. It’s a natural part of the reproductive cycle, occurring when your ovaries stop producing eggs and you no longer have periods.

Most women reach menopause around age 50, although several years on either side is perfectly normal. Officially, menopause begins when you’ve not had a period for 12 consecutive months — before that, you’re in perimenopause.

Perimenopause can last for many years, although the average is four. Typically beginning in a woman’s forties, the trigger is a slowing down of estrogen and progesterone production. Your ovaries make these hormones, which regulate your menstrual cycle and play a critical role in conception and pregnancy.

As you age, hormone levels gradually decline, and you might develop side effects from their loss.

What problems might I experience with menopause?

During perimenopause, your periods might be irregular, for example, every three or five weeks. You might bleed between periods and experience other changes like more or less pain and bleeding than usual. Other perimenopause symptoms include:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Difficulty sleeping
• Vaginal dryness
• Painful intercourse
• Mood swings
• Depression and anxiety
• Brain fog
• Decreased libido

You won’t be aware of it, but your bones become less dense and more brittle when your body lacks estrogen. You might develop osteoporosis in later life and suffer frequent fractures. Your heart disease and stroke risk also increases.

Some women don’t suffer too much during perimenopause, while others experience side effects that significantly affect their quality of life.

What can I do about menopause side effects?

All women benefit from healthy lifestyle changes during perimenopause and menopause, such as

• Eating a diet with whole foods, fiber, protein, and omega-3's
• Stress reduction
• Exercising regularly
• Getting adequate sleep
• Reducing alcohol intake

Planning for the future and the next exciting stage in your life is also important.

If you experience specific problems like vaginal dryness, topical estrogen can help by stimulating natural lubrication. Using a vaginal lubricant during sex also improves comfort. If your symptoms are more widespread, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) could be the answer.

HRT replaces lost hormones, reversing or reducing many menopause symptoms. Women’s Wellness and Sexual Health prescribes bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), which are hormones that have the same chemical and molecular structure as those that are produced by the body.

Call Women’s Wellness and Sexual Health to learn more about caring for your well-being during menopause. You can also schedule a consultation by completing the online booking feature at any time.