Menopause Management Specialist

What is menopause?

When you haven’t had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months, you’ve reached menopause and can no longer become pregnant.

During your reproductive years, your ovaries produce an egg each month. While they do this, they’re also providing the hormones progesterone and estrogen. As you near menopause, you go through perimenopause, and your ovaries begin creating lower levels of these hormones.

When your ovaries produce less estrogen and progesterone, two significant things happen. First, your body stops making eggs. At the same time, your menstrual periods grow less frequent and eventually stop. This process can happen gradually over several years, or occur suddenly.

Most women go through menopause when they’re 40-50 years of age. While it’s a natural part of the aging process, medical treatments like chemotherapy and surgical removal of your ovaries can also trigger it.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

Decreasing levels of estrogen and progesterone can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms that vary in severity and duration. Some women have symptoms for years, while others have no symptoms at all.

The first symptom of hormonal imbalance that you might notice is changes in your menstrual cycle, such as frequency and flow. Additional symptoms might include:

• Fatigue
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Lack of focus
• Mood swings
• Sleep issues
• Reduced libido
• Vaginal dryness
• Weight changes

Decreased estrogen can also cause vaginal laxity, or weakening of the vaginal tissues. This can lead to a variety of side effects, including urinary leakage, decreased vaginal sensitivity, and a vulva or labia that appear wrinkled or saggy.

How is menopause managed?

Dr. Esiely has more than 20 years of experience as an OB/GYN and understands the challenges associated with both perimenopause and menopause.

During your well-woman exam, Dr. Esiely reviews your symptoms as well as your personal and family medical history. He also performs a physical exam to evaluate the health of your vaginal tissues.

Based on your symptoms and exam, Dr. Esiely might recommend a variety of menopause management options, including:

• Exercise
• Vaginal estrogen
• Hormone therapy
• Dietary modifications
• Medications or supplements

Dr. Esiely offers Morpheus Vaginal Rejuvenation for thinning or weakness of the vaginal tissue associated with menopause.

Don’t suffer in silence from the hormone imbalance brought on by menopause. Call Health Wise Women or schedule an appointment online today to learn more about menopause management.