The official definition of menopause is when you haven’t had a period in over a year.

Every woman is born with a finite number of eggs. As we age, the ovaries begin to slow in releasing functioning eggs—until they stop when we have no functioning eggs left. At the same time, the ovaries begin to produce less and less of the reproductive hormones progesterone and estrogen.

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When will I go through menopause?

There is a wide range of ages at which women hit menopause, though on average, the year is 51.

You may be in pre-menopause, also called perimenopause, as early as your mid-30s to late 40s. The typical length you’d be in perimenopause is four years, but it can last as long as 10 years or be as short as a few months. Perimenopause is not the actual beginning of menopause; it’s the period of time that occurs before the big M.

Most often, early or premature menopause happens because a woman has had a hysterectomy with removal of the ovaries, whether because of ovarian or cervical cancer, fibroids, or some other reason. Chemotherapy (with or without surgery) can also damage your ovaries and cause early menopause.

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What are signs of menopause?

• Hot Flashes. 

• Night Sweats. Hot flashes that happen at night.

• Insomnia. 

• Urinary Frequency or Urgency. 

• Mood Swings. 

• Depression and Anxiety. 

• Vaginal Dryness and Pain During Sex. 

• Loss of Libido. 

• Memory Changes and Brain Fog.

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How Long Does Menopause Last? 

Symptoms are usually most pronounced in the first two years of menopause, and for some women, the issues tend to subside after they’ve been in menopause for a year or two. Unfortunately, though, it’s not uncommon for these side effects to stick around for as long as eight to 10 years, beginning in perimenopause and continuing for four to five years after menopause.

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What Is the Best Treatment for Menopause?

This isn’t an illness, it’s a natural process.

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Hormone replacement therapy:

The main purpose of HRT is to improve severe menopausal symptoms. Some of the common ones experienced are hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, vaginal dryness, low libido, and trouble sleeping. Some women also experience bone loss which can lead to osteoporosis or brittle bone, increasing the risk of bone fractures.

 

 Some main benefits include:

• Boost in energy

• Better moods

• Improved sleep

• Enhanced sex drive

• Increased vaginal lubrication

• Increase in bone mass

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What are Bioidential Hormones?

Bioidentical hormones are molecularly identical to the hormones women’s bodies naturally make but are constructed with plant chemicals. There are FDA-approved options (including bioidentical and naturally derived choices) that are safe because they have been tested and have set amounts.

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Do we treat Perimenopause (early menopause?)

The early stages of perimenopause are characterized by fluctuating estrogen levels and shorter menstrual cycles. As you progress into late perimenopause, your estrogen levels start declining, and you develop more menstrual irregularities like missed periods, in addition to symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and vaginal dryness.

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Most women enter perimenopause in their 40s (the average age is 47) and reach menopause in approximately four years. However, you can start having premenopausal symptoms as early as your mid- to late-thirties, and perimenopause can last for up to 10 years for some women.

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