Menopause is defined as the period that marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles. This transition occurs when a woman has not menstruated in 12 consecutive months. At this stage of life, the ovaries will stop releasing eggs and producing estrogen hormones.
Women who reach a certain age tend to experience menopause. It generally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. However, the age can vary as some women may experience it before they turn 40. There can be three stages to this natural transition.
The three stages of menopause are:
- Perimenopause: The perimenopause phase usually begins several years before menopause. This stage can cause irregular periods and marks the drop of estrogen levels.
- Menopause: This period begins 12 months after the last period or when menstruation is ceased clinically.
- Postmenopause: This period refers to the years after menopause. Although, it becomes difficult to estimate as and when menopause finishes and postmenopause starts.
Symptoms of a menopause
Most women develop menopause symptoms about four years before their last period. Moreover, a small number of women may also develop menopause symptoms for up to a decade before it actually occurs. Period irregularities are the first sign of menopause. When menopause starts, you may experience the signs and symptoms including:
- Irregular periods
- Vaginal dryness
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Sleep problems
- Thinning hair and dry skin
- Loss of breast fullness
- Weight gain and slowed metabolism
However, the symptoms and treatment for menopause can vary among women
When to see a doctor
Menopause is not a health problem as it is a natural transition. However, it involves unwanted physical and mental changes. A woman who has concerns about these changes should seek medical advice.
Diagnosis for Menopause
Although menopause is not an illness, it is advisable to see your doctor when menstruation ends. A doctor can ask some questions to confirm whether the reason for this change is perimenopause or menopause. Hormonal tests can be prescribed in certain conditions. A doctor can prescribe urine or blood analysis to rule out other health issues.
At Vardaan, our team of specialists can answer your questions regarding menopause. A patient of ours was treated by one of our expert doctors for symptoms associated with menopause. She stated us as,” Best place with the best treatment. The staff is very cooperative. Doctors are highly qualified.”
You can be asked to undergo prescribed tests so as to start the treatment.
Hormone therapy
During menopause, your body may go through major hormonal changes. Hormone therapy is a treatment that helps balance the body’s hormone level by providing supplemental estrogen. The therapy focuses on replacing the estrogen that your body no longer makes. Moreover this therapy can reduce the occurrence of hot flashes and other symptoms and treatment for menopause
Basic types of hormone therapy
- Estrogen therapy: Estrogen therapy is the best and most effective treatment for menopausal relief. Doctors may suggest estrogen hormonal therapy to ease vaginal symptoms of dryness, itching and discomfort. Estrogen comes in the form of daily pills, patches, vaginal estrogens, gel, or spray.
- Estrogen Progesterone/ Progestin Hormone Therapy: This therapy is called combination therapy as it combines the doses of estrogen and progestin. The therapy is helpful for women who still have their uterus.
Things to consider while adopting hormone therapy
You can evaluate the pros and cons of hormone therapy with your doctor. However, you should immediately call your doctor if you discover any of the following side effects.
- Bloating
- Breast swelling
- Headaches
- Mood changes
- Nausea
- Vaginal bleeding
Besides hormone therapies, you can also go for non-hormonal therapies to manage menopause symptoms.
Non-hormonal therapies
Non-hormonal therapy includes changes to your diet, lifestyle, and using over-the-counter medicines as prescribed by your doctor. If you have other health issues or have recently been treated for breast cancer, these treatments are appropriate for you. The main non-hormonal treatments include:
Diet changes
Sometimes changing your diet may help relieve menopause symptoms. You can start by limiting the amount of caffeine you consume or cutting back on spicy foods that can trigger hot flashes. You can add these below-mentioned foods to your diet to improve your hormone health.
- Soybeans
- Chickpeas
- Lentils
- Grains
- Beans
Moreover, making changes in your diet can help give relief from hot flashes. These hot flashes are usually triggered by the intake of caffeine, smoking, spicy food, alcohol, stress, and anxiety. Certain women will experience hot flashes when they eat a lot of sugar. Therefore, avoiding such foods can help relieve your symptoms of hot flashes.
Exercising
Exercising can help relieve several symptoms of menopause. Staying active and exercising can help you sleep through the night, especially if you have insomnia. Regular exercising, doing meditation, or yoga can also help in relieving your fears or anxiety.
Alternative medicines for menopause
There are certain alternative medicines and treatments available to manage the symptoms of menopause. However, you should take all the medicines under proper medical guidance. It may include:
- Over-the-counter gels for vaginal dryness
- Low-dose antidepressant for hot flashes
- Prescription pills for vaginal dryness
- Yoga and acupuncture techniques can also help relieve menopause symptoms.
- Joining a club or taking up a new hobby
Vardaan Medical Center: Best Doctor for Menopause
Vardaan Medical Center is known to offer top-quality treatment for menopause. We have a team of highly qualified doctors with expertise in the field of menopause. You can get their personalized guidance related to menstruation issues.
For better treatment, look no further and contact our best doctors for menopause.
Frequently Asked Question:
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