Menopause Specialist

What is menopause?

Menopause is a normal, natural progression that begins on average at age 51. You may be in menopause if you haven't had a period for 12 consecutive months and the missed periods aren't due to a health issue.

Menopause comes on slowly beginning in your late 30s and 40s during a natural life phase called perimenopause. The level of estrogen in your body begins to gradually decline, producing uncomfortable side effects. After menopause, your risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease and osteoporosis increases.

Menopause is an ideal time to reassess your health by consulting with the experienced women's health practitioners at Prescott Women's Clinic. They recommend appropriate screening tests, such as bone density testing. 

What are the symptoms of menopause?

Menopause is a uniquely individual experience. You may experience physical and emotional symptoms that are different than the side effects your friends are complaining of. Common symptoms include:

• Irregular periods
• Light or heavy periods
• Memory problems
• Insomnia
• Moodiness
• Vaginal dryness
• Vaginal infections
• Weight gain 

Some symptoms, such as memory problems and hot flashes, tend to go away after a while.

What are the health risks of menopause?

Declining estrogen levels increase your risk of developing heart disease and osteoporosis, among other conditions. You lose bone more rapidly during the first 4-8 years after menopause because your body isn’t making the estrogen it once was. Losing too much bone can increase your risk of osteoporosis, which can make you more prone to fractures.

How is menopause managed?

A healthy active lifestyle may help ease your transition through menopause. Your Prescott Women's Clinic practitioner also discusses vitamins or supplements to help prevent bone loss. 

You may want to consider replacing the hormones your body is no longer making via hormone therapy. Hormone therapy is medication containing female hormones, either estrogen alone or estrogen and progestin together. 

There are risks and benefits to hormone therapy. The practitioners at Prescott Women's Clinic are well-versed in the various concerns and treatment alternatives. If you’re an appropriate candidate, they recommend hormone pellet therapy, which releases a continuous amount of hormones into your body. Their goal is to alleviate your symptoms so you feel like yourself again. 

You don’t need to suffer from the side effects of menopause when effective care is available from Prescott Women's Clinic. Call the office today or book a consultation online.