Menopause is a natural part of a woman’s life. During a woman’s reproductive years, her ovaries ovulate and produce hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. As a woman ages, the production of hormones decline to the point where the ovaries can no longer ovulate, and she will no longer menstruate or be able to get pregnant.
Menopause is a normal process in a woman’s life, and most women do not experience any significant health problems. However, the decline in hormone levels in some women can lead to fatigue, insomnia, hot flashes, mood changes and skin changes. When these symptoms are severe enough to interfere with your quality of life, you should discuss them with your doctor.
Dr. Conlen offers a thorough menopausal evaluation to determine the best approach to manage your menopause. We will perform diagnostic tests to determine your current hormone levels and develop a personalized management plan for you.
We can treat menopausal symptoms with hormone treatments and non-hormonal treatments (bioidentical hormones). We also recommend and encourage vitamins and supplements to help assist in controlling menopausal symptoms.
Perimenopausal CarePerimenopause
Perimenopausal CarePerimenopause, which is caused by the declining function of the ovaries, can lead to ovulation becoming erratic before stopping altogether. During perimenopause, women often experience fluctuations in hormones that are the result of changing levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body. The fluctuations range from higher than normal estrogen levels, which may trigger symptoms similar to premenstrual syndrome (PMS), to lower than average estrogen levels, which may trigger hot flashes or night sweats. This fluctuation of estrogen levels may be interspersed with normal menstrual cycles during perimenopause.
All women experience symptoms differently. However, the most common symptoms of perimenopause include:
- Mood changes
- Changes in sexual desire
- Night sweats
- Hot flashes
- Vaginal dryness
- Sleep disturbances
- Difficulty concentrating
- Headaches
- Extreme sweating
- Joint and muscle aches
- Frequent urination
Dr. Conlen offers a thorough perimenopausal evaluation to determine the best approach to manage your symptoms. We will perform diagnostic tests to determine your current hormone levels and develop a personalized management plan for you. Treatments for perimenopausal symptoms are similar to treatments for menopausal symptoms, and they can include hormone treatments, non-hormonal treatments (bioidentical hormones) and complete nutrition analysis plans.
