Menopause is a natural stage of life, but the symptoms that come with it can affect everything from sleep and energy levels to mood and overall well-being. Hot flashes, night sweats, weight changes, and hormonal shifts can feel overwhelming at times, but with the right care and support, these symptoms can be effectively managed. Understanding what your body is experiencing is the first step toward feeling more comfortable, confident, and healthy during this transition.
What Is Menopause?
Menopause is the way your body tells you that it can no longer reproduce. It happens when your ovaries stop producing hormones like estrogen and progesterone. During the period through which hormone levels decrease, your body experiences different uncomfortable symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings and is called perimenopause.
When Do Symptoms Begin?
About Perimenopause
Gynecologists explain that natural menopause officially begins 12 months after you get your last period. Menopause can also be induced as a result of surgical procedures where one or both ovaries need to be removed or because certain medical interventions can trigger the cessation of ovarian function (e.g., radiation therapy or chemotherapy).
In the case of natural menopause, what happens before? As hormone levels decrease, your body goes through perimenopause, and the changes can affect your physical, emotional, mental and social well-being. An important thing to note is that it is still possible to become pregnant during this period.
However, the experience differs from one woman to another. While one may have few, if any, symptoms, others’ symptoms can be severe and affect their daily lives. So, when does perimenopause begin? It usually starts 8 to 10 years before menopause, around the mid-forties, but it can begin in your thirties and as late as your fifties so our providers here at LoneTree OBGYN & Midwives recommends staying on top of the following symptoms:
- Hot flashes.
- Irregular periods.
- Mood swings.
- Sleep issues (insomnia)
- Vaginal dryness
On average, perimenopause lasts between 4 and 10 years—but again, every woman has a different experience.
Perimenopause is hard to diagnose via blood work; therefore, it is recommended that you schedule yearly well-woman exam appointments with your healthcare provider to keep track of your menstrual cycle changes, and related symptoms.
🙋♀️ Learn more: All about Menopause
How Do I Know I Am Going Through It?
Technically, menopause is a single point in the journey. It’s the leading up to it that is generally referred to that way. To identify if you are going through the change, discuss the following symptoms with your gynecologist:
- Hot flashes
- Pain during intercourse / vaginal dryness
- Unusual fatigue
- Weight gain despite following your regular diet
- Low libido
- Insomnia
- Mood swings
- Thinning hair
- Itchy skin
🙋♀️ Learn more: Understanding Menopause: Symptoms & Early Signs
Coping with Symptoms: Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
There are a number of ways to help with symptoms such as estrogen pills, patches, gels, and vaginal creams. Meeting with a provider to determine which option is best for you also allows for consistent regular follow ups to make sure treatment is working. At LoneTree OBGYN & Midwives, we also offer bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) which is a customized approach to treat menopause symptoms. As hormone levels decline, this therapy provides the body with biologically identical replacements of them.
The bioidentical hormones are administered through pellets (about the size of a grain of rice) containing estrogen. As the pellets dissolve, the hormones enter the bloodstream over the course of several months.
For every person, the right amount of hormones will differ and so will the timeline of results. Some patients report relief after just a month, whereas for others it can take up to 6 months. When on this therapy, you will need to meet with your healthcare provider to follow up on progress and make adjustments as needed.
About Lone Tree’s Mission
Lone Tree OB/GYN & Midwives is a full-service obstetrics and gynecology office with a team of highly regarded providers recognized throughout the Castle Rock, Colorado, community for their exceptional care.