Menopause

What is menopause?

Menopause is a natural transition that all women experience as they age. It marks the end of a woman's reproductive years and is diagnosed after 12 months without a menstrual period. Typically happening between the ages of 45-55, menopause occurs when a woman's ovaries stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Some key things to know:

• The years leading up to menopause are called perimenopause. This is when hormone levels start to decline and women may experience symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and irregular periods.


• The average age for menopause is 51 in the United States. But it can happen earlier due to surgery, chemotherapy, or genetic factors.


• Postmenopause is the phase after menopause has occurred, starting when it's been 12 months since your last period.

Symptoms vary but may include:

• Hot flashes


• Night sweats


• Vaginal dryness


• Mood changes


• Trouble sleeping


• Irregular periods

To ease the transition, it's helpful to stay healthy by:

• Eating nutritious foods


• Exercising regularly


• Practicing stress relief


• Getting enough sleep

There are also medications that can treat postmenopausal symptoms if they interfere with your quality of life. Hormone therapy helps supplement estrogen. Low-dose antidepressants, vaginal moisturizers, and lubricants can help with other issues.

The caring providers at Hormone Harmony specialize in tailored hormone replacement therapy to help women transition through perimenopause and postmenopause smoothly. With customized bioidentical hormone treatment plans, we can get your hormone levels optimized to minimize unpleasant symptoms. Contact us today to start balancing your hormones and feeling your best!

I hope this overview on what every woman should know about menopause and its symptoms was helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.