Menopause, while sometimes troubling, is a normal life transition that women in their 40s and 50s experience.
There are some who get through easily enough on their own, while others need a bit of help managing symptoms with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or other treatments.
If you find yourself having difficulty getting those night sweats and mood swings under control, it’s time to visit a menopause doctor in Silver Spring, Maryland.
What Is Menopause?
Menopause is the specific period in time when your periods have stopped for 12 months. It occurs due to the decline in natural hormones that typically begins in your late 30s.
Does Menopause Have Other Causes?
Oophorectomy, a surgery done to remove the ovaries, causes immediate menopause at any age. This is because your ovaries are responsible for producing estrogen and progesterone that are needed to regulate the menstrual cycle.
Certain cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy may stop your menstrual cycle and cause menopause-like symptoms. This ending of your period may or may not be permanent.
In addition, a less common condition called primary ovarian insufficiency may cause menopause in women younger than age 40. This insufficiency is rare, affecting only about 1% of women and may be the result of immune deficiencies or genetics.
What Are the Symptoms of Menopause?
Unfortunately, symptoms can begin months or even years before you actually begin menopause. While you might not experience all of them, symptoms include:
- Changes to your breasts including loss of fullness
- Dry skin
- Hot flashes
- Insomnia / sleep disturbances
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Mood changes
- Night sweats / chills
- Thinning hair
- Vaginal dryness
- Weight gain
How Is Menopause Diagnosed?
The key to managing menopausal symptoms during perimenopause is a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Your diagnosis begins with questions about your symptoms and how long you’ve experienced them. You’ll also have a physical exam, and you may also need urine or blood tests.
It’s important to keep track of your symptoms, as menopause can lead to health conditions like heart disease and osteoporsis. Preventative health care is critical during this time. You’ll want to catch the signs of these common medical conditions so you can begin treatment early.
How Will My Menopause Doctor Help Me?
The role of your menopause doctor in Silver Spring, Maryland is to crate a treatment plan that will help you manage menopausal symptoms and stay healthy. It might be a trial and error situation until you find exactly the right treatment, so a bit of patience will help.
It might be that you only need to make lifestyle changes, which may be diet modifications, exercise, and / or learning to cope with stress. However, it’s more likely that you’ll do those things combined with treatment options such as HRT with bioidentical hormones and / or non-hormonal medications.
If menopause is impacting your sex life, you may benefit from the O-Shot. This is an incredibly safe, effective treatment with many advantages. If you are experience vaginal dryner and decreased libido, you should speak to your menopause doctor about this option.
I’m Ready to See a Menopause Doctor in Silver Spring, Maryland! Who Should I Trust?
Dr. Benjamin González, MD, Medical Director of Atlantis Medical Wellness Center, lives what he preaches. He believes nutrition, exercise, and mental / emotional wellbeing are essential to your overall health. If you are experiencing menopause he, along with his expert care team, are here to help.
We are excited to partner with you on your journey to wellness and encourage you to contact us at 301-658-7686. We’ll discuss with you our available treatment options for menopause and work diligently to create a personalized plan that works for you!
