Menopause Management

What is menopause?

Menopause is the time in a woman's life when her menstrual cycle ends and she can no longer bear children. Your ovaries gradually stop producing the hormones, estrogen and progesterone that regulate your monthly cycle, and the process ends when hormone production stops and you have not had a period for a year or more. This process can take several years because hormone levels adjust quite slowly, and this transitional phase leading up to menopause is known as the ‘perimenopausal period’.

Some women find they have few problems with menopause, but it can be a trying time for others, with unpleasant side effects that interfere with their daily lives. If you are struggling with menopausal symptoms, the team at Tartaczna 2 Medical Center has the skills and experience to help make the process more comfortable for you.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

There are many symptoms, and women may have one or all of them. Typical problems encountered by women include:

• Irregular periods
• Night sweats
• Hot flashes
• Depression
• Irritability and mood swings
• Changes in libido
• Vaginal dryness
• Painful intercourse (dyspareunia)
• Sleep problems.

These symptoms can be mild or severe. For example, some women often feel warmer than usual, while others feel alarmingly hot, eventually dripping with sweat. Every woman is affected differently, therefore it is essential to tailor a treatment plan to meet individual needs.

What treatments are available for menopausal symptoms?

Fortunately, there are a number of possible treatments for the side effects of menopause. One of the most well-known and effective is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). If you are a suitable candidate for HRT, your doctor will prescribe either estrogen alone or both estrogen and progesterone - two hormones that your body stops making.

These hormone replacements restore the body's function, thereby reducing the side effects of menopause. You can get HRT in different forms, such as pills, creams or patches, depending on which symptoms bother you the most.

Are there any side effects while taking HRT?

While it can be very helpful in reducing the unpleasant side effects of menopause, HRT can also cause side effects itself. During your consultation, your doctor will discuss the pros and cons of HRT, and together you will decide which treatment is most appropriate for you.

In some cases, such as a history of blood clots, HRT may not be recommended. If this is the case, you may want to discuss alternative treatments with your doctor.

The team at Tartaczna 2 Medical Center is dedicated to finding the safest and most effective solutions to menopause problems, so call us today to schedule an appointment.