Menopause is the time that marks the end of your menstrual cycles. It's diagnosed after you've gone 12 months without a menstrual period. Menopause can happen in your 40s or 50s, but the average age is 51 in the United States.
Menopause is not a disease or disorder. This time in a woman's life is often full of other transitions in addition to physical ones: we might finally have time for ourselves, with children being older, some may be caring for aging parents or relatives, supporting their children as they move into adulthood, or taking on new responsibilities at work.
Some of us might not even have many menopausal symptoms or even feel relieved no longer experiencing painful periods or worrying about getting pregnant.
For most of us though, the menopausal transition can bring a variety of frustrating symptoms, from hot flashes, depression, moodiness and irritability, trouble sleeping, pain during sex and more!
Menopause is a point in time 12 months after a woman's last period. The years leading up to that point, when women may have changes in their monthly cycles, hot flashes, or other symptoms, are called the menopausal transition or perimenopause.
Come see us to talk about lifestyle changes or medications to treat their symptoms. We will ask questions about your age, symptoms, and family history to determine if it really is the menopausal transition causing your problems. In some cases, we may suggest a blood test to check your follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) levels to rule out any other causes for the changes you're experiencing.
