Feeling the Heat this Summer — What to Expect with Menopause
July is here and the heat is coming along with it. But it might be more than a long day in the hot sun that is causing those hot flashes. Menopause is a stage in a woman’s life when hormone levels begin to decrease and the menstrual cycle eventually stops. Menopause is official once you have had no menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. The time before this is called perimenopause, which generally lasts for about 4 years, and every woman has a different experience with it.
How do I know it’s Menopause?
Most women start to notice signs of menopause in their late 40s to early 50s. While it is different for everyone, many women experience symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and irritation, loss of libido, weight gain, insomnia, fatigue, and even anxiety and depression. These can be symptoms of a number of other hormonal imbalances, so if you are under the age of 45, it is a good idea to have a conversation with your OB/GYN. There are a number of tests that your doctor can take to test for menopause if there is uncertainty. Don’t worry, if you are experiencing premature menopause, it isn’t always permanent.
How do I deal with Menopause?
There are a number of ways to make menopause more bearable and less noticeable, even if they are just small every day changes. Sometimes a change in diet and exercise can make a huge difference when it comes to weight and sleep patterns, and they can even help combat irritable mood swings. Self-care is also important during this time. Be patient with yourself, don’t get angry at your body for doing what it is supposed to do. Hormone replacement therapy or medication may also be an option for those experiencing extreme side effects.
While this may seem horrible, all women have to go through it, and not all experiences are negative. Rather than seeing it as a symbol for the end of your youth, think of it as a transition into the mature, wise woman that you have become. You can even think of it as a reward for getting through all these years of having a menstrual period. Now you have one less thing to worry about! It’s just another part of being a woman, and luckily, it doesn’t last forever.
If menopause is disrupting your life and becoming too much to handle on your own, contact your OB/GYN at Capital Women’s Care for personalized treatment and advice so that you can start to feel like yourself again.