Menopause

When your body stops releasing eggs and your menstrual cycles cease, you’ve reached menopause. If the hormonal changes associated with menopause are disrupting your life, contact the providers at Capital Women's Care Howard County for expert menopause management care.

What is menopause?

The time of a woman’s life that is often referred to as menopause combines perimenopause, which is the time when your body’s hormone production begins to decrease, and menopause itself, which is when your menstrual cycles have completely stopped. Menopause is official when you haven’t had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months.

During perimenopause, you begin to experience menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, weight gain, and mood irregularities. These symptoms are caused by a decrease in your estrogen levels. Each woman has a unique experience with menopause. The symptoms develop on a spectrum and you may have some, none, or all of them. Common menopausal symptoms include:

  • Hot flashes and night sweats

  • Irritability and mood swings

  • Mental health concerns like depression and anxiety

  • Vaginal atrophy and dryness

  • Loss of libido

  • Fatigue

  • Insomnia

  • Weight gain

How is menopause treated?

The doctors at Capital Women’s Care offer customized treatments and lifestyle advice to minimize your menopause symptoms and help you get back to your normal activities. Your doctor provides a thorough exam and consultation that will include blood work to measure your hormone levels in order to develop a detailed understanding of your symptoms.

Like many women, you may benefit from lifestyle modifications to change your diet and exercise habits. Often these changes not only help you lose weight and sleep better but also help relieve some of the emotional swings of menopause.

The doctors at Capital Women’s Care also offer bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). BHRT replaces your depleted hormone levels with synthetic hormones, custom-made to meet your specific individual needs. Your symptoms and hormone levels are carefully monitored with frequent blood tests throughout treatment to ensure not only that BHRT is effective but that you maintain normal hormone levels and good health.

When should I talk to a doctor about menopause?

You should make an appointment with the expert OB/GYNs at Capital Women’s Care if your menopause symptoms are disrupting your life. With personalized treatment and advice, the doctors can help relieve your symptoms and help you feel like yourself again.

There’s no need to suffer through your menopause symptoms. Call or request an appointment online today.