When to See a Specialist About Menopause Symptoms

Menopause is officially marked by 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, and the transition out of your reproductive years can affect your mind and body in many ways. While some women transition smoothly, as many as 85% of women experience symptoms like hot flashes, insomnia, weight gain, and mood swings.

Menopause is natural, but that doesn’t make these symptoms any less bothersome. Dr. Essam Taymour and our team at Gynecology and Obstetrics Medical Group in Long Beach, California, want you to know that you don’t have to weather this transition alone. Many different therapies can help make this time as smooth as possible.

5 signs it’s time to see a specialist about menopause

During perimenopause, your periods may become abnormal. You have longer or shorter cycles. You might miss a period. You might notice spotting. But your period isn’t the only thing affected by the transition into menopause. The hormonal shift affects many parts of your body, including your mental wellness. 

Consider talking to Dr. Taymour if your menopause symptoms:

1. Affect your quality of sleep

The hormonal fluctuations associated with menopause can lead to insomnia and night sweats. Occasional sleep disruption is one thing, but if your sleep is sabotaged night after night, it can take a toll on your mind and body. Inadequate sleep increases your cortisol, contributes to weight gain, and makes it harder to get through the day.

2. Take a toll on your emotional health

Menopause is notorious for causing mood swings, but it’s not just the quick pivots that are so troublesome. Women in perimenopause and menopause may experience any of the following:

• Sadness
• Anxiety
• Difficulty concentrating
• Increased feelings of tension
• Lack of motivation
• Increased irritability 

Not only can it be exhausting to cycle through these emotions, but it can take a toll on your personal relationships, too.

3. Make sexual intercourse painful

Vaginal dryness is another telltale menopause symptom. Not only does vaginal dryness increase your risk of developing urinary tract infections (UTI), but it also leads to sexual dissatisfaction and pain during intercourse. 

4. Cause frequent hot flashes

Hot flashes, another well-known menopause symptom, can disrupt your quality of life in many ways. Hot flashes can:

• Make you feel self-conscious at work
• Make it harder to fall asleep at night
• Contribute to feelings of stress (especially if a hot flash happens in public)
• Temporarily increase your heart rate 

While hot flashes aren’t dangerous, they are unpleasant. 

5. Make you feel out of control

All of these symptoms can make you feel like you’re not in control of your body. This can also contribute to feelings of sadness or anxiety. 

What can you do about bothersome menopause symptoms? 

Because the most unpleasant menopause symptoms are caused by shifting and imbalanced hormones, hormone replacement therapy is a common go-to treatment in menopause management. Hormone replacement therapy comes in many forms — pills, patches, tablets, vaginal estrogen creams — with a goal of restoring balance to your hormones and reducing your symptoms. 

Depending on the severity and type of menopause symptoms, Dr. Taymour may suggest other treatments, including:

• Antibiotics for urinary tract infections
• MonaLisa Touch® treatments to combat vaginal dryness
• Talk therapy and antidepressants to address mood imbalances
• Nutritional supplements to support your body through this transition
• Lifestyle modifications, including dietary changes and regular exercise 

Bottom line: If any of your menopause symptoms are affecting your quality of life, help is available and you shouldn’t hesitate to seek out a specialist. To schedule an appointment, call us at 562-247-3038. You can also book an appointment online 24/7.