You Don't Have to Suffer Through Menopause. There's Help!

Menopause is a natural and unavoidable milestone in a woman’s life. Whether menopause comes naturally or after a hysterectomy, the result is the end of your fertility. The months and years leading up to menopause is called perimenopause and can come with some less-than-pleasant symptoms. Hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats, weight gain, vaginal dryness, fatigue, loss of libido 一 all of these menopause symptoms can make you feel miserable.

The good news is that you don’t have to suffer through menopause alone. Essam Taymour, MD, FACOG, and our team at Gynecology and Obstetrics Medical Group in Long Beach, California, provide expert menopause management to help ease your transition from perimenopause to menopause.

Help! My menopause symptoms are overwhelming

Hot flashes are one of the most common menopause symptoms, affecting up to 75% of menopausal women. Not only can they be uncomfortable, but they also may be embarrassing if you have them while presenting at work or out socializing with friends. 

Other symptoms, such as night sweats, can affect the quality of your sleep, and decreased sleep can cause ripple effects in your life. And vaginal dryness can cause itching, increased urinary tract infections, and pain during sex.

The goal of menopause management is to help reduce the unpleasant symptoms while supporting your body through this transition. This can include lifestyle modifications, medication, and hormone therapy. Depending on your age, your overall health, and the intensity of your symptoms, Dr. Taymour may suggest any of the following.

Lifestyle modifications

While these changes won’t completely eliminate your menopause symptoms, they can go a long way in helping you find relief. Lifestyle modifications to help balance your hormones and reduce unpleasant symptoms include:

• Exercising regularly 
• Eating a balanced diet, especially one rich in omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and vitamin D
• Avoiding any hot flash triggers, such as eating spicy food or sleeping in an overly hot room
• Practicing good sleep hygiene
• Practicing stress management techniques, such as yoga and deep breathing

These steps can continue to benefit your mental and physical health even when you’re postmenopausal. 

Hormone therapies

Hormone replacement therapy is designed to help restore balance to your hormones. Hormone therapy comes in many forms, including oral pills, tablets, injectables, topical creams, and pellets. Each option is customized to give you the exact type and dose of hormone you need.

Talk therapy and low-dose antidepressants 

Mood swings are a well-known menopause symptom, but the hormonal changes can also contribute to an increase in depression and anxiety, especially if decreasing estrogen levels affect the neurotransmitters in your brain. 

Talk therapy, sometimes called psychotherapy, can help you address the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Medication may also help if you experience depression.

Nutritional supplements

Supplements can help address your body’s changing nutritional needs. For example, decreased estrogen can affect your bone health and lead to an increased risk of osteoporosis. Calcium supplements can help support healthy bones. 

There are countless supplements on the market, and it can be overwhelming to sort through them all on your own. You can count on Dr. Taymour’s recommendations, so you never have to feel alone on this journey.

Get relief with menopause management

More often than not, perimenopausal women experience multiple symptoms. Dr. Taymour understands the complexity of menopause management and knows that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. If you’d like to say goodbye to unruly menopause symptoms, give us a call at 562-247-3038 or request an appointment online today.