Understanding Menopause: A Comprehensive Guide by www.walkingyn.com
Key Takeaways
| Key Point | Description |
| Definition | Menopause is a natural biological process marking the end of menstrual cycles. |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. |
| Symptoms | Includes hot flashes, mood changes, sleep problems, and more. |
| Treatment options | Medical/ pharmaceutical approaches available at Walk In Gyn,
360 deg holistic approach tailored to individual needs available at Functional GYN |
| Risks | Increased risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, sexual issues, hair loss, and more, which are manageable with professional guidance. |
Menopause is a significant milestone in a woman’s life, signaling the end of menstrual cycles. It’s a natural biological process, but the symptoms and risks associated with menopause can significantly impact a woman’s life.
Understanding what menopause is, its symptoms, treatment options (both routine traditional and new cutting edge functional approaches) is crucial for managing this life stage effectively.
What is Menopause?
Menopause occurs when a woman stops having menstrual periods for 12 consecutive months. It typically happens in women in their late 40s to early 50s but can occur earlier or later. Menopause marks the end of fertility and is a normal part of aging.
Diagnosis at Walk In Gyn
At Walk In Gyn, a team of experienced providers can effectively diagnose menopause. They use a combination of symptom evaluation and hormone level testing to confirm the onset of menopause, ensuring that any other underlying conditions are identified and addressed.
The levels of hormones FSH (more than 20IU/ml) and Estradiol (less than 50pg/ml) are traditionally used to diagnose menopause. However, these levels may not be accurate if you are still getting periods.
Symptoms of Menopause
The transition to menopause, known as perimenopause, can bring various symptoms. Walk In Gyn’s team is adept at identifying and managing these symptoms, which include:
Hot flashes and night sweats
Mood changes
Sleep problems
Vaginal dryness
Brain fog
Fatigue
Weight gain
Hair fall
Skin changes
New onset allergies
Painful sex
Frequent urine infections
Increased risk of heart disease
Abnormal cholesterol levels
Bone changes – Osteopenia and osteoporosis
And so much more….
Comprehensive Treatment Options at Walk In Gyn
Menopause is a multi-system condition that affects every aspect of a woman’s life. The woman of today is a powerful woman, whether they are in the board room, a CEO, a professional, a mother, a caregiver, or a homemaker…. They need to be 100% of themselves.
The symptoms of fatigue, brain fog, mood changes, sexual issues, etc., can have devastating effects on women’s lives and careers.
Menopause has not been clearly understood and has not received the attention it deserves. As we have increased our lifespan, the percentage of years spent in menopause is way higher than 20-30 years ago. We don’t focus on “health span” or quality of life.
This is why, in alignment with our mission at Walk IN GYN Care, I have developed very comprehensive protocols to assist women through this transition safely and effectively.
The focus is not just on relieving symptoms and managing chronic conditions that may occur with aging.
Our personalized approach is based on our LAMPS algorithm.
L – Lifestyle changes.
These must be comprehensive and involve integrating the DARE system (personally designed by Dr. Gupta).
- Diet
- Attitude
- Routine
- Exercise
A – Alternative therapies
With my extensive experience, I have designed customized integrative approaches involving a harmony of Eastern and Western medicine. My goal is to create a one-stop shop experience to enable today’s women to live their lives to the fullest. Visit www.functionalgyn.com for a personalized integrative consultation.
M – Medications
- This involves bio-identical customized hormonal therapy and non-hormonal medical approaches for those who either do not want hormones or are not a candidate for them.
- Non-hormonal medications can be used for hot flashes with a success rate ranging between 35-70%. Many medications such as Veozah, Brisdelle, Effexor are being used to mitigate the symptoms of hotflashes. Please note that these medications do not help with all the other symptoms of menopause listed above.
- Each regimen is individualized based on specialized testing. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment when it comes to menopause.
P- Physical Health
- Physical health is the key to mental health and longevity.
- Exercise induced increased blood flow to the brain and other vital organs helps not only with mood but also with libido, memory and longevity.
- We have guided customized regimens, and we incorporate coaches and state-of-the-art digital apps to assist our patients in keeping up with their goals.
S- Social Health
Menopause and perimenopause can be severely isolating. Talk to your friends who are also likely going through the symptoms and suffering. You can not only have a friend to share your symptoms but also develop action plans that create accountability in your daily lifestyle regimens.
We also offer support groups and community networks to provide you with confidential support and a shoulder to lean on.
Managing Risks with Professional Help
Postmenopausal women are at increased risk for several health conditions. Our team at Walk In GYN and at Functional GYN provides comprehensive care to manage these risks effectively, including osteoporosis, heart disease, weight gain, and urinary incontinence.
Here is a list of some frequently asked questions regarding Menopause and perimenopause at our offices.
Am I in menopause?
Menopause can only be diagnosed once you have had no periods for 1 year. Perimenopause is the time period before your periods stop. For some women, perimenopause can last anywhere from 2-6 years.
Learn more in this video by Dr. Adeeti Gupta where she explains menopause in more detail.
Can you check my hormones?
Yes and no. Hormonal testing is helpful only once your periods have stopped for a year to “confirm” menopause. However, to detect the variations during the peri-menopausal period, blood work testing at one point in time may not accurately reflect what is going on in your body for the entire month. Remember, our hormones change every minute, every day. Check out this video to learn more.
So, what can I do to check if I am going through menopause?
This is the most frequent question we get. You are never really going through menopause. Either you are in it, or you are on your way to it!!
We recommend a functional approach during this difficult journey because you will require some very specialized urine and blood tests to test the daily variations of the essential hormones such as Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, and FSH. We also recommend testing for the subtypes of these hormones (especially Estrogen) and their metabolism (breakdown products). This also helps us assess if you may be at an increased risk of breast cancer, fibrocystic breasts, and if you are a candidate for Hormone replacement therapy.
Is hormone replacement safe?
This is a loaded question, and we will address it in our next article although we have discussed some points in the video above.
Stay tuned!
Conclusion
Understanding menopause and accessing comprehensive care like that provided by Walk In Gyn (for a traditional approach) and functional GYN for an integrative approach is vital for women navigating this transition. Awareness of the symptoms, treatment options, associated risks, and professional guidance can help manage this natural stage of life effectively.
Be safe, be strong and be prepared!
Dr. Gupta