If menopause symptoms – such as hot flashes, weight gain, vaginal dryness, and fatigue – are getting the best of you, you don’t have to suffer through them. At Alpha OBGYN in Alpharetta and Cumming, Georgia, Dr. Sowmya Reddy and her team use various medical interventions to ease or eliminate menopause symptoms to reduce disease risks and improve your quality of life. Call to learn more, or use the online scheduling tool today.
Menopause is a time in a woman’s life when she stops getting her period and is no longer able to get pregnant. In the U.S., the average age for menopause 52. If you haven’t had a period in 12 months, you’ve completed the transitional period through menopause known as perimenopause.
Perimenopause usually begins in your mid- to late-40s, and lasts an average of about four years before periods permanently stop.
What are the symptoms of menopause?
Many women experience symptoms during and after menopause, such as:
- Chills
- Hot flashes or night sweats
- Irregular periods
- Vaginal dryness
- Bone loss
- Mood changes
- Sleeping problems
- Dry skin and thinning hair
- Loss of breast fullness
- Weight gain
Fortunately, numerous treatments are available to ease or eliminate menopause symptoms to restore your quality of life.
What are the treatments for menopause?
Dr. Reddy goes over menopause treatment options with you to determine which one best matches your needs. Examples include:
Hormone therapy
Dr. Reddy may recommend hormone therapy to reduce menopause symptoms and increase low hormone levels associated with menopause. Estrogen therapy helps relieve or prevent hot flashes, bone loss, and other menopausal symptoms. She goes over the risks and benefits of hormone therapy with you.
Vaginal estrogen
Vaginal estrogen helps relieve vaginal dryness and vaginal irritation associated with menopause. This estrogen treatment comes in the form of creams, tablets, or vaginal rings, and releases small amounts of estrogen into vaginal tissue to reduce symptoms.
Medications
Dr. Reddy may recommend you take certain medications, such as low-dose antidepressants or anti-seizure medications, to treat hot flashes. She may also prescribe certain medications used to prevent or treat osteoporosis.
Living a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, a healthy diet, sufficient sleep, and relaxation techniques may also help ease menopause symptoms.
When you’re ready to find out which menopause treatment is right for you, call Alpha OBGYN, or use the online scheduling tool.