Managing Menopause
Is it hot in here, or is it just menopause?
An out-of-control internal furnace is one of the tell-tale signs of the transition women experience as they age. Carolynn Young, MD, a gynecologist affiliated with Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center, explains other symptoms, what’s not normal, and how best to handle the transition.
Q: What is considered the medical start to menopause?
Dr. Young: Menopause is defined as one year without any bleeding. It typically starts after age 45. The average age of menopause in the U.S. is 52.
Q: What are the most common issues that menopausal women bring to you?
Dr. Young: The most common symptoms of menopause are hot flashes/night sweats, vaginal dryness, brain fog, and difficulty sleeping.
Q: For many women, the hot flashes that come with menopause are unbearable. Why do they happen?
Dr. Young: Hot flashes occur due to a drop in estrogen level. This causes your body’s thermostat, the hypothalamus, to become more sensitive to slight changes in body temperature.
Q: What advice do you have to manage hot flashes? Are there any treatments for them?
Dr. Young: To manage hot flashes, women should maintain a healthy lifestyle – eating nutritiously, exercising consistently, and avoiding triggers such as alcohol or caffeine. Some people find meditation or yoga can help. I recommend women dress in layers so they can adjust as needed throughout the day. If these suggestions don’t help, we discuss medical treatment options, including hormone replacement therapy. Sometimes, we give a low dose of an antidepressant medication or seizure medication. There’s also a new medical treatment option called VEOZAH that works differently and with minimal side effects.
Q: What is the latest on hormone replacement therapy?
Dr. Young: In most patients, hormone replacement therapy is a great option for treatment. It does the best job of minimizing menopausal symptoms, including brain fog. It also reduces the risk of osteoporosis and colon cancer. Many gynecologists prescribe bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, with estrogen being absorbed through the skin. This is safer than previous oral formulations. Hormone replacement therapy may not be appropriate for everyone – patients need to discuss the risks and benefits with their gynecology provider.
Q: What’s not normal in menopause?
Dr. Young: It’s not normal when sexual intercourse is painful despite the use of a lubricant. There are many great treatment options to help, including the MonaLisa Touch vaginal laser. Also, it is not normal to have vaginal bleeding in menopause. If this happens, or if any of the previously mentioned menopausal symptoms are significantly affecting quality of life, women should see their gynecologist.
Listen to the episode of our podcast that demystifies menopause even more at AHCYou.com/W24Listen. Connect with an Adventist HealthCare gynecologist at AHCYou.com/W24Gyn.
