Menopause Diagnosis and Treatment

Women are well aware that menopause comes for all women, but not all women can recognize the signs and symptoms of menopause. Sometimes symptoms such as irregular or infrequent periods can be caused by other reproductive matters. It is important to discuss all symptoms with your doctor. If you suspect that you are entering the great change of life, seeing your doctor will ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.

Signs of Menopause

In addition to irregular periods of decreasing frequency, there are several symptoms and signs that a woman has entered menopause. Some of the most common symptoms are night sweats, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness or laxity. Some women may also experience stress or urgency incontinence due to a weakening of the vaginal walls and pelvic floor. Mood swings are also common.

Diagnosis

If you think that you may be going through the change, discuss your symptoms with your doctor during an examination. Your doctor will want to run tests to determine the level of sexual hormones in your body. If the tests show that hormone levels are decreasing, you may be entering perimenopause or menopause. These lab tests are the only way to truly and accurately diagnose menopause.

Treatment

The most common treatment for menopause is hormone replacement therapy, or HRT. Bioidentical hormones are preferred because they are chemically identical to the hormones produced by the human body. Bioidentical hormone therapy can decrease your symptoms significantly.

If you believe that you are going through menopause or are about to start the change, contact us today for more information or to schedule your appointment.