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Menopause

Menopause 2
Menopause is a natural change in your fertility that happens as you age, but that doesn’t mean it goes unnoticed. The symptoms menopause causes can disrupt your quality of life. Candace Gates, MD, and Crystal Welch, MD, at Oasis Women’s Wellness Center can help alleviate menopause symptoms and manage your health changes through this transitional time. Women in the Atlanta, Georgia, area going through menopause should call the office or schedule online to learn about menopause management.
Abnormal Bleeding

What is menopause?

Menopause is clinically defined as going 12 months without your period, marking the end of your fertility. Most women in the United States go through menopause in their late 40s or 50s, but symptoms of menopause can happen much sooner. This perimenopause period affects your life, mood, and sleep. There is no cure for menopause, and you cannot stop it from occurring, but you can manage its uncomfortable effects with the expert care available at Oasis Women’s Wellness Center.

Frequently Asked Questions

What symptoms suggest I’m in perimenopause or menopause?

Not all women have severe symptoms during their fertility transition. Your mother’s experience with menopause can give you an idea of what you might expect. Common symptoms include:
  • Irregularity in menstruation
  • Hot flashes or night sweats
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Mood changes
  • Weight gain
  • Vaginal dryness and painful intercourse
The fluctuating hormone levels that occur during menopause cause these symptoms. Decreasing estrogen and progesterone levels affect other aspects of your health, too, raising your risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, sexual dysfunction, and urinary incontinence.

How is menopause treated?

You can manage menopause and relieve symptoms with a number of strategies. Oasis Women’s Wellness Center may suggest:
  • Gabapentin and clonidine, medications that may help control hot flashes
  • Antidepressants
  • Hormone replacement therapy
  • Estrogen suppositories
If you’re not a candidate for hormone therapy, lifestyle changes are an option, including dietary adjustments, exercise, and stress-relieving activities. You may need supplements or medication to help preserve bone health. If you do go on hormone replacement therapy, your doctor provides you with the lowest dose possible for the shortest period of time to reduce any potential health risks.