Womanhood comes with a lot of struggles from painful menstrual cramps to strenuous menopause symptoms as hot flashes, regular night sweats, vaginal itching, burning, and dryness among many others. Doctors recommend menopausal hormone therapy as a treatment to these bothersome menopausal symptoms while still addressing long-term biological changes such as bone loss that may deter one’s physical abilities.

What is Hormone Therapy for Menopause?

It is a treatment used to augment the woman’s natural hormone levels either as estrogen-progesterone therapy for women who experience menopause naturally during their 50’s or in the form of estrogen-alone treatment for women who have gone through an earlier surgical menopause procedure.

Estrogen therapy

Doctors recommend a low dose of estrogen for women who have undergone the surgical menopause procedure also known as hysterectomy which is the surgical removal of the uterus. Estrogen may be induced in various forms such as a daily pill, gel, spray, vaginal ring and a patch.

Estrogen pill

Pills are the most popular type of medication for menopausal symptoms. Your doctor will give you instructions on how to follow the dosage. Most tablets are taken once a day way long after you have taken your meals.

Estrogen patch

The patch is stamped on the skin of your abdomen. Your doctor will guide you on how long you should have the patch on before replacing with another one.

Topical estrogen

Creams, sprays, and gels take use of entry into the system through the skin. Similarly to the patch, estrogen is absorbed directly into the bloodstream. Depending on the type of topical estrogen the doctor recommends, you will be directed on what part of the body to apply the estrogen treatment.

Vaginal estrogen

Vaginal estrogen is packaged in a vaginal ring, cream or tablets. These treatments are specifically for women struggling with vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse, vaginal itching and burning. Doses should vary depending on the packaging material. For instance, most vaginal rings need replacing after every three months while tablets are used daily for some weeks until changed otherwise.

Progesterone/estrogen/Progestin hormone therapy

It is a combination therapy since it requires both estrogen and progesterone hormones. It is particularly for women who didn’t undergo a hysterectomy. Doctors recommend this treatment for this specific lot of women since progesterone lowers the risk of one contracting cancer of the endometrium. Progesterone is used as a form of birth control but also helps treat menopausal signs such as hot flashes and sweating. Just like the estrogen doses, so does progestin come in various forms.

Oral progestin

These come in pill form. Many doctors prefer treating patients with natural progesterone rather than the synthetic form. Natural progesterone has been scientifically proven to have no adverse effects on lipids and is an excellent option for women with high cholesterol levels.

Contact Fort Worth Center for Pelvic Medicine today to schedule your consultation! We are conveniently located in Fort Worth, TX.

A natural part of aging for any woman is the gradual transition into older adulthood, which comes with a variety of changes in hormone levels. In particular, estrogen and progesterone levels change, greatly affecting many of the sexual hormones. Not only will sexual changes happen for these women, but also they will notice a wide variety of symptoms across most of their body systems, some of which may not be very pleasant. We’re talking about perimenopause and menopause.

Menopause is officially defined as the time when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 months. As you can imagine, it can be difficult for women to know when they are entering this period. Therefore, it is vital to recognize the many symptoms of this stage so that you can get help if you need it and so that you can give yourself grace and understanding.

The first changes that you will most likely notice are those that affect your menstrual cycle. It may become irregular or may be heavier or lighter than usual. Your vagina may also feel dry and inelastic.

The next most severe change that most women in menopause note is hot flashes. These flashes normally last for less than 10 minutes at a time and may cause flushed skin and sweating.

Changes in sleep patterns can be very disruptive to women in this stage of life. You may find that it is nearly impossible to get to sleep at night or that you wake up for no reason.

Mood imbalances that are far different from any experienced in other stages of life may also afflict women in menopause. While some mood changes may seem to mimic those seen during PMS, they are usually stronger and more disruptive.

Of course, other changes may happen around the rest of your body. Your hair may begin to thin on your head and even on the rest of your body, meaning that you no longer have to shave your legs as frequently. Your skin will also begin to change faster than it ever has before, becoming thinner and less elastic and most likely becoming dryer as well.

Be sure to talk to our team at Fort Worth Center for Pelvic Medicine if you feel that your menopause symptoms are decreasing your quality of life. Contact us today for a consultation in Fort Worth, TX.

If you’re a woman in your forties or older, you may be experiencing issues that signal the approach of menopause, or the impending end of your menstrual cycle. Everyone experiences these bodily changes differently; however, there are several commonalities that are likely.

About Menopause

With age, a woman’s production of estrogen and her ovarian function start to decline. These changes gradually bring about menopause, which is simply the cessation of menstruation for a period of at least one year. It is typically around the age of 40 that this process begins to accelerate, and women will start to notice some cognitive and physical changes happen. The actual age in which menstruation ends will vary. Some women report the end of the menstrual cycle as early as 40, while others may not experience it until they reach 60 or later.

Stages and Symptoms

Menopause usually happens across three stages. The first is perimenopause, which generally occurs around age 40. Periods may become irregular in flow, with cycles of inconsistent lengths. Hot flashes may begin during this stage. Cognitive issues such as forgetfulness or brain fog along with emotional symptoms like mood swings are frequently noted by women in this stage.

The second or main stage is the actual menopause, in which menstrual cycles stop completely. This doesn’t officially occur until you have gone at least one year without a period. Hot flashes continue during this time, as well as symptoms like vaginal dryness, problems with sleep and continued mood swings. Lower sex drive is yet another symptom. Women enter the third stage, post-menopause, on the anniversary date of their last menstrual cycle.

Ways to Address the Symptoms

Eating well and cutting down on smoking and alcohol consumption can help to lessen overall symptoms and improve your health. While there aren’t always triggers, things like spicy food and caffeine can bring on hot flashes for some. Hormone therapy is a popular medical approach that can help to relieve some menopausal symptoms. MonaLisa Touch® treatments are another common treatment.

Menopause and the time leading up to it can be difficult due to hormonal changes in the body. When you work with the team at the Fort Worth Center for Pelvic Medicine, we can determine the best course of action to relieve the signs and symptoms of menopause in your particular case. Contact us today to schedule a consultation at our office in Fort Worth.