The months and years leading up to menopause mark a major transition that involves many physical and emotional changes in a woman’s life. The compassionate team at Greensboro OB-GYN Associates in Greensboro, North Carolina, helps patients manage the uncomfortable symptoms that result from menopause. To learn how you can stay healthy and vibrant throughout this phase, call or book an appointment online today.

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What is menopause?

Menopause is the stage in life when your menstrual periods stop and you can no longer get pregnant. After menopause, your body makes much lower levels of the estrogen and progesterone hormones.

This decline in hormones causes changes in your body and may increase your risk of certain health problems, such as heart disease. Even though you’re past your reproductive years, it’s important to continue seeing your Greensboro OB-GYN Associates gynecologist. They guide you through the process of menopause to help you stay as healthy and happy as ever.

When does menopause happen?

You officially reach menopause once you’ve gone 12 months without any menstrual bleeding. This can happen in your 40s or 50s, but the average age for menopause in the United States is 52.

How can I tell if I am starting the transition to menopause?

Menopause doesn’t happen all at once. Your body spends an average of four years transitioning to the end of your menstrual cycle. This period of time is called perimenopause, but it’s the transition that most women refer to as “going through menopause.”

Perimenopause typically begins in your mid to late 40s. During this time, your hormone levels rise and fall unexpectedly. This hormone fluctuation causes many symptoms of perimenopause, including:

  • Irregular periods
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Painful sex
  • Hot flashes
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Mood swings
  • Decreased interest in sex

Perimenopause symptoms are different for every woman. Severe symptoms can interfere with your sleep, intimate life, and overall happiness. Thankfully, the team at Greensboro OB-GYN Associates can help.

How do you treat menopause symptoms?

Your Greensboro OB-GYN Associates gynecologist carefully reviews your symptoms and medical history and performs a physical exam to understand your particular needs.

Then, they develop an individualized menopause management plan to help you cope with your symptoms. Depending on your needs, treatment for menopause symptoms may include:

  • Lifestyle changes, such as proper nutrition and exercise
  • Hormone replacement therapy in oral or topical form
  • Medications to target specific symptoms, such as insomnia

Just because menopause is a natural biological process doesn’t mean you have to suffer from troublesome symptoms. Call Greensboro OB-GYN Associates or schedule your appointment online today.