Menopause can be an uncomfortable and debilitating process for women, and understanding the early signs, stages, symptoms, and treatment is crucial for feeling your best during this life transition. We are answering your top questions about menopause symptoms and how to treat them, so keep reading!
What are the early signs of menopause?
Normally, women first begin experiencing irregular, light, or heavy periods. These changes in the menstrual cycle can be an early indicator of menopause. Because each woman will experience menopause in their own unique way, it’s difficult to say exactly which symptoms you may experience first. Take a look at this list of common menopause symptoms to see if you can relate to one or more:
- Mood swings and irritability
- Increased anxiety and depression
- Insomnia
- Painful sex and vaginal dryness
- Low libido
- Dry skin or onset of adult acne
- Dry eyes or mouth
- Hair loss or thinning
- Headaches
- Hot flashes
- Joint aches and pains
- Brain fog
- Weight gain
- Bladder control issues
Long-term effects of menopause can include an increased risk of osteoporosis and heart disease, so it’s important to implement healthy habits, helpful supplements, and other treatments to help reduce the risk of more complicated conditions as you age.
What are the stages of menopause?
There are 3 stages of menopause: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. These are gradual changes that mark the natural end of a woman’s menstruation. Perimenopause can begin months to years before menopause as estrogen levels begin to naturally decrease with age. This stage lasts until your ovaries stop releasing eggs. You may start experiencing menopause symptoms but will still have periods and can most likely still get pregnant. The menopause stage is when you no longer have periods, and your ovaries have most likely stopped producing estrogen. You may experience the worst of your menopause symptoms at this point. Postmenopause is simply the time after you haven’t had a period for 12 consecutive months, marking the menopause transition. Your symptoms may begin to lessen at this time, but it’s not uncommon to continue having menopause symptoms years after menopause.
What is the normal age for menopause?
The average age span for menopause onset is between 40 and 58, with the average age being 51. Early menopause refers to women who begin having menopause symptoms before the age of 40.
How long will I have menopause symptoms?
The duration and degree of menopause symptoms varies greatly from person to person; however, some can deal with the effects of menopause anywhere between 5 to 10 years.
What treatment options are available?
At Riverside Village Pharmacy, we are proud to offer our community bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, a safe and natural way to relieve menopause symptoms and restore the body’s normal hormone levels. We use bio-identical hormones rather than synthetic ones and will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that fits your exact needs.
You don’t have to suffer with frustrating symptoms of menopause and allow them to continue hindering your quality of life. You have options, and we are here to help. Learn more about our compounding services and how we can customize a hormone therapy plan to help ease your menopause symptoms.
