What is menopause?
Strictly speaking, menopause refers to your last menstrual period; however most people associate it with the time period leading up to and immediately following your last period. As you age, your periods become lighter and less frequent, eventually ceasing altogether. This is a result of your ovaries producing less estrogen and stopping the production of eggs. Along with the loss of periods comes a host of side effects that torment women through their forties and fifties. A woman’s body produces less of certain hormones that are attributed to energy, metabolism, and overall well-being. Whether you are experiencing menopausal or peri-menopausal symptoms, Look Young Atlanta has a Hormone Replacement Therapy program customized for you to help you look and feel young again.
What are the Symptoms of Menopause?
Menopause is a natural event and all women will eventually go through it. As the levels of estrogen and progesterone drop, you are likely to experience a wide variety of symptoms. For simplicities sake, these symptoms are often broken down into short-term, and long-term categories.
Short-term Symptoms of Menopause
These menopause symptoms usually only last for a few months but may last longer in some women.
- Hot flashes occur in about 75% of women. A typical hot flash lasts a couple of minutes and causes flushing of the face, neck and chest. Some women may perspire, become giddy, feel sick or weak, or become anxious during an episode.
- Sweats most commonly occur while in bed. May be so severe that it disturbs sleep or results in a need to change your bedding or clothing.
- Depression or anxiety.
- Loss of libido (sex drive).
- Headaches, fatigue, being irritable, difficulty sleeping, aches and pains, and many other symptoms.
Longer-term Symptoms of Menopause
- Changes to your skin and hair- most people lose some collagen during menopause, which causes the skin and hair to become thinner and drier.
- Changes to the skin in and around the genital area- the decrease in estrogen due to menopause causes the tissue around the vagina to become thinner and drier. This may cause some itching and discomfort, especially during sex. Some women also develop recurrent uterine infections.
What is Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Hormone Replacement Therapy is used to supplement the body with hormones that are naturally lost during menopause. Estrogen, progesterone, and/ or testosterone is given through injection or subcutaneous implant, depending on an individual’s need.
What Menopause Symptoms can Hormone Replacement Therapy Relieve?
Hormone Replacement Therapy can cure or treat many of the most troublesome menopause symptoms including:
- Hot flashes
- Vaginal dryness
- Night sweats
- Low libido
Hormone Replacement Therapy has also been shown to improve your overall mood and sleep, as well as dramatically reduce the risk of osteoporosis and bone breakage.
Who Should take Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Hormone Replacement Therapy may help many Atlanta women get through this difficult time in their life without the horrendous side effects. Ultimately the benefits have to be balanced against the risks. For most women the benefits far outweigh the risks and most women are happy to accept the small risk to be free of troublesome menopause symptoms.
Who Should not consider Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Atlanta hormone replacement therapy is not usually recommended for women who have:
- History of endometrial, ovarian, or breast cancer
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
- History of blood clots
- History of heart attack or stroke
- Liver disease
- If you are pregnant
- If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure
What are the Side Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Side effects with Hormone Replacement Therapy are unusual but the most common side effects include:
- Irregular spotting
- Breast tenderness
Less common side effects include:
- Fluid retention
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Dry eyes
- Blood clots and stroke (very rare)
Additional information about Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Hormone Replacement Therapy is not a contraceptive, so if you are still having periods or just recently stopped having periods when you start Hormone Replacement Therapy, you should still use contraception.
- It is important to have regular checkups with Dr. Ouderkirk. This is so he can regularly evaluate your progress and adjust your treatment as needed.
- While on Hormone Replacement Therapy it is important to be “breast aware”- look out for any changes in your breasts such as lumps.
See If You Qualify:
At Look Young Atlanta we only prescribe hormones that laboratory testing has shown to be necessary to get you back to your very best. During your visit, Dr. Ouderkirk will perform a physical and order any lab work and tests that may be necessary to insure that you are a good candidate for Hormone Replacement Therapy. After you have been given your personalized Menopause Hormone Replacement Therapy program, we will test you and monitor your health every step of the way. We go the extra mile to be sure that our patients Hormone Replacement Therapy experience exceeds their expectations.
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