The Menopause Myth: Dispel and Demystify, Here Are Facts to Empower Women

Taking a closer look at what’s going on in the female body helps clarify what we feel and why. Menopause is the transition that marks the end of female fertility. Estrogen and progesterone, the reproductive hormones that control menstruation and pregnancy, begin to decline sometime in your late 30s, though menopause doesn’t usually occur until later. In the United States, the average age for menopause is 51. Those two little hormones reach far and wide into our bodies to influence the number of blood vessels in the vagina, what’s happening in the hypothalamus, our bone mass, our hearts, the urinary tract, and more.

As a result, we can experience declining hormone production in the following ways:

• Irregular menstruation, including skipped periods
• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Weight gain and slowed metabolism
• Mood changes and sleep problems
• Vaginal dryness and sexual discomfort
• Urinary urgency, frequency, and UTIs

The hardest symptoms to treat, because they are not as obvious as the list above, include the loss of bone density and the increased risk of cardiovascular events, which is the leading cause of death among adult women.

That all sounds incredibly overwhelming.

Be reassured, the biggest myth is that there’s no cure…well, technically there’s no cure because menopause isn’t a disease. However, there absolutely are complementary and alternative medications and therapies to address the symptoms.

At Women’s Healthcare of Princeton, we thoughtfully and intentionally put together a team of medical professionals who can address major landmarks and challenges in a woman’s life. We are all well-versed in menopause, having completed additional training with The Menopause Society (NAMS.org). Our approach is holistic and progressive. Our team of eight includes experts in weight management, sexual dysfunction, gynecological surgery and general gynecology; we have all your bases covered.

In addition to our expertise, the team has tools at our disposal, such as HRT of various kinds, the Mona Lisa Touch Laser, and SSRIs which have all shown success in significantly improving menopause symptoms. Instead, or in addition, we may suggest you consult a specially trained therapist or address some issues with PT. These medications and therapies don’t offer a quick fix, but your healthcare partners at Women’s Healthcare of Princeton are committed to helping you make the best decisions for your health and well-being before, during and after menopause. Give us a call at 609-430-1900 to schedule an appointment today.