New trends and treatments in menopause care

If you're menstruating in your 40s, you may already be experiencing the effects of menopause. Menopause is the point in life when menstrual cycles permanently stop, and most people reach this point around age 50. This hormonal change is accompanied by many symptoms. Some symptoms can be managed with home care, while other symptoms, such as severe mood swings, hot flashes, and trouble sleeping, may require medical attention.

Menopause officially occurs one year after your last period. The preceding two to eight years, when menstruation becomes irregular and fertility declines, is known as perimenopause. Some people experience perimenopause in their 30s, others in their early 50s, but most people reach perimenopause in their late 40s.

Menopause is not a disease, but a natural change in life, and not everyone requires its treatment. Many people seek medical help to manage their symptoms. There are many new trends in menopause care, from hormones to medications to supplements, and it can seem overwhelming to understand them. What is safest to manage side effects? Should I buy over-the-counter treatments, or seek more comprehensive care from my health care provider, or both? Menopause Read on for answers to these and other important questions about the best way to treat the symptoms of.

Is hormone therapy right for me?

Menopause occurs in anyone who menstruates. If you have symptoms of menopause, it's important to bring them up during your annual primary care exam. Gynecologists with special training or who are interested in transitioning from age 40 to 55 are ideal for seeking additional care and treatment, especially if you want to consider medical treatments such as hormone therapy. He is a specialist.

Hormone therapy with prescribed estrogen and progestin (both reproductive hormones found naturally in the body) has been used to treat menopausal symptoms since the 1980s. Because decreased estrogen is the cause of many menopausal symptoms, hormone therapy can reduce symptoms by bringing estrogen back into the body.

Although not everyone who experiences menopause will require hormone therapy, hormone therapy has many positive side effects, including alleviating some symptoms and lowering the risk of osteoporosis, and may improve bone density. The decline may be exacerbated by natural estrogen, which decreases with age. . These treatments can also be administered by creams, patches, or low-dose oral contraceptives. However, hormone therapy can increase the risk of some cancers, such as breast cancer.

Non-hormonal therapies, complementary medicine, and lifestyle choices

Non-hormonal therapies for treating menopausal symptoms are becoming increasingly popular and provide an alternative to hormonal therapy. These include:

• Always consult your health care provider before adding any new medications or supplements to your daily routine.
• There are also a number of popular and effective options for treating menopausal symptoms based on the traditions of Eastern medicine and herbal medicine. These include acupuncture, which has been shown to be effective for hot flashes and night sweats, and herbal supplements along with treatment by a trained acupuncturist. The main disadvantage of acupuncture is that the treatment is rarely covered by insurance and can be expensive.

Eating mindfully and exercising regularly have both been proven to be beneficial in treating menopausal symptoms and keeping your body more broadly healthy as you age. This includes getting enough vitamin D and calcium in your diet to keep your bones strong as hormone levels change, and to limit your intake of caffeine and alcohol.

Challenges in menopausal care

Although advances have been made in the treatment of menopause in recent years, menopause care can still face some major challenges. These include:

• Stigma against openly talking about symptoms, especially sexual side effects such as vaginal dryness and changes in sexual desire that can affect intimate relationships. It is important that you feel able to discuss all your symptoms with your health care provider.
• Increased availability of home tests for menopause and perimenopause that can be purchased online. These tests can help give you a snapshot of your hormone levels for the day, but more information is needed to correctly diagnose menopause and perimenopause, and at-home results can be misinterpreted. is common. This type of testing is best conducted under the supervision of a provider who can place it in the appropriate context.
• Finding the time needed to diagnose and treat menopausal symptoms in a clinical setting can be difficult. Especially since it often requires time and communication outside of the office environment to ensure a reliable diagnosis and properly treat symptoms. Finding a provider who specializes in menopause care can be very helpful in speeding up this process and getting you the care you need.

Not everyone experiences menopause in the same way. For some people, symptoms are mild enough that home remedies can meet their needs. But for those with more severe symptoms, or who want clinical support during this difficult time, working closely with a gynecologist will bring relief and greater insight.

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