Menopause is a natural event that marks the end of a woman’s reproductive life. All women will experience menopause as they age, and it usually happens after age forty, with an average age of fifty-one. When a woman goes through menopause before age forty, it is called premature menopause.
Premature menopause is most often the result of surgery, such as hysterectomy or removal of the ovaries, or medical treatment, such as chemotherapy. Natural menopause begins with perimenopause when the ovaries make less estrogen and periods increasingly erratic. A woman is menopausal when it has been a year since her last period.
Menopause Symptoms
Many women, when approaching menopause, will experience hot flashes, often accompanied by sweating. Some women experience severe hot flashes, while others have relatively mild symptoms. Other possible symptoms include fatigue, depression, headaches, irritability, mood swings, and insomnia.
As estrogen levels decline, it can cause long-term health problems. After menopause, women are more at risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, weaker vision, vaginal dryness, poor skin elasticity and muscle power and tone, bladder weakness, and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Diagnosing the Menopause
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and levels of estrogen. As menopause occurs, FSH levels increase, and estrogen levels decrease.
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) as sometimes the symptoms of menopause are similar to hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid.
It is possible to purchase over-the-counter tests and which can tell you if you have higher FSH levels. However, levels rise and fall during the menstrual cycle, and these tests alone cannot tell you that you are definitely in menopause.
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Menopause Treatment in NYC
Menopause is a naturally occurring event requiring no medical treatment, but our top doctors in NYC can help manage your signs and symptoms. This management can also help to prevent or manage chronic conditions that can occur with aging. Possible treatments are listed below.
Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy is one of the most effective menopause treatments available and can relieve hot flashes. Before prescribing estrogen therapy, New York doctors will need your family and personal medical history and will most likely recommend the lowest dose and shortest timeframe required to provide relief. We prescribe progestin with estrogen for women who still have their uterus.
Using estrogen can help prevent bone loss, but long-term hormone therapy does carry some risks of cardiovascular disease and breast cancer. However, beginning hormone therapy around the time of menopause has proven to be beneficial for some women. We can discuss the possible risks and benefits of hormone therapy to make an informed decision as to whether this is the right choice for you.
Vaginal Estrogen
If you have vaginal dryness, estrogen can be applied directly to the vagina using a tablet, cream, or ring. These products release a small amount of estrogen absorbed directly into the vaginal tissues and help relieve dryness. This treatment can also help to relieve some urinary symptoms.
Low-Dose Antidepressants
Some selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can decrease hot flashes and may be helpful for women who cannot take estrogen or need an antidepressant for mood swings.
Gabapentin
Gabapentin is traditionally used to treat seizures but can also help reduce hot flashes. It is another helpful drug for women who cannot use estrogen therapy. IT can help those who have nighttime hot flashes.
Clonidine
Clonidine is a pill or patch usually used to treat high blood pressure and help provide some relief from hot flashes.
Osteoporosis Treatment
If required as part of your menopause treatment, we may recommend medications to prevent or treat osteoporosis. Vitamin D supplements can help strengthen bones.
Self-help strategies can be a valuable part of menopause treatment and can help prevent or reduce the effects of many of the signs and symptoms of menopause. If you suffer from hot flashes, make sure you drink plenty of cool water and dress in layers. It can be helpful to try and pinpoint what triggers your hot flashes.
Some women find their hot flashes to worsen from caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, or hot beverages. Make sure you get enough sleep, and you may find it helpful to practice relaxation techniques. Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles with exercises called Kegel exercises can help to improve urinary symptoms. Regularly exercising will protect you against heart disease, osteoporosis, and other problems associated with aging.
There are alternative medicines that claim to treat the symptoms of menopause, including dietary and herbal supplements. Please discuss them with us first if you wish to use them, as the FDA doesn’t regulate herbal products. Some can interact with other medicines and could put your health at risk.
Menopause Treatment Plan for Patients in NYC
Our doctors can help manage your signs and symptoms and prevent or manage chronic conditions. Possible menopause treatments are Hormone Therapy, Vaginal Estrogen, Low-Dose, Antidepressants, Gabapentin, Clonidine, Osteoporosis Treatments.
Please make an appointment with one of our menopause specialists in Midtown Manhattan or Upper East Side. Our medical care NYC internal medicine doctors look forward to meeting you!
Manhattan Primary Care Locations: Manhattan Primary Care (Upper East Side) 983 Park Ave, Ste 1D22, New York 10028
(212) 389-9929 Manhattan Primary Care (Midtown) 56 W 45th St, Ste 808, New York, NY 10036
(212) 389-1887 Manhattan Primary Care (Union Square) 55 W 17th St, Ste 105, New York 10011
(212) 378-9987
