Menopause is a natural transition that all women go through, marking the end of menstrual cycles and fertility. The average age for menopause is 51, but it can occur anywhere from 40-55 years old.
As estrogen levels decline leading up to menopause, many women experience symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood changes, trouble sleeping, and more. These symptoms can significantly impact quality of life.
Getting an accurate menopause diagnosis and pursuing treatment options can provide great relief from discomfort. Working with a knowledgeable menopause specialist ensures you understand what to expect and how to manage symptoms through lifestyle changes, therapies, etc.
There are many important things to understand when it comes to menopause care. Below we cover key topics regarding menopause diagnosis, symptoms, treatment options, and specialized care.
Accurately diagnosing menopause involves blood tests to measure hormone levels over time. There are 3 stages:
Paying attention to symptoms and tracking cycle changes are also important for diagnosis. Getting tested by a menopause specialist ensures accurate interpretation of hormone test results.
Symptoms arise from declining estrogen levels and can be mild to severe. Common symptoms include:
Symptoms can significantly disrupt sleep, work, relationships and more. Discussing your symptoms with a menopause specialist helps determine suitable treatments.
Various treatment options can provide relief:
Hormone therapy and localized vaginal estrogen are effective medical treatments that require oversight by a hormone doctor. Lifestyle measures and non-prescription alternatives can also help provide relief.
Navigating menopause and finding suitable treatments can be challenging. Working with a skilled menopause specialist provides:
Menopause specialists have extensive training and expertise. They stay up to date on the latest research and treatment guidelines for safe, effective menopausal symptom management.
Hormone Harmony Clinic provides specialized menopause care in Annapolis, MN led by Dr. Jane Wells - a top board-certified menopause specialist and endocrinologist with over 20 years expertise.
We perform accurate menopause diagnosis through blood testing, thoroughly evaluate your symptoms, risks and needs, and provide customized treatment plans. We offer a full range of options including FDA-approved hormone therapies, localized vaginal estrogen, complementary approaches and more.
At Hormone Harmony Clinic you receive highly personalized care with ongoing oversight throughout the menopause transition. We partner with you to effectively manage symptoms for optimal wellbeing and quality of life during this change.
As leading Annapolis menopause experts, we give every patient as much time as needed to understand this transition and feel supported making healthcare decisions. We're passionate about menopause education and empowering women through this next life phase.
Our Annapolis clinic offers convenience and a relaxing atmosphere to discuss menopause concerns. Appointments typically last 30-60 minutes so Dr. Wells can answer all your questions. Extended evening and weekend hours provide flexibility.
We know menopause impacts not just physical changes but also emotional health and relationships. Our team provides tailored care backed by expertise. We handle any insurance authorizations required for treatment.
You'll always see Dr. Wells at appointments - never other providers. This allows us to develop a trusted relationship and track progress over time. We work with you 1:1 to achieve relief from menopause symptoms for optimal wellbeing during this transition.
If you're experiencing menopause symptoms, we invite you to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Wells to discuss your health, review testing and create a customized treatment plan designed just for you.
Hormone therapy (HT) is a proven safe and effective medical treatment for menopause when appropriately prescribed and monitored by a doctor. Below we cover key details about HT.
HT provides relief for common menopause symptoms driven by estrogen deficiency including:
Relieving these symptoms greatly improves quality of life disrupted by hormone changes.
HT restores depleted estrogen levels in the body via tablets, patches, gels or creams. It may include progesterone which protects uterine health. Therapy provides stabilization as the ovaries' estrogen production declines.
Benefits are realized quickly - within 1-3 months hot flashes improve; vaginal issues within a few weeks. Continued use ensures sustained relief.
HT can benefit healthy women < age 60, within 10 years of menopause onset, suffering moderate to severe symptoms.
The risks and benefits based on your health are assessed by a menopause specialist. HT may not be advised for those with:
Working with a doctor is essential to determine if HT is appropriate and safe given your medical background and needs.
Regular checkups with your menopause specialist are key while using HT. We evaluate symptom improvement, perform needed health screening tests, assess breast health, manage therapy dosage, and support you through the menopause transition.
Careful monitoring ensures treatment effectiveness and safety tailored specifically to your changing needs over time.
Many women experience frustrating vaginal symptoms - dryness, burning, irritation, painful sex - requiring treatment. Localized vaginal estrogen provides targeted relief by releasing a small dose directly in vaginal tissues.
Vaginal estrogen helps relieve:
Restoring moisture and proper vaginal pH improves these common menopausal discomforts.
Vaginal estrogen therapies like creams, tablets or rings continually release a low estrogen level directly to vaginal tissue. This helps rebuild vaginal lining, increase blood flow and secretions while minimizing systemic absorption.
Forms like the vaginal ring provide gradual relief over 3 months making treatment convenient and mess-free.
Vaginal estrogen is suitable for most women suffering vaginal menopause symptoms. Those with a history of certain cancers should discuss appropriateness with their doctor.
The low-dose localized estrogen does not affect the uterus so you do not need to take progesterone.
Your menopause specialist tailors dosage, formulation and duration of vaginal estrogen to your needs through follow-up. We assess symptom improvement and guide you on proper therapy use for best results long-term.
While hormone therapy is the most effective option to treat menopausal symptoms, making certain lifestyle changes can also be beneficial. Healthy lifestyle choices help ease this transition.
Certain areas to focus on include:
Diet - Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants, fiber rich foods, healthy fats from nuts/avocados, lean protein sources. Avoid processed foods, added sugar, fried items, alcohol and caffeine which can worsen symptoms. Stay hydrated.
Exercise - Incorporate cardio and strength training most days. Yoga, pilates and tai chi also help manage stress and discomfort. Regular activity aids sleep, mood and health.
Stress management - Practice relaxation techniques, meditation, breathing exercises. Make time for soothing hobbies. Get emotional support from loved ones. Manage workload, plan rest periods.
Preventive health - Have regular screenings for bone, heart, breast and gynecologic health. Stop smoking. Limit UV exposure.
Supplements - Some herbal remedies may provide modest relief from hot flashes and mood changes for some such as black cohosh, St John's Wort, maca root. Additionally Vitamin D, B, Calcium and Magnesium intake can benefit health. Discuss options with your doctor.
Wellness efforts complement hormone therapy prescribed by your menopause specialist and offer general health advantages:
Discuss the lifestyle measures most important for you with your menopause specialist for a cohesive care plan. We provide nutritional and wellness counseling tailored to your needs.
Navigating menopause is challenging with fluctuating hormones causing disruptive symptoms. Finding an expert, caring menopause specialist means better care through the menopausal transition.
The right specialist:
✅ Has extensive training in hormones, menopause and midlife women's health
✅ Stays current on the latest research and best practices
✅ Takes time explaining options so you feel confident about treatment decisions
✅ Develops personalized plans addressing your symptoms and health priorities
✅ Provides flexible appointment times and coordinates care if needed with your other doctors
You want a specialist who makes you feel heard, supported and well cared for while addressing menopause concerns. This greatly impacts the experience managing this major life transition.
At Hormone Harmony Clinic Annapolis, Dr Jane Wells offers specialized menopause care guided by experience, understanding and commitment to education and wellbeing. We welcome you to learn more and schedule a consultation.
Most women reach menopause between the ages of 45-55, with 51 being the average age. Perimenopause with fluctuating hormones can begin years prior causing symptoms leading up to menopause.
Symptoms typically persist for 4-5 years around the onset of menopause but can last longer without treatment. Some women struggle with symptoms up to 10 years. With hormone therapy, relief is experienced within 1-3 months.
Yes, hormonal shifts can significantly impact mood. Many women experience symptoms of anxiety, irritability and depression with menopause, disrupting wellbeing. Staying active, reducing stress, connecting with others socially, and hormone therapy helps stabilize mood.
Hormone therapy that includes estrogen is the most effective treatment proven to relieve hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal symptoms which commonly disrupt sleep, work and relationships during menopause. Getting accurate testing and guidance from a hormone specialist is key for starting appropriate therapy based on your health profile.
Initially, we recommend follow-up 3 months after starting therapy to evaluate symptom relief and hormone response. Then visits every 6-12 months for assessment while using hormone therapy. We individualize ongoing care based on the treatments selected and how you respond. More frequent visits are arranged if issues arise needing closer monitoring.
There is no evidence showing FDA-approved bioidentical hormone preparations are safer or more effective than well-researched conventional hormone therapy. What matters most is hormone testing to reveal your needs, selecting suitable therapy based on your health, and properly monitoring treatment by a menopause specialist for good results.Reach out with any other questions - we're always happy to provide education and support regarding midlife hormone health!
