Menopause

Menopause is an inevitable part of the aging process for women, and while some have an easy time with menopause symptoms, others find that their menopausal side effects have a serious impact on their lives. Kwame Ntim, MD, and the team at Elite Endocrine and Metabolism Care in Altamonte, Florida, have years of experience helping women with the more difficult aspects of menopause. If you’re going through menopause and feel like you need help alleviating your symptoms, call the office or book an appointment online today.

What is menopause?

Menopause occurs around the age of 50 and is the natural transition for a woman that signals the end of the childbearing years. When you haven’t had a period for a minimum of 12 months, you’ve reached menopause.

Before you reach menopause, you go through a period known as perimenopause, which begins when your ovaries start slowing down production of estrogen and progesterone, the hormones linked to reproduction.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

When estrogen and progesterone levels start to fall, it can bring on a range of symptoms such as:

• Hot flashes
• Problems sleeping
• Night sweats
• Depression
• Mood swings
• Vaginal dryness
• Weight gain
• Dry skin
• Thinning hair

The severity of these symptoms varies greatly. Some women have few problems with the side effects of menopause, while others find they struggle with these life-changing symptoms.

What treatments are available to help women through menopause?

Dr. Ntim encourages his patients to take control of their symptoms by making lifestyle choices that support good health. For example, eating a nutritious diet, watching your weight, exercising regularly, and finding effective ways to relax and destress all contribute to your general well-being and reduce the impact of menopausal symptoms.

To boost your health and relieve symptoms, you should also cut out any unhealthy habits such as smoking and excessive drinking.

If you suffer from vaginal dryness, topical estrogen cream or tablets can help, and if hot flashes and night sweats are affecting you, Dr. Ntim may prescribe low-dose antidepressants, blood pressure medications, or anti-seizure medications.

One of the main treatments for relief of the symptoms of menopause is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Dr. Ntim prescribes bioidentical hormone replacement therapy that’s matched to each patient’s needs and is made from plants such as soy and yams. Bioidentical hormones are just like the ones your body makes naturally.

HRT isn’t suitable for all women, and it’s important to make sure you’re a good candidate for HRT before you decide to go ahead. Dr. Ntim reviews the options with you and helps you determine which treatments are most likely to improve your symptoms.

Dr. Ntim maintains a close relationship with his patients and provides support at every stage of their lives. After menopause, he continues to monitor you for signs of postmenopausal health problems such as osteoporosis and heart disease.

To alleviate your menopause symptoms, call Elite Endocrine and Metabolism Care or book an appointment online today.