Menopause
As a woman, your journey to menopause may not be as smooth as you anticipate. At Reflections OB/GYN in the Viera area of Melbourne, Florida, Mark Sargent, MD, MBA, FACOG, and nurse practitioners, Alison Badders APRN, and Laura Burgess FNP-BC, offer compassionate, comprehensive care for menopause-related symptoms that take away from your quality of life. Our Nurse Practitioners Laura and Alison specialize in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to restore balance in your reproductive hormone levels and help you live a life free of menopause symptoms. To find the support you need as you head toward menopause, schedule a consultation at Reflections OB/GYN today by calling the office or by requesting an appointment online now.
What is menopause?
Menopause is the natural time in your life as a woman where your periods stop for good. To be considered postmenopausal, you need to not have a period for 12 consecutive months.
Leading up to true menopause is the time known as perimenopause. During perimenopause, your reproductive hormone levels begin fluctuating and your body slows down its hormone production. This can lead to a variety of symptoms, some of which are severe enough to interfere with your life.
What are the symptoms of menopause?
Many women go through menopause without any noticeable symptoms, while others experience symptoms so intense, they aren’t able to work or go about their usual routine.
Some of the most common side effects of a hormone imbalance relating to menopause include:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
- Irregular periods
- Loss of interest in sex
- Difficulties concentrating
As a result of these symptoms, you may also struggle to get a good night’s sleep and frequently feel fatigued.
What treatments are available for menopause?
While there’s no way to avoid the transition to menopause, you don’t have to live with the symptoms it causes. The team at Reflections OB/GYN offers customized solutions for menopause symptom relief.
Ensuring your symptoms relate to your journey to menopause, the staff offers in-office blood testing to evaluate your hormone levels. Once they confirm you don’t have any underlying medical issues, the team determines the best course of treatment for you.
To ease the symptoms relating to a drop in your reproductive hormone levels, the Reflections OB/GYN nurse practitioners specialize in bioidentical hormone therapy. The goal of this treatment is to restore optimal hormonal balance and help you find long-term relief from related symptoms.
Bioidentical hormones are structurally very similar to your natural hormones and are made from plant materials. By supplying your body with these hormones, you restore your levels and can find relief of your symptoms.
Hormone replacement therapy isn’t right for everyone, and your provider can determine if this treatment is right for you by reviewing your medical history and your symptoms. If you can’t tolerate hormones, your Reflections OB/GYN provider can discuss alternative therapies to keep you symptom-free and healthy.
To discuss your questions about menopause or find relief of related symptoms, schedule a consultation at Reflections OB/GYN today online or by phone.