The Doctor is In: Your Menopause, Your Way

Posted by Crozer Keystone Staff on September 7, 2011

Menopause is a natural and significant milestone
in the reproductive health of women who are approaching middle age. The time
before menopause is known as perimenopause, which usually takes place between
ages 35 and 50. For most women, menopause – not having your period for one year
-- is believed to occur in the late 40s or early 50s.

If you are beginning to go through perimenopause
– or are in the middle of “the change” – you may experience one or more of
these symptoms: hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, mood swings, menstrual irregularities,
and maybe even depression. These symptoms are caused by changing levels of two
female hormones, progesterone and estrogen. With the loss of estrogen at
menopause, women also can experience vaginal dryness or vaginal atrophy, which
can lead to painful intercourse.

Although the medical community continues to
debate the pros and cons of hormone therapy to relieve menopause symptoms such
as hot flashes and vaginal dryness, the current patient-care philosophy is to
use very low doses of hormones for the shortest duration of time. If you are
considering this treatment option, it is best to discuss the risks and benefits
of hormone therapy with your personal physician.

Another area of debate in managing menopause
symptoms is the use of herbal nutritional supplements and over-the-counter
remedies – such as St. John’s wort, black cohosh, soy and isoflavones, evening
primrose, dong quai, and ginseng. The concern with herbal and over-the-counter menopause
remedies is that none of these products -- or their marketing claims -- is
backed by appropriate medical research. In addition, because herbal supplements
are not regulated or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),
it is difficult to determine the quality, potency, safety and effectiveness of
these products. Herbal therapies also can interact with other medications you
may be taking.

When it comes to feeling your very best as
your body and emotions endure the ups and downs of menopause, one universally
accepted approach is to make smart choices in your daily lifestyle. Maintaining
healthy habits is important at any age, but it takes on even greater
significance as you grow older because your risk factors for chronic diseases
and life-threatening illnesses – from diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol
and high blood pressure, to osteoporosis and different types of cancer --
increase as you age.

For example, because postmenopausal women are
at increased risk for osteoporosis and heart disease, and are more likely to
lose muscle mass as they age, it’s important to watch your diet and maintain
adequate levels of physical activity. Choose a diet rich in whole grains,
colorful vegetables and fruits, low-fat dairy products, and lean protein – and
low in fat, sodium, sugar and caffeine. Regular exercise can help you control
your weight, improve your well-being, and relieve feelings of stress and
depression. If you smoke, there are many helpful resources available to help
you quit, such as nicotine-replacement therapy, tobacco-cessation programs, and
the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s free Quit Line, 1-800-QUIT-NOW
(1-800-784-8669) and its online support program, Determined to Quit.

Finally, even if you no longer are having
periods, you still need to get an annual clinical breast examination and
periodic mammograms to screen for breast cancer, as well as an annual
gynecological exam to check for cervical cancer.

Visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Office on Women’s Health website for a free menopause
symptom tracker that you can share with your doctor, as well as
other helpful information on menopause.
The North American Menopause Society
is another useful resource.

*Joshua Feinberg, D.O., is a family medicine
physician in practice at the Crozer Health Pavilion, 145
Brinton Lake Road, Suite 201, Glen Mills, PA 19342, 610-459-1619

About Crozer Keystone Staff

Crozer-Keystone Health System’s physicians, specialists and advanced practitioners are committed to improving the health of our community through patient-centered, quality care across a full continuum of health services. Crozer Brinton Lake is Crozer-Keystone’s comprehensive outpatient care facility in western Delaware County, offering primary care, specialty services, outpatient surgery and advanced cancer treatment. Contact us: 300 Evergreen Drive, Glen Mills, PA 19342 http://www.crozerkeystone.org/Brinton-Lake 1-855-254-7425