A lot of your life as a woman is marked by the ability to conceive a baby and carry it until birth. However, at some point in your life, that period of your fertility ends. This is the time when menopause sets in, marking the end of your child-bearing years and meaning a change in your hormones.
Dr. Inga Zilberstein is an obstetrics and gynecology expert who can help you through all of the different phases of your fertility. Whether you’re ready to have a baby, you’re trying to prevent pregnancy, or you’re in the beginnings of menopause, Dr. Zilberstein can help.
Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when their child-bearing years come to an end. As your hormones begin changing, especially estrogen, it changes your menstrual cycle, eventually leading to the end of your period altogether.
Menopause is officially diagnosed after your period is absent for 12 months in a row. This happens sometime in your late 40s or early 50s, as your ovaries produce fewer reproductive hormones during this time. The average age for the start of menopause in the United States is 51.
While menopause is an expected stage as you age, it can be unpleasant to deal with. Once your hormones begin to change, you may experience a number of symptoms, including:
You may also notice that you’re gaining weight easier because your metabolism slows during this time in your life. Drier than normal skin along with thinning hair are just a few of the other symptoms you may experience.
Although you can’t stop menopause from coming, you can prepare yourself before it starts. Knowing what to expect and being ready can help.
Once you’ve gone a whole year without your menstrual cycle, you’ve officially reached menopause. As your body adjusts to the changes in reproductive hormones, you’re likely to experience common menopause symptoms, some of which may continue for the rest of your life.
Menopause can also put you at risk for certain health issues, such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. However, there are several steps you can take to keep your body healthy through this transition:
Because of the reduction in your hormones, you may struggle to deal with symptoms such as vaginal dryness, urinary incontinence, and a slower metabolism. One of the ways Dr. Zilberstein helps you to deal with these symptoms is by hormone replacement therapy. We offer both conventional hormone therapy and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
Conventional hormone therapy helps decrease the symptoms of menopause by supplementing your body with estrogen, sometimes in combination with progestin. This can not only reduce your menopausal symptoms, but also decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.
Bioidentical hormone therapy is very similar to traditional hormone replacement therapy, except that the hormones are manufactured using estrogen from plants, and have the same chemical makeup as the estrogen that your body produces. Traditional hormone replacement therapy is sourced from equine urine.
Bioidentical hormones can be just one hormone or compounded with other hormones to treat your symptoms effectively. Dr. Zilberstein helps you decide if hormone replacement therapy is a good treatment avenue for you and which type would best fit your needs.
Don’t let menopause get the best of you. Call us today at 646-601-6351 to schedule an appointment, or book a consultation using our online tool.
