Living with Menopause
Menopause is a natural development of your body. It begins around the time your periods stop due to depletion of eggs, and ovulation. This usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55. It can sometimes happen earlier naturally. Or for reasons such as surgery to remove the ovaries, cancer treatments like chemotherapy, or a genetic reason. Sometimes the reason is unknown.
Menopause can cause symptoms like anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes and irregular periods. These symptoms can start years before your periods stop and carry on afterwards. These symptoms can have a big impact on your life, including relationships and work.
Symptoms
Common physical symptoms of menopause include:
hot flushes, when you have sudden feelings of hot or cold in your face, neck and chest which can make you dizzy
difficulty sleeping, which may be a result of night sweats
palpitations, when your heartbeats suddenly become more noticeable
muscle aches and joint pains
changed body shape and weight gain
skin changes including dry and itchy skin
reduced sex drive
vaginal dryness and pain, itching or discomfort during sex
recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
stress urinary incontinence, which involuntary release of some urine while coughing, sneezing and laughing
Symptoms can last for months or years, and can change with time. For example, hot flushes and night sweats may improve, and then you may develop low mood and anxiety. Some symptoms, such as joint pain and vaginal dryness, can carry on after your periods stop.
Getting advice early can help reduce the impact perimenopause and menopause have on your health, relationships and work.
Treatment
Treatment for menopause and perimenopause
The main medicine treatment for menopause and perimenopause symptoms is hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which replaces the hormones that are at low levels. There are other treatments if you cannot, or choose not to, have HRT.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
HRT is a safe and effective treatment for most going through menopause and perimenopause. The doctor will discuss any risks with you.
HRT involves using estrogen to replace your body's own levels around the time of the menopause. If you have a uterus you also need to take a progesterone to protect its lining from the unopposed effects of estrogen.
If you have low sex drive because of menopause and HRT does not improve it, you may be offered testosterone.
Non-hormone medicines
There are non-hormone treatments if your symptoms are having a big impact on your life and you cannot, or choose not to, have HRT.
There are some medicines that can help with hot flushes and night sweats. These include a selective estrogen receptor modulator called Tibolone, an antidepressant called Venlafaxine, a blood pressure medicine called Clonidine and an epilepsy medicine called Gabapentin. The doctor will discuss their efficacy and possible side effects with you.
Stress urinary incontinence
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is common among menopausal women and has a significant negative impact on daily functioning and quality of life. Although surgical treatments are widely used for SUI, many women prefer a self-managed conservative option, and some women are not eligible for surgery or prefer to defer it. Options for conservative management are effective and safe. They enable the woman to be actively involved in the management of her SUI, while temporarily or permanently avoiding invasive procedures.
Dr. Ehab can help in relieving distressing menopause symptoms to enter your new phase in life with more ease. Contact us or call +201221577732 to make a reservation.
Contact the Clinic
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