Navigate Menopause With Confidence With Personalized Support for Your Changing Health
Hot flashes, night sweats, sleep changes, mood changes, vaginal dryness, weight changes, and changes in your menstrual cycle can make the transition through menopause frustrating and unpredictable.
Menopause is a normal stage of life, but that doesn’t mean you have to simply tolerate symptoms that interfere with your quality of life.
At Wild Horse Health, our General Medicine Department takes a comprehensive approach to menopause. We look at your symptoms, menstrual history, overall health, medications, lifestyle, and individual risk factors to help determine the most appropriate approach to managing the changes that occur during this stage of life.
Menopause is the point in time when a person has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period and there is no other obvious cause for the absence of menstruation. Menopause is a normal biological process that occurs as ovarian function declines and reproductive hormone levels change. The transition leading up to menopause is called perimenopause. During this time, hormone levels can fluctuate significantly, and menstrual cycles may become irregular. Menopause most commonly occurs between ages 45 and 55, although the timing varies from person to person.
Perimenopause
Perimenopause can last for several years before the final menstrual period. During this transition, you may experience:
Symptoms can fluctuate from month to month as hormone levels change.
Menopause can affect many different aspects of health.
Not everyone experiences menopause in the same way, and symptoms can range from minimal to significantly disruptive.
Menopause can cause changes in menstrual bleeding, but not all bleeding after menopause is normal.
Contact your healthcare provider for:
Seek prompt medical evaluation for:
Any vaginal bleeding occurring after 12 months without a menstrual period should be evaluated.
Menopause management should be individualized. Not everyone needs medication, and not everyone benefits from the same approach.
Depending on your symptoms, medical history, and individual risk factors, treatment may include:
Our goal is to develop a treatment plan based on your symptoms, health history, preferences, and individual risks and benefits.
Menopausal symptoms can be influenced by more than hormone levels alone.
Potential contributing factors include:
Identifying which factors are relevant to you can help create a more effective and sustainable treatment plan.
For many people over 45 who are experiencing typical menopausal symptoms, menopause can be diagnosed based on symptoms and menstrual history without extensive hormone testing.
Depending on your symptoms and medical history, your evaluation may include:
Routine hormone testing is not necessary for every person experiencing typical menopause symptoms. When symptoms are atypical, menopause occurs at a younger age, or another medical condition is suspected, laboratory testing may be appropriate.
Depending on your situation, testing may include evaluation of:
Hormone testing may also be appropriate in certain situations, particularly when the diagnosis is uncertain.
Declining estrogen levels can contribute to accelerated bone loss after menopause.
Depending on your age and risk factors, we may discuss:
Menopause occurs as the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen and progesterone.
Declining Ovarian Function
As ovarian function changes, hormone production becomes less predictable during perimenopause and eventually declines substantially after menopause.
These hormonal changes can affect:
Natural Menopause
Most people experience menopause naturally as part of the aging process.
Surgical Menopause
Removal of both ovaries can cause menopause to occur suddenly, regardless of age.
Treatment-Induced Menopause
Certain medical treatments, including some cancer treatments, can temporarily or permanently affect ovarian function and cause menopause.
Early & Premature Menopause
Menopause occurring before age 45 is considered early menopause.
Menopause occurring before age 40 is considered premature menopause and warrants medical evaluation because it can have important implications for bone, cardiovascular, and reproductive health.
Menopause can affect nearly every part of your daily life, and your concerns deserve to be taken seriously.During your visit, we take the time to understand how your symptoms are affecting you not just your hormone levels.
Your evaluation may include:
Our goal is to help you move through menopause with a plan that supports your health, function, and quality of life.
Hormone Replacement hormone therapy (HRT) uses estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, to treat certain menopausal symptoms.
Hormone therapy can be highly effective for symptoms such as:
For some people, hormone therapy may also have benefits related to bone health.
However, hormone therapy is not appropriate for everyone. The decision should be based on your age, time since menopause, symptoms, personal medical history, family history, and individual risks and benefits.
Low-dose vaginal estrogen can be an effective treatment for vaginal dryness, irritation, painful intercourse, and certain urinary symptoms associated with menopause.
Because systemic absorption is generally much lower than with systemic hormone therapy, its risks and considerations can differ. The appropriate treatment depends on your symptoms and medical history.
If you are in the typical age range and experiencing changes in your menstrual cycle along with symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, or sleep changes, menopause or perimenopause may be the cause.
For many people over 45, laboratory hormone testing is not necessary to identify the menopausal transition.
Perimenopause is the transition leading up to menopause. Menstrual cycles and hormone levels become increasingly irregular.
Menopause is reached after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period.
Menopause itself is a point in time rather than a period that lasts for a specific number of years. However, menopausal symptoms can continue for years after the final menstrual period, and the duration varies significantly from person to person.
Yes. Hot flashes are one of the most common symptoms associated with menopause. However, severe or disruptive hot flashes can be treated, and you do not necessarily need to simply live with them.
Changes in body composition and weight distribution are common during midlife and menopause. Aging, reduced muscle mass, activity level, sleep, diet, and hormonal changes can all contribute.
Some people experience difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, or a feeling of “brain fog” during perimenopause and menopause. Sleep disruption, stress, mood changes, medications, thyroid dysfunction, and other conditions can also contribute.
Changes in estrogen, vaginal symptoms, sleep, mood, stress, medications, and relationship factors can all influence sexual desire. Menopause-related vaginal dryness or pain can also affect sexual function.
Usually not if you are over 45 and experiencing typical symptoms with changes in your menstrual cycle. Testing may be appropriate when the diagnosis is uncertain or menopause occurs earlier than expected.
Menopausal hormone therapy can be an appropriate and effective treatment for many people, but it is not risk-free and is not appropriate for everyone. The decision should be individualized based on your symptoms, age, medical history, and personal risk factors.
Yes. Depending on your symptoms, non-hormonal approaches can include lifestyle changes, behavioral strategies, medications, vaginal therapies, exercise, sleep interventions, and other individualized treatments.
Weight-bearing and resistance exercise, adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, avoiding smoking, limiting excessive alcohol, and maintaining healthy body weight can support bone health. Some people may also benefit from bone-density testing or additional treatment based on their individual risk.
Wild Horse Health is a cash-pay clinic. We do not bill insurance directly, but:
If hot flashes, sleep problems, mood changes, vaginal symptoms, or other changes are affecting your quality of life, our General Medicine Department can help you understand what’s happening and determine which treatment options may be appropriate for you.
We take a personalized approach to menopause, balancing symptom relief with your long-term health and individual risk factors.
