Hot flashes are one of the most common symptoms of perimenopause, the time in a woman’s life right before she experiences menopause, or permanent infertility. During perimenopause, your body’s production of estrogen and progesterone rise and fall, and many of the other symptoms are a result of decreasing estrogen.
Other symptoms of perimenopause include menstrual irregularity, sleep problems such as night sweats, mood changes, vaginal and bladder problems, loss of bone density, changes in sexual function or desire, and changes in cholesterol levels.
Treatment for Perimenopause
If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, you can make an appointment with your doctor to discuss the various treatment options, the most popular of which is hormone therapy.
Hormone therapy can help relieve the symptoms of menopause. For women who still have their uterus, estrogen is usually given in conjunction with progestin, a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone. This helps reduce the risk of cancer of the lining of the uterine that occurs when estrogen is used alone.
Estrogen is used to treat hot flashes specifically, which is the main complaint of women experiencing perimenopause symptoms. Estrogen can also relieve vaginal dryness and can help to relieve some changes that can cause problems associated with urinary incontinence.
It is recommended to maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating healthy, staying active and getting enough sleep during this time. Once you’ve gone through 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, you’ve officially reached menopause, and the perimenopause period is over.
We Can Help
If you have questions about hormone therapy treatment for menopause or would like talk to one of our doctors about your perimenopause, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment.
