Menopause

Symptoms that come about during menopause can be incredibly uncomfortable and life-disrupting. Carlos Rodriguez Ortiz MD, PA, and his highly trained team in Miami and Hialeah, HCA Florida Kendall Regional Hospital, understand the medical and emotional implications of menopause and are committed to helping you manage this transition of life. To learn more about menopause support from the team, call the office nearest you or schedule an appointment online today.

What is menopause?

Menopause is the stage when you have gone 12 straight months without a period or ovulation. The average age of menopause is 51. 

Symptoms associated with menopause usually occur for several months or years as your hormones start to shift. For many women, the changes associated with this transition can interfere with their quality of life. 

What are the signs of menopause?

Not all women experience symptoms of menopause. Other women notice them but find them quite mild. For certain women, however, menopause symptoms are a serious health problem.

The symptoms of menopause can begin several years before your transition, often in your late 30s or early 40s. This period is called perimenopause. During perimenopause, you can still get pregnant and should always use birth control until your doctor has confirmed you’ve passed your point of fertility.

Signs that indicate menopause, or perimenopause, include:

• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Vaginal dryness
• Sleep disruptions
• Painful intercourse
• Mood swings
• Loss of libido
• Depression or anxiety
• Headaches
• Racing heartbeat
• Urinary incontinence

Women also find that with menopause comes unwanted weight gain, fatigue, and mental fog.

How can I manage menopause symptoms?

Menopause management helps make you more comfortable and reduces the severity of your symptoms as you move through this natural life stage. 

Carlos Rodriguez Ortiz MD, PA, and his team may recommend hormone therapy to better balance estrogen and progesterone levels. The type of therapy you receive and your dosage depend on the nature and severity of your symptoms. Hormone therapy is available through injections, oral medications, pellets inserted under the skin, and creams. 

Supplemental hormones can help ease symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings, and poor sleep.  

Other health concerns may arise once you’ve gone through menopause. As your production of estrogen slows, you might face issues that include osteoporosis, heart disease, and urinary incontinence. The team provides the expert care that you need to manage your post-menopausal health.

To find out how you can live comfortably during menopause, call Carlos Rodriguez Ortiz MD, PA, or schedule an appointment online at the office nearest you today.