Going through menopause is a natural part of aging that every woman will experience at some point in their life. Each woman will experience menopause in their own time, typically between their mid 40s and early 50s. With such a wide age range and every woman traveling this path at her own pace, it may seem like a hazy and unclear stop on their journey.
Unsure if you’re currently experiencing menopause? Renewed Vitality is here to clear up the uncertainty of menopause. While symptoms will vary woman to woman, below are some common symptoms to look out for and what you can do to alleviate them.
Perimenopause
Menopause occurs when the body’s reproductive hormones, such as estrogen, begin to decline in production. Before women experience menopause, many will first experience perimenopause. This is the period when a woman’s body is beginning to transition to menopause and the body’s estrogen production is beginning to decline.
It’s important to realize that experiencing perimenopause is not the same as menopause. While a woman’s estrogen production is in decline, she will still have periods during this time, though they will be irregular. A woman may experience her period more frequently or go months without her period during this period. While it is less common, it is important to note that a woman can still become pregnant during perimenopause, so it is still wise to use contraceptives. Once a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual cycle she has entered menopause.
Symptoms of Menopause
Hot Flashes
While some women may begin experiencing menopause in their 40s, others won’t experience that part of their journey until their 50s. With such a wide age range, it can be difficult to figure out if you’re at the crossroads of menopause. One of the most common symptoms of menopause are hot flashes. You’ll know you’re experiencing a hot flash when you feel your body temperature rise, affecting the top half of your body. Some women also experience blotchy or red skin, sweating, heart palpitations, or feeling dizzy.
Insomnia
Another common symptom many women face during menopause is insomnia. Women may experience difficulty falling asleep, or they may experience difficulty sleeping throughout the night as they wake up in a cold sweat or experiencing a hot flash.
Changes in Mood
While it’s common to experience a lot of physical changes during menopause from hot flashes to weight gain, it’s also normal to experience changes in mood as well. Many women will experience not only mood swings, but also anxiety, depression, or even a mental fog.
Alleviate Your Symptoms
Some women may experience no symptoms or only mild symptoms during menopause, others may experience these symptoms more severely. Menopause doesn’t have to be a struggle, even for those with severe symptoms.
Diet and Exercise
Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine can help boost your mood and combat menopause weight gain. Aerobic activities such as jogging or walking will help maintain heart health, release serotonin to combat mood swings and depression, and it can also help combat insomnia.
Proper Sleep Hygiene
Bedtimes aren’t just for kids; adults benefit from them too! Going to bed at a regular time each night and only laying in your bed when it’s time to go to sleep can help combat insomnia. If you struggle with hot flashes, it helps to keep your bedroom cool at night and to wear light, moisture-wicking clothing to bed.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
For those struggling with severe menopause symptoms in Berks County, hormone replacement therapy may be the best option to help alleviate symptoms such as hot flashes, moodiness, and weight gain. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy uses bioidentical hormones made from plant-based sources, so your body can use them more efficiently while experiencing less adverse effects than synthetic hormones.
Renewed Vitality can help those in the Reading, PA area with hormone imbalance via bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. We offer BHRT in the form of pellet therapy, creams, or gels.
Unsure if your symptoms are related to menopause? Take our free quiz to find out if you’re experiencing a hormone imbalance. While our symptom checker can help you better understand if you’re experiencing hormone imbalance, it is always recommended to schedule an appointment with your doctor to get a proper diagnosis.
