Am I experiencing menopause?
Menopausal symptoms can correlate with other conditions, so the best way to find out if you're experiencing menopause is to visit Dr. Gotlin. He will ask about what you’ve been experiencing to find out if this is the cause of your issues.
The most common menopausal symptoms include:
- Mood Swings: You struggle to contain your emotions from moment to moment
- Night Sweats: Fluctuations in your body temperature lead to excessive sweating as you sleep
- Incontinence: Weakening pelvic muscles lead to a loss of control over urination
- Pain During Sex: Your vaginal walls get thinner once you start experiencing menopause, making intercourse painful
- Sleep Disorders: Falling or staying asleep is challenging, leaving you feeling unrested the next day.
Although menopause isn’t a curable condition, Dr. Gotlin can relieve its symptoms with hormone therapy (HRT).
How can hormone replacement therapy help with menopause?
Your body produces less estrogen as you move past your primary reproductive years, which is what causes menopause. HRT replenishes the lost hormones and relieves most -- if not all -- of your symptoms. There are two primary types of HRT:
Estrogen-only therapy (ET)
Prescribed to women who might have lost their uterus to cancer or other causes.
Estrogen plus Progesterone therapy (EPT)
Progesterone is added to protect women with a uterus from developing uterine cancer that can result from using estrogen alone.
Dr. Gotlin can administer these therapies in various ways, such as:
- Pills
- Patches
- Gels
- Sprays
- Injections
HRT can also be prescribed as a ring, cream, or tablet to affect local areas.
Does hormone replacement therapy have any risks?
Before you start using HRT, Dr. Gotlin will perform a thorough consultation with you. Your medical history might rule out the possibility of you pursuing this type of therapy. If that’s the case, Dr. Gotlin will look for alternative methods to help relieve your menopause symptoms.
Those taking EPT are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Women over 60 could potentially develop blood clots in their veins or experience a stroke.
But in the end, you’re the only one who can decide how the benefits of HRT compare to the symptoms you’re currently experiencing. Dr. Gotlin will respect your input and choice.
