Menopause care

We provide education, support and resources to help women transition through the years before, during and after menopause.

What is menopause?

Menopause is the stage of life when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months and can no longer get pregnant. While the average age of menopause is 51, it can occur any time from the 30s to the mid-50s or later.

At menopause, a woman’s ovaries stop releasing eggs and producing female hormones. The change in hormone levels can cause symptoms including hot flashes, chills, night sweats, sleep problems and mood swings. Every woman experiences menopause differently; in some cases, symptoms are hardly noticeable, while in others they are so severe they disrupt day-to-day life and benefit from treatment.

What is perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the time before menopause, typically seven to 10 years, during which the ovaries gradually reduce their production of estrogen and progesterone. Menstrual periods become increasingly irregular, but women can still get pregnant during this time. In the last one to two years of perimenopause, the drop in estrogen accelerates and fluctuating hormone levels often cause the onset of menopausal symptoms.

Staying healthy after menopause

After menopause, loss of the hormone estrogen increases your risk of osteoporosis, weight gain, heart disease, vaginal dryness/painful intercourse and urinary incontinence.

Eating a healthy, balanced diet and getting regular physical exercise can help prevent or manage many of these conditions. Getting enough calcium and including weight training in your exercise routine can help preserve bone mass. Regular exercise can also help keep weight down and relieve stress. Make sure you get regular health screenings, and talk to your doctor about what steps you can take to manage your health conditions or reduce your risk.

Bone densitometry (DEXA) test for osteoporosis

Bone densitometry, or dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), is a test used to measure bone density and diagnose osteoporosis. It is a quick, painless, non-invasive procedure. Wearing loose clothing or a gown, you lie motionless on a padded table while a machine takes low-dose x-ray scans of your body. A radiologist will analyze the images and send a report to your primary care or referring physician. Women past menopause are at highest risk for developing osteoporosis and should ask their doctor if they should receive this screening.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Menopause can disrupt your hormone levels, causing a major impact to your health and well-being. One treatment option is hormone replacement therapy, which uses hormones that are chemically identical to the ones your body produces (estrogen, progesterone and testosterone). Hormone replacement therapy can restore your hormones’ delicate balance and ease hot flashes, night sweats, mood, insomnia, vaginal dryness and other symptoms.