Blog

Published in General on Jun 19th 2017

How to Manage Even the Most Frustrating Menopause Symptoms

Menopause is a natural, biological process experienced by women in their 40s or 50s. “The change” occurs in the year or so after a woman’s last menstrual period and it can be a difficult process for women for a couple of different reasons. For some, the emotional challenges that accompany the loss of their fertility are compounded by the physical reality of the menopausal process.

The transition to post-menopause life often consists of unpleasant symptoms that can negatively impact daily life. The severity and type of symptoms can vary from one woman to the next, but no one should have to live with symptoms that affect what they do and how they feel. There are ways to manage even the most frustrating menopause symptoms, and Pacific Women's OB/GYN Medical Group is happy to provide advice on how to make life with menopause a little easier.

Of course, we always encourage patients facing unpleasant menopause symptoms to contact us to discuss if more effective treatment can be offered by our providers.

Hot flashes

Perhaps the most well-known side effect of menopause, a hot flash is the sudden feeling of warmth and heat felt in a person’s face, neck and chest. Hot flashes can be overwhelming, with women needing to interrupt their daily routine, work or even sleep to “come down” from the symptoms.

An effective way to help manage hot flashes is to prepare for them ahead of time. Many women find that a hot flash can be triggered by spicy foods, wine, tobacco usage and even stress, so avoiding those triggers is advisable. Additionally, you can prepare for a hot flash ahead of time by putting together a “kit” to manage symptoms – include a large bottle of cold water, hair ties, extra deodorant and a change of clothing if hot flashes cause you to sweat through your clothes. If you find your hot flashes to be severe, please contact your PWOG provider.

Insomnia

The hormonal changes brought on by menopause can cause night sweats, which are hot flashes so severe that they wake women up from a deep sleep. Just as hot flashes can sometimes be preempted, insomnia can also be treated by circumventing night sweat triggers. Both involve paying close attention to your symptoms and learning which lifestyle habits affect you most. Mild insomnia is of course unpleasant, but normal; severe insomnia should be discussed with your provider immediately.

Aside from insomnia and hot flashes, there are other well-known menopause symptoms that PWOG providers can assist with, including:

• Painful intercourse
• Vaginal dryness
• Prolapse
• Incontinence
• Osteoporosis