Don’t let menopause stop you from living your life
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We all want to look and feel our best, no matter our age. But that gets difficult as we get older.
Menopause is a natural change in a woman’s reproductive cycle and marks the end of menstruation and fertility. This change doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, your body transitions to menopause over the course of several years. The average age for menopause in the United States is 52.
Hot flashes and vaginal dryness are the most common complaints of menopause, said Dr. Steve Robison, a physician with Rosemark Women Care Specialists. Menopause does not require medical treatment, but talk to your doctor if your symptoms interfere with your daily life.
“It can interfere with your life, it can wake you up — you can’t sleep well,” Robison said. “Your level of intimacy can be affected because of vaginal dryness. It can actually lead to depression and anxiety if you don’t treat it.”
Fortunately, you have several options to help ease into this transition and help you feel more comfortable and even younger.
Hormone therapy
Estrogen therapy is the most effective treatment for relieving menopausal hot flashes, according to the Mayo Clinic. If you still have a uterus, you’ll need to take progestin too. Estrogen also helps prevent bone loss. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of hormone therapy and if it is a good choice for you.
MonaLisa Touch laser procedure
This procedure is a non-invasive laser treatment for vaginal rejuvenation (also known as vaginal atrophy). The treatment does not require anesthesia and is used to relieve symptoms of post-menopausal women or really any woman who suffers from vaginal dryness, such as cancer patients.
The MonaLisa Touch is a safe and effective non-hormonal therapy that delivers laser energy into the vaginal wall, according to Rosemark. The procedure promotes a healing response and enhances collagen and moisture levels inside and outside the vaginal canal.
The in-office procedure is three 5- to 10-minute sessions that occur in six-week intervals, with follow-up annual treatments after that.
Click here to find out more about MonaLisa Touch.
Low-dose antidepressants
Antidepressants related to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can decrease menopausal hot flashes.
They don’t treat vaginal dryness, Robison said, adding that woman will stay on antidepressants for two to three years and then come off of it to see how they do without it.
These low-dose antidepressants may be useful for women who can’t take estrogen for health reasons or for women who need a antidepressant for a mood disorder.
“We can help alleviate some of those issues and make your life better,” Robison said.