At 57, Laura G. is glad to be on the other side of the menopause journey. As a middle school teacher and mother of two grown sons including one with special needs, she was used to handling stress and the raging hormones of adolescents, but menopause added a new layer to an already complex life.
“Menopause was a difficult time. I didn’t handle stress very well and I was extremely irritable,” remembers Laura. “What didn’t bother me before, such as an unorganized area, really bothered me at the time. So much, in fact, I once woke up in the middle of the night and decided clean the garage. What added to the stress was the chronic fatigue. Caring for my son with special needs required an exorbitant amount of energy. I was always feeling drained. Plus, my hot flashes were intense and I felt desperate for relief. There were many times that I literally ran the garden hose over my head to cool off.”
Mary Carr Ross, APNP, an obstetrician and gynecologist at SSM Health in Madison, Wisconsin says many women approach menopause with dread.
“Some foresee an end to their sex life, miserable hot flashes, saggy breasts and other horrors,” says Mary Carr Ross, APNP. “I am here to tell you that this need not be your future. Menopause comes in many different forms including no change other than a change in menstrual frequency.”
Menopause signals the end of a woman’s reproductive years and the end of menstruation. It usually occurs gradually over a period of about seven to 10 years. The onset of symptoms is actually the first phase which is known as perimenopause.
“Most women begin perimenopause in their 40s. At this time, women experience sporadic menstruation, hot flashes, vaginal dryness and trouble sleeping. Perimenopause usually lasts about four years until menopause begins,” says Mary Carr Ross, APNP.
Once 12 full months have passed without a period, you’ve entered menopause. This is when ovaries have stopped releasing eggs and making most of their estrogen. This phase usually starts around the age of 50 and often includes symptoms like fatigue, depression, mood swings, racing heart, weight gain, night sweats and reduced sex drive.
“There are a lot of different things women can do to reduce the symptoms of menopause,” says Mary Carr Ross, APNP. “Some choose hormone replacement therapy. If that is something a patient is interested in trying, we’ll first do some tests to see if she is a good candidate. Studies have shown a higher incidence of breast cancer in women who had hormone replacement therapy. We now have excellent guidance regarding who should receive hormones, how long they should receive them and which drugs had fewer negative impacts upon women’s health, not just breast cancer. As providers we are now armed with better information to help women have the healthiest overall outcomes.”
“Checking with your doctor is the first step,” says Laura. “Then, keeping your sense of humor is the second step to successfully navigating menopause. To see the humor through it all will make the load lighter, bring perspective and create more peace at home. On a good day, I gave myself a lot of grace and allowed for self-care. I knew I was a better mom and wife when I was refreshed. For me this meant having coffee with a friend, relaxing by the lake and gardening in the backyard. I have been symptom free for about 3 years, and it has been a welcomed change.”
For women who do not need or choose not to take hormone replacements, there are many alternatives to maintain their health during and after menopause. Schedule an appointment online to speak to an SSM Health provider for the best advice in how to navigate menopause.
