Women can experience several symptoms during menopause that significantly affect their quality of life. Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when the ovarian reserve is depleted and periods eventually stop. The average age of menopause in the United States is 51 years, but many women will begin to have symptoms in their forties or 2 to 7 years before their last period.
Each woman’s experience with menopause is different. Dr. Zaander feels it is essential that each woman has a provider who can help them navigate these changes and the wide variety of treatment options.
Common symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, sleep problems, skin and vaginal dryness, but there are over 30 symptoms that can develop and each woman has her profile.
Treatments can include non-hormonal options, FDA-approved hormonal treatment options, or compounded options. We will help guide you to a customized treatment plan focusing on your symptoms and goals.
Vaginal dryness, in particular, affects 70% of post-menopausal women and has a variety of treatment options that Dr. Salisbury and Dr. Zaander would be happy to guide you through. While systemic hormone replacement is an option, there are more localized treatments, such as vaginal estrogen products or Mona Lisa Touch C02 laser therapy, that can be very effective and without the risks of systemic hormones.
In line with the American College of OB/GYN, Dr. Salisbury and Dr. Zaander support a symptom-based approach to menopausal management rather than expensive blood or salivary levels unless they are specifically indicated.