Menopause is a milestone that almost every woman in the world will experience. For some, it is a time of relief from monthly menstrual cycles. For others, it is a new set of hormonal changes to manage.
Dr. Oona O’Neill, an OB-GYN at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Obstetrics and Gynecology Clemmons, wants to affirm women’s awareness that yes, menopause is a personal journey, and women do not have to walk the challenging path alone.
“OB-GYNs partner with women to identify how their bodies are uniquely responding to menopause and prescribe treatment accordingly,” says O’Neill. “It’s important that I work with my patients to provide advice and support through this time.”
No longer a taboo
Many women imagine or know menopause to be a series of hot flashes, mood swings, and eventually, the end of menstruation (hurrah!). But there’s a much more specific definition of menopause, one that helps O’Neill identify how to best serve her patients: menopause occurs when a woman has 12 consecutive months without a menstrual cycle. The average time for this transition is 51 years of age for the American woman.
In the few years leading up to menopause, women are in perimenopause, a transition cycle during which women’s estrogen levels fluctuate. During this phase, women experience varying degrees of symptoms: hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, and changes in their vaginal region, such as increased dryness. Perimenopause is wildly unpredictable and can feel like a second puberty (Periods may become heavier and more frequent or they can spread out and diminish.) Sometimes perimenopause can be more symptomatic than post-menopause.
Identifying what is happening: Are you perimenopausal?
Many women spend a lot of money testing their hormones and saliva to identify whether they’re menopausal, or about to experience symptoms of menopause. Such tests have not been validated by the medical community at large. For O’Neill, identifying whether a woman is menopausal is more of an art.
“Every woman’s body is unique, and their journey through menopause is equally so,” says O’Neill. “Therefore, what’s most important is for women to establish a relationship with their OB-GYN that involves an honest, direct conversation about this stage of life. Every woman needs to have an understanding of what to expect through the menopause transition.”
Treatment for menopausal symptoms
Women with menopausal symptoms might use hormone therapy to diminish the side effects they’re experiencing. And while this may be a good treatment for some, it’s not appropriate for every woman’s health. The best thing a woman can do is to ask her doctor which treatment is best for her body. Natural supplements might also be an option, though there is controversy regarding the safety, effectiveness, and doses of most supplements , says O’Neill. Vaginal estrogen provides focused treatment for vaginal symptoms. There are also non-hormonal options and lifestyle behaviors that have been shown to be effective for certain menopausal symptoms. Ultimately, a conversation between doctor and patient can help determine how perimenopause should be treated.
O’Neill also recommends optimizing one’s overall health through the menopause transition. Attention to diet, exercise, stress reduction and mental health are important because of the overlapping of medical conditions that can be exacerbated by menopause.
O’Neill knows for sure that treating menopausal symptoms should not cost thousands of dollars nor make women dependent on a lot of medications, but each woman will have a unique experience and treatment plan.
Talk to one another
O’Neill is a huge proponent of women talking to each other during perimenopause and menopause, and of society taking a more public look at this journey that women take. It’s important that we provide support to women as they go through this natural transition.
We can be understanding and patient when we treat, listen to, and help women who are experiencing perimenopause or menopause,” O’Neill says. “While natural, the transition is a challenging one, and one that should be met by our community.”
Visit WakeHealth.edu/WomensHealth to learn more about women’s health services and support provided by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.