Hormones and Menopause
If menopause is new to you, a plain map helps. medlineplus.gov explains that lower hormone levels during menopause can cause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, vaginal dryness and pain during sex, and that hormone therapy may help relieve these symptoms. my.clevelandclinic.org adds that there are treatments available to help with symptoms of menopause, like hormone therapy, medication or lifestyle adjustments.
Four questions, from the basics up
- What is menopause? Start here if the word is still fuzzy. Every other answer builds on it.
- What non-hormonal options help hot flashes? Read this next to see what you can try without a prescription decision.
- Does menopause affect bone health? This widens the picture beyond symptoms you can feel.
- Who should not use hormone therapy? Save it for last. It involves your personal history, which is where a clinician earns the visit.
Reading beyond these pages
Two references run longer than a single answer. The my.clevelandclinic.org overview of menopause, its ages, stages and signs lays out the whole timeline. The womenshealth.gov site keeps a page of menopause basics that suits a first read. Neither replaces advice about your own body.
A free step to take this week
Keep a short symptom diary for two weeks. Note what you feel, when, and how much it bothers you. Then write down the questions you want answered, including whether hormone therapy is right for you, and bring both to a consultation.