Questions and Answers

Heavy prolonged bleeding or bleeding between periods should always prompt a woman to seek evaluation, as should the absence of menstruation prior to age 40. Any bothersome symptoms such as hot flashes, mood and sleep disturbances, changes in libido, and vaginal dryness can often be treated with the goal of improving the quality of life.  Read More

Birth control pills sometimes mask perimenopause because the estrogen in the pills can hide the symptoms. Birth control pills have hormone levels that override our normal hormone levels. Somebody who is taking a birth control pill regularly would have regular bleeding and there may be hormone changes that are occurring that may not be apparent. […] Read More

If you do an Internet search for menopausal symptoms, you always find incontinence on the list. Incontinence is not related to menopause. Instead, developing incontinence is more directly related to aging. What I like to tell my patients is that menopause is a consequence of aging, not a cause of aging. That’s why we can’t […] Read More

Perimenopause is generally the period when your periods start spacing out as you get closer to the average age of menopause, which is about 51 or 52. In perimenopause, the hormones released by the ovaries change. Read More

It is not unusual to have mood alterations during the time of menopause. Your body is experiencing many changes that your mind should process.  Depending on your symptoms, simple diet and exercise programs can help. Some women see improvement after counseling with a therapist or psychiatrist or find short-term use of medicines helpful in stabilizing […] Read More

Growing facial hair could be genetic. Some women just tend to have more hair. If you have this symptom, it’s a good reason to see your physician to have your adrenal hormones, testosterone, estrogen, and SFH levels checked. Luckily, there are hair removal creams and electrolysis. So there’s a lot that can be done cosmetically. Read More

Yes, it can. If you’re a professional opera singer, you don’t want to lose that upper register. When women go into menopause, they lose estrogen, but they still usually make the same amount of testosterone. So the ratios change and their voices become a little more masculine. This is why some women have a deeper […] Read More

Not all women experience hot flashes, but most women flash for a few years. It isn’t good to flash; there are many changes in brain blood flow. Hot flashes should be treated, and there are hormonal options that are safe and effective. There also are non-hormonal options too. Read More

The transition to menopause is usually measured in years, rather than months. In general, the symptoms last fewer than 10 years, but you might experience the majority of symptoms over a period of 1 to 3 years. Every woman is different. Some women have symptoms throughout their lives. Others go through menopause and don’t experience […] Read More

Try using a plant-based vaginal lubricant, coconut or olive oil, to help make sex more comfortable. You can also try using an over-the-counter vaginal moisturizer like Replens to preserve moisture in your vagina.  If the dryness is severe, the most effective treatment may be vaginal DHEA or estrogen therapy.  Read More