What to Know About Perimenopausal and Menopausal Hormones

Perimenopausal and menopausal hormones cause problems for women. Perimenopause, the period leading up to menopause, is the beginning of hormonal changes that cause a variety of issues, ranging from mild to extremely uncomfortable. The physicians at Athens ObGyn help women manage hot flashes and menopause symptoms, and provide professional, medically driven hormone analysis to determine which treatment is the most medically sound.

Perimenopause is the beginning of hormonal changes

By the time women are in their 30s and 40s, their hormone levels begin to change. The ovaries gradually produce less estrogen, progesterone and testosterone beginning in the perimenopausal years and continuing until menopause, which occurs when women haven’t had a period for 12 consecutive months. Women need to understand what these hormones do in order to comprehend the changes in their bodies.

• Estrogen – This hormone has a variety of vital functions, including helping to maintain vaginal lubrication and blood flow, keeping the vaginal lining elastic, causing the uterine lining to get thicker during the menstrual cycle, and preserving bones.
• Progesterone – A critical hormone for menstruation, progesterone prepares the uterine lining for fertilized eggs and helps maintain pregnancy in the early weeks.
• Testosterone – Testosterone isn’t just for men! This hormone helps women maintain their sexual libido, as well as muscle tissue and bone.

How perimenopausal and menopausal hormones affect women

We know what perimenopausal and menopausal hormones do, but what happens when these hormones begin to fluctuate and dwindle? Here are the symptoms many women experience during perimenopause and menopause.

• As estrogen levels fluctuate and sometimes rise, the higher levels cause heavy menstrual bleeding, bloating and tender breasts.
• When estrogen levels get lower and eventually fall to their lowest level, women get hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, palpitations, bone loss, and vaginal dryness that can lead to painful sex and urinary issues.
• As progesterone production begins to lessen and eventually stops, women’s periods become heavier, longer and more irregular.
• When testosterone levels decline, it may affect sexual desire.

Physicians provide the most accurate and safe hormone analysis and treatment

Women who are coping with the changes that perimenopausal and menopausal hormones cause are looking for answers. Spas and other facilities offer hormone analysis and suggest treatment, but the staff are not medical professionals. The physicians at Athens ObGyn offer medically driven analysis and treatment that women can rely on to help them safely manage menopause. Contact us for an appointment.