Do I Need STD Testing If I’m in a Long-Term Relationship?
Regular STD testing is important for your sexual health, but is it really necessary if you’re in a committed partnership? Here’s what you need to know.
Struggling with Menopause? We Can Help
You long for the day when you no longer have to deal with your monthly periods. But when that day comes, you realize you’ve traded that freedom for a host of more unpleasant consequences.
For the one million women who enter menopause each year in the United States, side effects can vary, but hot flashes, night sweats, and declining vaginal health top most lists.
Whatever you’re dealing with as you make your transition through menopause, Dr. Gary Willen and the team here at Tahoe Women’s Care want you to know we have solutions that can restore your quality of life.
Let’s take a look at what we’re up against with menopause and how we can fight back.
Ending your reproductive stage
Menopause is a transition that most every woman makes out of their reproductive stage. The majority of women experience this transition between the ages of 45 and 55, and it lasts, on average, for 7 years.
Kicking off this transition is the shutting down of your ovaries. As your ovaries cease to release eggs, they also wind down production of key reproductive hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone.
While the absence of eggs is good news in terms of not having your periods anymore, it’s the lack of hormones that can impact your life in significant ways.
This hormonal change can lead to a wide range of symptoms, including:
- Hot flashes and night sweats, which affect as many as 75% of North American women
- Vaginal dryness, which affects about half of women
- Thinning vaginal tissues
- Bone loss
- Sleep problems
- Hair loss
- Mood changes
- Urinary tract issues
- Cognitive decline (memory issues, for example)
- Lower libido
As you can see by this list, there are a fair number of quality-of-life issues here that can impact a woman’s overall well-being.
Restoring your health and wellness
If you’re struggling with the side effects of menopause, there are several different solutions, depending on your symptoms and your goals.
For example, one of the best treatments for hot flashes and night sweats is hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which replenishes your reproductive hormones.
HRT is also a great solution for vaginal health issues, such as thinning tissues and dryness. Another solution for vaginal health is our innovative vaginal rejuvenation technology— MonaLisa Touch®.
There are many ways we can deliver hormones to you. We can take a systemic approach with pills, patches, or injections. Or, if you only want to target a specific side effect of menopause, such as vaginal dryness, we can have you try topical estrogen cream.
The best way to figure out which menopause treatments are best for you is to come see us. We can review your symptoms, and then order up a metabolic panel that will show us your hormone levels. From there, we can devise a plan of attack that will take the teeth out of menopause and make your transition far smoother.
To get started, please contact our office in Carson City, Nevada, to set up an appointment.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Pelvic Pain After Sex: Is It Normal?
Pelvic pain after sex could indicate one of many possible issues. Here’s when you should seek treatment.
Why Are My Menstrual Cramps Getting Worse With Age?
Until recently, your periods weren’t exactly the end of the world in terms of menstrual cramping, and you got on with life. These days, your cramps are more painful than ever — and you want answers.
Tips for Starting the Fertility Awareness Method of Birth Control
Your reasons are your own, but you don’t want to rely on medications or devices to prevent an unplanned pregnancy. Instead, you want to learn about fertility awareness. You’ve come to the right place!
5 Tools to Help You Successfully Navigate Menopause
It would be no exaggeration to say that the changes that come with menopause are life-altering. The good news is that we have more tools than ever to help you better navigate life after menopause.
Causes of Vaginal Dryness (and What to Do About It)
While it may not exactly be a topic of conversation around the lunch table, it might surprise you to know that millions of American women struggle with vaginal dryness. We want you to know that there are solutions.