Menopause

What is menopause?

When your reproductive system stops producing and releasing eggs, you enter menopause. As you approach the end of your reproductive years, a time was known as perimenopause, your body’s production of hormones like estrogen and progesterone decreases. After menopause, your body produces very few of these hormones. This hormonal change triggers many of the disruptive symptoms of menopause.

What are the common symptoms of menopause?

The decrease of estrogen and progesterone hormones during menopause cause a variety of symptoms, including:

• Weight gain
• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Mood changes and irritability
• Depression and anxiety
• Vaginal atrophy
• Loss of libido

Every woman experiences menopause differently. You may experience some or all of these symptoms to varying degrees.

How is menopause treated?

There is no cure for menopause, but Dr. Hanson offers customized treatments to manage your symptoms and help you maintain a healthy and active life, including bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, vaginal rejuvenation treatments, and lifestyle modifications.

Dr. Hanson recommends dietary changes and exercise to improve your overall well-being. Following a nutritious diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and lean proteins and getting at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise, like a brisk walk around your neighborhood, can help manage your weight and regulate your moods.

What is bioidentical hormone replacement therapy?

BHRT replaces the hormones your body is no longer producing. Dr. Hanson orders comprehensive blood work to determine your current hormone levels and works with a compounding pharmacy to create replacement hormones designed to meet your needs precisely. BHRT is available in a variety of forms, including pellets, pills, patches, creams, and injections.

You have regular appointments during your treatment to allow Dr. Hanson to monitor your hormone levels and symptoms. If necessary, she can make adjustments to your BHRT.

What is the MonaLisa Touch?

Vaginal atrophy is a common symptom of menopause. As your estrogen levels decrease, your vaginal walls become thin, dry, and weak, a condition is known as vaginal atrophy. Dr. Hanson offers nonsurgical vaginal rejuvenation treatments using the MonaLisa Touch laser system to address vaginal atrophy.

The laser triggers collagen and capillary growth in your vaginal walls. As new tissue grows and your vagina is flooded with the restorative oxygen and nutrients in your new capillaries, your vaginal tissue returns to its premenopausal state. The treatment takes less than five minutes and is completely painless. You’ll need approximately three treatments spaced six weeks apart for optimal results.

Call Hanson Clinic, PLC in Minneapolis or schedule a consultation online today for an effective treatment for menopause symptoms.