I’m too Young for Menopause— Aren’t I?

You’re at the age when menopause might be starting. And you occasionally experience hot flashes, night sweats and insomnia. Yet your menstrual cycle generally remains regular. What is going on? Are you in menopause or not? Or is there something else going on, something more serious?

“Many women around the age of 40 don’t fully understand what is happening as they transition from their reproductive years to menopause, the point at which the menstrual cycle completely ceases functioning,” explains Dr. Jaya Kediyal, a Washington Health Medical Group family physician. They may think it’s too soon for menopause. Or they may believe their menstrual cycle will simply taper off and then stop without significant symptoms. This transition period is known as perimenopause. The intensity of symptoms women experience at this time can vary.

Dr. Kediyal will discuss treatment options for the symptoms of perimenopause at an online Health & Wellness seminar Wednesday, March 12. This seminar, “Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy,” will be broadcast at 5 p.m. on Facebook.com/WashingtonHealth1 and on YouTube.com/@Washington_Health.

Perimenopause can last several years as the body’s estrogen levels decrease. In many women, it can cause a variety of symptoms that range from hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness/irritation, vaginal and/or urinary tract infections, to mood changes (especially in women with a history of depression), fatigue, brain fog, memory issues and sleep disturbances, among others.

According to Dr. Kediyal, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the primary treatment for perimenopause symptoms, is safe and effective. But many women aren’t aware that they don’t have to suffer through various symptoms before or after they reach menopause. She notes, “The number one advice I have for women with any of these symptoms is: go see your doctor, whether a family doctor or gynecologist. Help is available, especially if it’s affecting your daily life.”

As a woman’s body moves into menopause, her body reduces the level of hormones it produces. The reduction in these hormones, estrogen and progesterone, is the primary cause of perimenopause symptoms. HRT helps a woman’s body adjust the hormonal changes it is experiencing. The loss of bone density (osteoporosis) also can result with hormonal decrease.

Treatment may include prescription of creams, patches or pills to increase hormone levels. Depending on the patient’s health history, the prescriptions may be for just one of the hormones or a combination. The patient is monitored to ensure the hormone increase is maintained at a safe level.

HRT is a very effective treatment to relieve perimenopause symptoms. Dr. Kediyal emphasizes, “It improves the quality of life for those going through the menopause transition. If you’re experiencing any of the perimenopause symptoms, talk to your doctor and get relief.”

Health & Wellness seminars provided by Washington Health are an opportunity to hear from experts in a health specialty. Once the seminar has aired on their Wellness Wednesday, it is added to the library of videos available on their YouTube channel (YouTube.com/@Washington_Health).