Ask Sofia: What’s the difference between perimenopause and menopause?

National Menopause Awareness Month is a perfect time to learn more about the various stages associated with menopause, when your period ceases and the reproductive years come to a close. Many of the symptoms of perimenopause, sometimes called “before menopause” or “around menopause,” are similar to those of the better-known menopause, yet this stage can start as many as 10 years prior.

Midlife Changes: Keeping Your Cool

If you are a woman in your mid-40s to 50s, you have likely experienced various symptoms of menopause. One of the most common, hot flashes, occur with up to 80 percent of all menopausal women in the United States and can be a particular nuisance—ranging from “warm flushes” to random sweating throughout the day to waking up nightly drenched in sweat. The good news is that you no longer need to suffer as your OB/GYN has more options than ever to help keep your cool.

Ask Sofia: Why Am I Gaining Weight?

If the scale isn’t exactly reflecting your healthy lifestyle these days, you might be wondering “why?”

“Why am I gaining weight?” is a loaded question with many potential answers. Some women gain weight during menopause when the metabolism begins to slow down while others see the scale tick up due to medication for depression and anxiety, stress and stress hormones, lack of sleep, digestive issues, eating too much sugar or not enough lean protein, and distracted eating, among others.

Ask Sofia: How long will menopause last?

Defined by hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and vaginal dryness, menopause is official when your periods have stopped for a full year. It can occur as early as age 40 and as late as 55-plus, but for most women, menopause happens in their early 50s.

National Menopause Awareness Month

While a celebration isn’t the first thing most women think of when they consider menopause, National Menopause Awareness Month in September encourages women to embrace this phase, rather than just suffering from its symptoms. At Clinic Sofia, we are proud to support women at every life stage and offer resources and support for women experiencing menopause and pre-menopause.

Menopause Symptoms

Menopause is a natural part of a woman’s aging process. It marks the beginning of a new phase of freedom in life without periods or pregnancy. While the changes that happen in women’s bodies are similar, every woman experiences menopause differently. Your caregivers are here to guide you through this transformation.

Bone Health

As women experience menopause, estrogen production naturally slows down. Estrogen helps support bone growth, so many women have weaker bones later in life. Some women are at risk for developing osteoporosis, which causes the bones to become extremely brittle and easily fractured.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) involves medications that contain female hormones designed to replace those that the ovaries stop producing. Women with symptoms of menopause may discover that HRT is a good option for them.

Ask Sofia: How Do I Know if I Have Vaginitis?

Vaginitis is a broad term that refers to an infection or inflammation of the vagina. If you’re experiencing itching, burning during urination, discharge with unusual odor or discomfort during sex, you may have vaginitis. Yeast infections, for example, are one type of vaginitis. The causes of vaginitis vary, including an imbalance in vaginal bacteria, a viral infection, reduced estrogen levels after menopause, irritation from lotions or clothing, sexual contact or another type of infection.

Lower Your Risk for Breast Cancer

While you can’t alter your genetics, your age and the simple fact that you’re a woman, there are many risk factors for breast factor that you can influence with a healthy lifestyle and healthy habits. During National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Clinic Sofia shares five steps to being your healthiest self.

Aging and the Female Body

Whether you’re noticing the outward signs of aging such as fine lines and more brittle hair or the inner signs – decreased metabolism or loss of flexibility, for example – your body continues to change with each year and each decade. Other signs of aging can include hair loss, dry eyes and skin, sluggish digestion, issues with bladder control as well as menopause. With that said, there are a variety of measures you can take to keep your body feeling young, looking good and going strong. For instance, your muscles only weaken if you let them.