Many options are available today to help women experience menopause without disruption to other pursuits and hobbies that give your lives meaning.
Medical research teaches us more about mature women’s health every year. At The Woman’s Clinic, P.A., our physicians strongly believe in providing individualized care to manage the hormonal and physical changes of menopause so that you maintain your happiness and health.
Use the information presented here as an introductory guide to menopause, and contact your physician if you have more questions or to set up an appointment.
Changes
Menopause is a stage of life, not unlike adolescence, that affects every woman around the world. However, women’s physical and mental experiences during the change, as it’s often called, vary within and across cultures.
However with knowledge and attention to self care, menopause can mark the beginning of an exciting new time of life for all women.
Relief
Regular clinical checkups will help a woman achieve optimal health.
The checkups can identify any health conditions that need to be addressed. For example, regular mammograms are important for women over 40. Pap tests are also recommended, even after menopause. Height measurements detect loss of height, possibly an indicator of osteoporosis. Blood, urine, and other tests can help to screen for existing or increasing risk of various diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and thyroid disease.
Bone Health
Staying healthy as we age into the golden years means keeping bones strong. For women with risk factors for osteoporosis, we offer on-site scans to help identify signs of the condition. Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. These broken bones, also known as fractures, occur typically in the hip, spine and wrist.
If you already have osteoporosis, or know you’re at risk, you can live actively and comfortably by seeking proper medical care and making some adjustments to your lifestyle. Your physician may prescribe a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, a regular program of weight-bearing exercise and medical treatment.
Mammography
Getting an annual mammogram – at age 40 or sooner if you have a family history of breast or other cancers – is one of the only three defenses women have against breast cancer today. Regular breast self exam and an annual clinical exam performed by your doctor also aid in early detection.
