Menopause

Menopause is the time of life when a woman’s menstrual cycle ends. Although menopause is a natural part of biology, the physical symptoms that go along with menopause can be severe enough to have an impact on your daily life.

The University of Kansas Health System focuses on addressing the full spectrum of menopause symptoms, both physical and emotional. Whether you’re experiencing mild menopause symptoms or dramatic changes, we can help.

What is menopause?

Menopause is diagnosed when a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without her normal period. This typically happens when a woman is in her 40s or 50s. In the United States, 51 is the average age for menopause.

Before menopause, it’s common to experience perimenopause, which can have many signs and symptoms that are similar to menopause. Perimenopause can last for 7-10 years on average. There are many ways that the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause can be reduced if they’re bothersome, ranging from simple lifestyle adjustments to hormone therapy.

We offer a variety of appointment types. Learn more or call 913-588-1227 to schedule now.

Stages of menopause

Doctors categorize menopause according to 3 different stages.

Perimenopause is the transition into menopause and can begin up to a decade before menopause. During this stage of menopause, the ovaries gradually slow their estrogen production. This decline speeds up in the final year or 2 of perimenopause. It’s not uncommon for women to experience menopause symptoms during perimenopause.

Menopause is diagnosed once menstrual periods have been absent for 12 consecutive months.

Postmenopause is the phase following the menopause diagnosis and lasts the rest of a woman’s life. By this point, menopause symptoms become less noticeable for many women. Others may experience menopausal symptoms for several years after actual menopause.

While menopause typically occurs as a natural part of the aging process, there are other reasons women can go through menopause as well. Removal of the ovaries due to cancer or for other reasons can trigger premature menopause. This effect is known as surgical menopause, which happens immediately after surgery rather than more gradually over the course of several years as during natural menopause.

Menopause symptoms

The signs and symptoms of menopause may include:

Chills
Dry skin
Hair thinning
Hot flashes
Insomnia
Irregular menstrual cycle
Joint pain
Mood changes, including anxiety and depression
Night sweats
Sleep disturbances
Vaginal dryness, itching and pain
Weight gain

These symptoms can occur during perimenopause as well, and many may continue in postmenopausal women. After menopause, the risks for some medical conditions increase, including the risks for developing heart disease, osteoporosis and sexual discomfort.

Menopause diagnosis and screening

Your doctor can diagnose menopause based on your medical history and description of your symptoms. In most cases, your doctor will not need to order blood tests to diagnose perimenopause or menopause, but in some cases, they may be needed.

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Menopause treatment

Treatment is not needed to control menopause, although many women opt for therapies to help manage the symptoms of menopause. Some menopause treatment options your doctor may recommend include:

Hormone therapy can help improve symptoms. Hormone therapy comes in many forms, including pills, patches, gels, rings and creams. Although there are some increased health risks associated with hormone therapy, our menopause experts can help guide you in making informed decisions about what is right for you.
Low-dose antidepressants are sometimes prescribed to help manage hot flashes, especially for women who are not good candidates for estrogen treatment or who already take an antidepressant.
Other oral medications, which are normally used to treat different medical conditions like seizures or high blood pressure, may offer some relief from hot flashes.
Vaginal estrogen can be applied internally to help relieve dryness and discomfort. Vaginal estrogen releases only a small amount of estrogen directly to the vaginal tissue.

Why choose us for menopause treatment?

The University of Kansas has a dedicated program for patients called Menopause, Intimacy and Midlife Transition (MINT). The physicians have a commitment to treating patients in this phase of life and have obtained their certification through the Menopause Society (MSCP). Appointments are available in person and via telehealth.

As academic and teaching faculty members at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, our physicians are committed to staying current with the latest developments in midlife and menopause care. They also work closely with other specialists to address health issues related to menopause.