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Menopause Wellness

At Community Health Network, we understand that every woman’s menopause journey is unique. We take a whole-person approach, recognizing that it can affect many aspects of a woman’s physical, emotional and mental well-being.

Our menopause wellness physicians provide:

  • Personalized care plans for each woman
  • Evidence-based treatment options
  • Comprehensive care with a large network of resources to support you, no matter what symptom you are experiencing
  • A safe place where you will feel heard and validated
  • Treatment that is covered by most insurances
  • Accessible care with the option to schedule a virtual consultation when appropriate

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About the Menopause Journey

The menopause journey is a natural transition in a woman’s life, marked by shifting and gradually declining hormone levels. This transition unfolds in stages and can bring a range of physical and emotional changes, which vary from woman to woman.

Perimenopause

Perimenopause, often referred to as the transition to menopause, occurs when your body's production of estrogen/progesterone rises and falls, and you move to the end of your reproductive years. Many of the changes experienced during this time are linked to hormonal dysregulation, which often leads to common symptoms that can last for several years. The average amount of time spent in perimenopause is four years. You may notice signs sometime in your 40s, but some women may notice them as early as their mid to late 30s. While this is a natural process, every woman's experience is unique, and the timing can vary.

Menopause

When you’ve gone a full 12 months without having your menstrual cycle, you’ve officially entered menopause. Once you are at this stage, you can no longer bear children. Many women experience menopause between the ages of 44-55, but some women experience it earlier.

You may also experience menopause if your ovaries have been surgically removed, which is known as surgical menopause. It can be a more sudden process that occurs more rapidly after surgery rather than over several years.

Perimenopause and Menopause Symptoms

Perimenopause and menopause can cause a variety of symptoms among women. Symptoms can be influenced by a woman’s genetics as well as external factors, such as race and ethnicity, culture, lifestyle, and environment.

Below is a list of common symptoms women may experience during this midlife transition.

  • Sleep Issues: difficulty getting to sleep and staying asleep
  • Period Changes: heavier periods more frequently, or pattern changes
  • Joint Pain: aches in knees, shoulders, elbows, hands or any other joint in your body
  • Breast Tenderness: aching, soreness or burning sensation
  • Urinary Issues: recurrent UTI, frequency, urgency, nighttime urination, leakage of urination
  • Intimacy and Sexual Problems: difficulty achieving orgasm, pain with sex, decreased sexual desire, bleeding after sex
  • Headaches: tension, cluster or migraine episodes
  • Skin Changes: skin crawling or itching
  • Cardiovascular Changes: heart palpitations
  • Metabolic Changes: worsening cholesterol and insulin resistance
  • Body Composition Changes: decrease in muscle mass and increase in visceral fat
  • Fatigue: extreme and persistent tiredness
  • Mood Issues: difficulty concentrating, poor memory, irritability, anxiousness, depression, crying spells
  • Vaginal Changes: dryness, prolapse, recurrent vaginal infections

No matter what symptoms you are experiencing, we encourage you to reach out to an Ob/Gyn for support and care.

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Personalized Treatment Options

Together with your physician, you'll determine the best treatment plan based on the severity of your symptoms, your health history, and your personal preferences. All our Ob/Gyns can treat your menopause symptoms. However, if you are experiencing complex or high-risk symptoms, our team will internally refer you to our menopause certified providers for advanced care when appropriate.

No matter what stage of the menopause journey you are experiencing, we start your treatment with a comprehensive assessment that includes:

  1. A review of your medical history (looking back)
  2. An evaluation of your current symptoms, concerns, and risk (where you are now)
  3. A personalized treatment plan (planning for the future)

We offer a range of treatment options to address your perimenopause and menopause symptoms, including:

Medical Management

Medical management is the use of prescription medications to treat symptoms or conditions.

  • Non-hormonal medications for hot flashes and night sweats symptoms
    • Medications: SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), Gabapentin, Fevolinetant (Veozah), Oxybutynin
  • Hormone medications (MHT - Menopause Hormone Therapy) to relieve symptoms and address biological changes
    • Medications: Estradiol, progesterone, testosterone
Integrative Medicine

Integrative medicine is a holistic, healing-oriented approach to treating the whole person. Through evidence-based conventional and alternative therapies, patients and physicians can create a personalized treatment plan for you, which could include the following:

Comprehensive Circle of Care

Hormonal changes can impact various aspects of your body, which is why we offer the Circle of Care, a comprehensive approach that connects you with all the subspecialists necessary to ensure a smooth and healthy midlife transition.

  • Behavioral Health
    • Manage stress, anxiety, insomnia, and depression during the menopause transition
    • Help treat insomnia, hot flashes, and decreased libido through cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Neurology
    • Increased risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia for women in midlife
  • Cardiology
    • Cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer of women in midlife
    • Treatment for increased risk of cardiovascular disease, arrhythmias, etc., for women in midlife
  • Orthopedics
    • Treatment for increased risk of joint pain, frozen shoulder, plantar fasciitis, osteopenia, and osteoporosis in women in Midlife – Musculoskeletal Syndrome of menopause
  • Oncology
    • Cancer is the second leading cause of death for women in midlife
    • Access to comprehensive cancer risk assessment and genetic testing, including personalized breast cancer risk assessment and management.
      • If you are experiencing menopause symptoms and sexual health issues after your cancer treatment, please schedule directly with our providers, who are experts in this field, Dr. Candace Westgate or Dr. Michelle Murphy.
  • Urology/Urogynecology
    • Manage complex issues related to pelvic organ prolapse, incontinence, etc.
Surgical Options

For certain patients, a surgical option is recommended to control perimenopause bleeding issues. This could include, but is not limited to:

  • Progestin IUD placement
  • Dilation and curettage hysteroscopy: a surgical procedure to remove tissue from inside your uterus
  • Endometrial ablation: a surgical procedure to remove the uterine lining
  • Hysterectomy: a surgical procedure to remove the uterus
Non-Surgical Procedural Interventions

Coming soon: This fall, we will begin offering Empower RF treatments at our Westfield location. Please read below to learn more about the treatments. We encourage you to reach out to your physician with any additional questions.

  • About the EmpowerRF Device: The EmpowerRF is a device made by Inmode to deliver women’s wellness treatments. There are several different modalities of treatment available. We use it to treat incontinence, vaginal dryness, pain with intercourse, vaginal laxity, as well as help restore basic function and quality of vaginal health.
  • About the Treatments: Depending on your circumstances and treatment type, you may receive numbing cream to provide you with additional comfort. However, most patients only report feeling a pressure sensation during the procedure. Most procedures take about 30-45 minutes total.
  • Cost: The cost of the treatment varies depending on the procedure, but patients have the option to purchase bundles of 3 treatments at a time.
  • Recovery: Typical recovery includes pelvic rest for 3-5 days. You will be sent home with Aquaphor and an ice pack to help with recovery if needed. Our team will follow up with you a couple of days later to check in on you and see if you have any additional questions during your recovery process.

Looking for Menopause Care?

Schedule a visit with one of our ob/gyn physicians to find the best treatment option for you!