Menopause is a normal stage of life, but the experience can look very different from one woman to another. Some women experience significant changes in sleep, temperature regulation, mood, sexual health or vaginal health. Others notice relatively few symptoms. At Compass Women’s Health, menopause care begins with understanding what you are experiencing and how those changes are affecting your life.
Menopause is reached after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period when there is not another explanation for the absence of periods.
It marks the end of the reproductive years, but the transition around menopause can involve many different physical and emotional changes.
Not every symptom is necessarily caused by menopause. Your doctor can help you understand what may be contributing to the changes you are experiencing.
Menopause symptoms can vary significantly.
Some women may experience:
Consider talking with a healthcare professional if symptoms are affecting your quality of life or you have questions about changes you are experiencing.
You do not have to wait until symptoms become severe.
A conversation can help you understand whether your symptoms may be related to menopause and what options may be appropriate for you.
A gynecologist can help you discuss symptoms and changes that may occur during the menopause transition and after menopause.
Depending on your individual situation, your conversation may include changes in periods, hot flashes, sleep, vaginal health, sexual health, mood or other concerns.
Your care should be based on your individual health history, symptoms and goals.
Hormone therapy may be an option for some women, depending on their individual circumstances.
Whether hormone therapy is appropriate is not a one-size-fits-all decision. Your healthcare provider can discuss your symptoms, medical history, goals and potential benefits and risks with you.
Dr. Crystal Berry-Roberts, MD, MBA, FACOG is a board-certified OB/GYN providing personalized gynecologic care through Compass Women’s Health. Her approach centers on listening carefully, understanding each patient’s concerns and creating individualized care plans.
Menopause is the point when you have gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period and there is no other explanation. In the United States it happens on average around age 51, but the transition leading up to it, called perimenopause, can begin years earlier. At Compass Women’s Health in North Austin, menopause care begins with listening to what you are experiencing.
Hot flashes and night sweats are the best known, but menopause can also bring sleep changes, mood changes, trouble concentrating, vaginal dryness, pain with sex, urinary symptoms and changes in desire. Some women have many symptoms and others have very few.
Hot flashes often last several years and can continue longer for some women. Vaginal and urinary symptoms tend to persist or worsen without treatment. If symptoms affect your sleep, work or relationships, you do not have to simply wait them out.
No. Any vaginal bleeding after you have gone 12 months without a period should be evaluated promptly, even if it is light or happens only once.
You do not have to simply wait out symptoms. Options range from lifestyle strategies to hormone and non-hormone treatments, chosen together with your doctor.
It depends. For many healthy women who start within roughly ten years of menopause or before age 60, hormone therapy can be an effective option, while for others it is not appropriate. Your age, time since menopause, medical and family history, and personal preferences all matter, and the decision should be revisited over time. A conversation with your gynecologist can weigh the benefits and risks for you.
Regular physical activity, a consistent sleep routine, limiting alcohol and caffeine, and managing stress can ease some symptoms and support long-term health, though they may not be enough on their own.
Menopause is a good time to review bone health, heart health and screening, and to bring a clear picture of your symptoms to your appointment.
Falling estrogen speeds up bone loss and can change cholesterol and blood pressure. Menopause is a good time to talk about bone density screening, heart health, nutrition and exercise as part of your preventive care.
Cervical cancer screening depends on your age and screening history, not just on whether you have reached menopause. Many women can stop after age 65 if earlier screening was adequate, but this is individual, so ask your doctor.
Notes about when symptoms started, how often hot flashes or night sweats occur, how you are sleeping, your medications and supplements, and your family health history.
Make an appointment if symptoms disrupt your life, you are unsure whether changes are menopause, or you have bleeding after menopause. You can book online with Compass Women’s Health. To understand the stages, read perimenopause vs. menopause or learn about perimenopause care.
You should be able to talk openly about symptoms that may be difficult or uncomfortable to discuss. At Compass Women’s Health, the goal is to create space for those conversations and develop a care plan based on your individual needs.
Compass Women’s Health provides personalized gynecologic care in Austin.
4100 Duval Rd
Building 2, Suites 101–102
Austin, TX 78759
Perimenopause is the transition leading up to menopause. Menopause is reached after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period when there is not another explanation
Symptoms can have different causes, and not every change is automatically related to menopause. Your healthcare provider can review your symptoms and health history to help determine what may be contributing to them.
Yes. Some women experience changes in sexual health during the menopause transition and after menopause. These concerns can be discussed with your gynecologist.
You do not have to ignore symptoms that are affecting your life. Talk with your healthcare provider about what you are experiencing and what options may be appropriate for you.
If changes in your health, sleep, periods, sexual health or daily life have you wondering whether menopause is part of the picture, start a conversation.