Menopause Specialist
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Karen F. Brodman, MD, PLLC
Gynecologist located in Upper West Side, New York, NY
All women will go through menopause at some point in life, but the journey is more difficult for some. At the office of Karen F. Brodman, MD, you can receive the compassionate medical care you deserve to feel better. Board-certified gynecologist Karen Brodman, MD, offers hormone therapy and other treatments to make menopause symptoms easier to manage. Schedule a menopause consultation online or call the office in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York, today.
Menopause Q & A
What is menopause?
Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when monthly periods stop for 12 consecutive months. This time signals the end of your childbearing years, and you can no longer become pregnant. The transitional time leading up to menopause is known as perimenopause.
During perimenopause, your body slows down its production of reproductive hormones like estrogen and progesterone, which leads to fluctuations in your hormone levels. These fluctuations can cause a wide variety of symptoms that affect your physical health because your hormones play a role in many of your body’s functions.
You may also reach menopause earlier if you have a hysterectomy to treat gynecological conditions like heavy uterine bleeding or undergo chemotherapy treatments for cancer.
Due to underlying medical or genetic issues, some women will experience premature menopause, also known as a premature ovarian failure. Early menopause occurs in women 39 and younger.
What are the symptoms of menopause?
The fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone during menopause can cause symptoms that range from mild to severe. Many women experience symptoms during perimenopause, which can start 10 years before you reach the end of your periods.
Symptoms of menopause can include:
- Irregular periods
- Vaginal dryness
- Vaginal atrophy (shrinking tissues)
- Urinary incontinence
- Night sweats
- Hot flashes
- Weight gain
You may also have trouble sleeping and experience frequent mood changes, anxiety, or depression.
While there’s nothing you can do to stop the transition to menopause, treatments are available to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
How is menopause treated?
During your evaluation for menopause symptoms, Dr. Brodman takes the time to speak to you about what you’re experiencing. She may order blood tests to evaluate your hormone levels, and she reviews your medical history to determine which treatments are a good fit.
Many women find relief from their menopause symptoms with hormone therapy. To rebalance your natural hormone levels, you may need to take low-dose birth control pills or synthetic hormones. Dr. Brodman can also recommend lifestyle and diet changes that support your overall health.
Suppose you’re not able to tolerate hormones because of underlying health issues. In that case, Dr. Brodman can work with you on a treatment plan using other therapies to relieve night sweats, hot flashes, and other side effects of menopause.
There’s no reason you have to struggle through menopause alone. Schedule a consultation online or by calling the office of Karen F. Brodman, MD, today to book a menopause evaluation.
