What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause & How to Combat Them

By Dr. Kenneth Orbeck

Menopause is a natural transition, but it can be a difficult process. During menopause, more than 75% of women have symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, memory issues and fatigue. While they sometimes disappear on their own, these symptoms can last for years. If you’re struggling to cope with the effects of menopause, you’re not alone.

Fortunately, treatment can stabilize your hormones. Regenerative Medical Institute offers diverse rejuvenation services for women as well as hormonal replacement therapy through my practice with BodyLogic MD of Greenville.

I specialize in intimate wellness and I take special interest in helping men and women overcome the negative effects of aging on sexual wellness and intimacy.

My team offers in-depth evaluations to get to the root of your symptoms. We help restore your energy and vitality through drug-free, nonsurgical treatments. After seeking care, most patients report a significant improvement in their menopause symptoms.

Read on to learn more about treatments that can help.

What to Expect During Menopause

Beginning in their 40s, most women enter a period known as perimenopause. During this period of transition, fertility declines. Women often develop irregular periods, and they may have trouble getting pregnant. Some may also experience other symptoms, including:

• Heavy periods
• Menstrual cramps
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Mood swings
• Trouble focusing
• Hair loss
• Bladder problems
• Vaginal changes

These symptoms usually last for 2–8 years. While they’re most common in a woman’s late 40s or early 50s, perimenopause can strike earlier. Cancer treatments or a hysterectomy can kickstart menopause. Sometimes, the reason for early menopause may be unknown. Patients who develop menopause symptoms before age 40 should always seek specialized care.

How Can I Determine When I’ve Reached Menopause?

After a woman has gone a full year without a period, she is considered “postmenopausal.” In the United States, most women reach this stage around age 52. During their 50s, women often notice that their hormones gradually stabilize. Some menopause symptoms may vanish for good.

But hormone fluctuations can persist, even after menopause. Menopause causes permanent changes to your body, and many women struggle to adapt. More than half of women struggle with a chronic low libido after menopause. You might also notice lasting changes in your vaginal tissue. These symptoms can be frustrating and embarrassing. Sometimes, menopause can have a permanent impact on patients’ quality of life.

What Treatments Provide Relief?

At RMI, we offer a wide range of treatment options. Many of our patients find relief with natural treatments. Bioidentical hormone therapy, lifestyle changes and dietary supplements can replenish your body and balance your hormones.

Regenerative treatments help restore youth and vitality by rejuvenating and restoring damaged tissue.

Natural Remedies

Dietary changes can help stabilize your hormones and reduce your risk of health problems. After menopause, women face a higher risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. Postmenopausal women are also more likely to develop diabetes or metabolic syndrome.

A healthy diet stabilizes your blood sugar and keeps your bones strong. Women who enjoy a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D are less likely to suffer bone fractures. Research has also found that avoiding processed “junk foods” helps prevent weight gain. Maintaining a healthy weight eases symptoms like hot flashes and protects against diabetes.

Caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods may worsen menopause symptoms. These “trigger foods” may also contribute to night sweats, hot flashes, and mood swings. For best results, eliminate trigger foods from your diet. If you struggle with identifying trigger foods, my team can help. We offer expert guidance on lifestyle changes that ease menopause symptoms.

Skin Rejuvenation and Hair Restoration

Menopause can cause significant changes in your skin tone and texture. Sudden hair loss is also a common menopause symptom. We know that sagging hair or thinning skin can be distressing. RMI offers skin rejuvenation to plump up sagging skin. These treatments can stimulate cell turnover and boost blood flow. RMI also offers hair restoration using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy and peptides. This combined approach offers a long-lasting solution for patients struggling with hormone-related hair loss.

Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (BHT)

Each woman has a unique experience during menopause. Some women have minor symptoms that are short-lived. But others have severe hormone fluctuations. They might experience years of physical and emotional distress.

Hormone therapy gets to the root of the problem. My team measures your hormones using blood and urine testing. Next, we provide targeted treatment using bioidentical hormones applied in the most effective way. This may include pellet therapy. When deposited under the skin, hormone pellets dissolve consistently. They replenish your body’s natural hormones, providing necessary cellular support for optimal health and recovery.

During treatment, we provide ongoing lab evaluations to keep your hormones balanced. We adjust your hormone treatment plan to help maintain your energy levels and mood. Many patients report that hormone therapy helps them regain their self-confidence.

Intimate Wellness for Women

Loss of intimacy can be a devastating side effect of menopause. Declining estrogen levels can result in a loss of vaginal tone. Some patients also report vaginal dryness. Intimacy may become painful or difficult. Sometimes, patients also develop incontinence or pelvic floor problems.

My patients often confess that these symptoms have a powerful effect on their self-esteem. Sexual dysfunction can also impact a woman’s relationship with her partner. Many suffer in silence for years, believing that their symptoms are irreversible.

But treatment can restore your most intimate areas. At RMI, my team develops a personalized treatment plan. We begin with a one-on-one consultation to understand your intimate wellness needs. Then we suggest nonsurgical treatments to help you enjoy intimacy once again.

Treatment options include the O-Shot®, Votiva and others. The O-Shot is a form of PRP therapy. PRP may help regenerate vaginal tissue and boost blood flow. Patients often report:

• Improved arousal
• Increased sexual desire
• Younger, smoother vaginal tissue
• Stronger or more frequent orgasms

The O-Shot can also ease the symptoms of urinary incontinence. Results can provide peace of mind and boost your self-confidence.

RMI also offers Apex® and Intensity® devices to help strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. Weak pelvic floor muscles can worsen incontinence and sexual dysfunction. Apex and Intensity can be used in the privacy of your own home, providing targeted support.

For patients seeking full vaginal rejuvenation, RMI is proud to offer Votiva. This noninvasive procedure uses radiofrequency energy to rejuvenate your most intimate areas. Votiva helps tighten the pelvic floor and firm up weakened tissue. Best of all, Votiva is pain-free and involves little downtime. Many of my patients report dramatic results after just one treatment.

If you’re struggling with menopause, help is available. Treatment can ease your symptoms and help you get back to normal. Contact us at the Regenerative Medical Institute today to schedule a consultation.