Menopause is a naturally occurring event that happens to women in their 40s or 50s as their sex hormone levels decrease, their periods stop, and they can no longer get pregnant. While this is a normal aging process, it does include several symptoms that can affect daily living. Before you seek hormone replacement therapy to treat your symptoms, here are a few events you may experience and how to manage them.

What to Expect During Menopause

1. Hot Flashes

When you find yourself getting warm or hot for no reason, you’re having a hot flash. When it happens, you may also feel your skin flush or notice an increased heartbeat. Sometimes, hot flashes occur at night—also called night sweats—and keep you from resting comfortably. The severity and frequency of hot flashes and night sweats vary from woman to woman, and they can last for years.

They are the result of a decrease in the estrogen and progesterone hormones, which affect the body’s temperature control. To treat them, try wearing moisture-wicking clothes and sipping cool water throughout the day. Also, try sleeping with a fan on to help you stay cool enough to sleep.

2. Mood Swings

During perimenopause, or the transition period before menopause, it’s possible to experience changes in your mood. Fluctuations in your hormone levels can leave you feeling irritable, fatigued, anxious, and sad without warning.

Relaxing, exercising, eating a healthy diet, and doing fun activities are effective ways to combat mood changes and keep your spirits up. However, if your mood changes are too severe for you to handle, talk with your health care provider to identify the cause and apply the appropriate treatment.

3. Body Changes

At this stage in life, you may find yourself looking and feeling different. For instance, your skin may become thinner, and you could gain fat around your waist. Some women also experience hair loss as well as stiff joints and achy muscles. Though experts suggest these changes could be the result of a lack of estrogen, they may also be signs of aging. Staying active can help you loosen your limbs, but you may have to work harder to maintain your shape or lose weight.

If you would like a permanent solution to menopause symptoms, hormone replacement therapy may be the treatment for you. The professionals at Summit Rejuvenation Centers in St. Peters, MO, are dedicated to helping their patients live their best lives using medical expertise and alternative medicine. They offer testosterone and estrogen replacement as well as weight loss programs. For more information about their hormone replacement therapy options, visit them online, and call (636) 477-6167 to schedule a free consultation.