For women, menopause is unavoidable. Though every woman will eventually go through menopause, it may affect every woman differently. There is plenty of credible information online for women concerned about menopause, but there are also some common misinformation floating around as well. That’s why board-certified gynecologist Dr. Kristine Gould here at Gynecology Associates of Gwinnett has taken some time to debunk some of the more misleading myths about menopause.
Myth #1: Menopause Happens Suddenly
This is a pretty common falsehood. For women who experience natural menopause (instead of surgical menopause after a hysterectomy) menopause is a gradual process. During the perimenopause period, or pre-menopause, a woman’s estrogen production gradually begins to decrease and periods become irregular. Some women experience more symptoms during perimenopause due to a major fluctuation in the sex hormones. A woman has not technically entered menopause until she has not had a period for an entire year.
Myth #2: Menopause will Eliminate Your Sex Drive
This too is incorrect. Sex can be just as desirable and enjoyable for women who have undergone menopause as anyone else. Though a decreased interest in sex is commonly associated with a hormonal imbalance that comes with the transition into menopause, this is temporary. For women who experience vaginal dryness after menopause that makes sex painful or unappealing, we recommend FemTouch™ Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation. FemTouch™ Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation treatments restore vaginal health to help improve these symptoms and make sex more satisfying again.
Myth #3: Hot Flashes Mark the Beginning of Menopause
Hot flashes may be the most well-known symptom of menopause, but that doesn’t mean they will be a woman’s first indication of her transition. There are plenty of other symptoms including fatigue, anxiety, heavy or irregular bleeding, mood swings, hair loss, weight gain, diminished sex drive and more that can commonly serve as the first sign of entering menopause.
The truth is that menopause does pose certain challenges for women, but none of these challenges need to drastically alter a woman’s life. The better an understanding of their bodies women have, the better equipped they will be to handle the changes that occur with menopause. For more information on menopause and the various treatments we offer, please contact Dr. Kristine Gould at Gynecology Associates of Gwinnett today. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for more tips and news on women’s health and wellness. Also check out our calendar of upcoming Health & Wellness Events.
