What is menopause?
Menopause is defined as the stage in a woman's life that happens 12 months after your final menstrual period. After menopause, your body produces much less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Your ovaries stop releasing eggs and you can no longer become pregnant.
Uncomfortable symptoms may accompany menopause, but your women’s health provider has treatments and solutions that can make this transition easier.
It’s time to reclaim your menopause journey.
What are the stages of menopause?
Many women refer to the months or years leading up to their last period as menopause, but menopause actually happens in three stages.
Perimenopause
The years leading up to menopause are called perimenopause or the menopausal transition. For most women, perimenopause begins in their mid to late 40s and lasts about four years, although it can be longer for some.
Menopause
True menopause occurs when you stop menstruating permanently. More specifically, a woman is considered to be in menopause after 12 months with no menstrual cycle. In the US, the average age for a woman to reach menopause is 52.
Postmenopause
After menopause, you enter the postmenopause stage. When postmenopause begins, you may experience fewer symptoms associated with menopause. However, your risk of heart disease and osteoporosis increases, so your years after menopause should focus on taking care of your body by eating well, exercising and seeing your provider regularly.
What are the symptoms of menopause?
Changing levels of estrogen and progesterone during the menopausal transition can cause a wide range of symptoms. Symptoms of menopause include:
- Anxiety, depression and mood changes
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Irregular periods
- Memory problems and trouble focusing
- Sleep problems related to low levels of progesterone
- Urinary incontinence
- Vaginal atrophy (dryness and irritation)
When to see a doctor
Your women’s health specialist can help you manage many symptoms of menopause, so don’t feel like you need to handle this transition alone. If menopause symptoms negatively affect your daily life, schedule an appointment to talk about possible treatment options.
What causes menopause?
In most cases, menopause is a natural change that occurs with aging. Some women, however, go through menopause earlier than normal due to health conditions and other factors.
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Natural menopause
In most cases, menopause is a natural change that occurs with aging. Some women, however, go through menopause earlier than normal due to health conditions and other factors.
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Early and premature menopause
Menopause that occurs before age 40 is called premature menopause. When it happens between ages 40 and 45, it is called early menopause. Both can occur for no obvious reason, but in some cases, medical or other factors play a part, including:
- Cancer treatment: Chemotherapy and radiation therapy to the pelvic area can damage the ovaries and cause your periods to stop either temporarily or permanently.
- Family history: If you have a family history of early or premature menopause, you are more likely to experience it yourself.
- Medical conditions: Certain autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid disease, can cause the immune system to attack the ovaries. Women who are living with HIV that is not well controlled, as well as those with missing chromosomes, can also experience early or premature menopause.
- Smoking: Women who smoke can reach menopause up to two years earlier than those who don’t smoke. They may also have more severe symptoms.
- Surgery: Having surgery to remove both ovaries, known as a bilateral oophorectomy, causes menopause to begin immediately. If you have a hysterectomy, a surgery to remove the uterus, but still have your ovaries, you will no longer have your period, and you could experience natural menopause earlier than expected.
What long-term health conditions are associated with menopause?
During and after menopause, women’s bodies go through many changes that can trigger certain long-term conditions. It’s important to know that after menopause, women face a higher risk for some diseases and symptoms. Talk to your provider about ways to lower your risk and monitor your health after menopause.
Cardiovascular disease
Estrogen is linked to heart health, so when levels decline as part of menopause, women are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Many women experience atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque in the arteries. Additionally, hot flashes are linked to high blood pressure.
Changes in sexual function
You may feel less interested in sex around the time of menopause due to dyspareunia (painful sex), vaginal dryness and irritation associated with vaginal atrophy.
Hot flashes
The most commonly discussed symptom of menopause, hot flashes, occur for reasons that aren’t fully understood. They begin in perimenopause when you still get your period and last into postmenopause.
Hot flashes, characterized by a sudden surge of heat in your upper body, can occur at any time, often leading to flushing and sweating, followed by cold chills once the episode has passed.
Your provider can offer several hormone- and non-hormone-based treatments that have been shown to be successful in managing hot flashes.
Insomnia
Many women experience insomnia and sleep disturbances during perimenopause. These changes are due to dropping progesterone and testosterone levels and night sweats (hot flashes that occur at night), which can disrupt your sleep.
Your provider will start by helping you better understand your sleep issues, pinpoint the cause and determine the most appropriate course of treatment. You may benefit from a sleep study, for example, or therapy to address your mental health. Treatments, such as hormone replacement therapy, may also help.
Mood swings and other cognitive changes
Brain fog, depression, mood swings and anxiety can all develop during menopause, and many women report increasing forgetfulness.
Your provider understands how frustrating and difficult these symptoms are and can help you find ways to manage them.
Hormone replacement therapy may be an option for you, but your provider can also suggest other medications or therapies that will help improve your mental well-being during and after menopause.
Osteoporosis
Menopause causes the rate of bone loss to increase significantly, leading to a higher risk of osteoporosis. Up to 50% of postmenopausal women are diagnosed with osteoporosis.
Vaginal problems and decreased libido
During perimenopause, your vagina might become dry, which can make sex uncomfortable. You might also feel less interested in sex than you were before. Vaginal dryness is a symptom that all women will experience over time.
Your provider knows these changes can occur, so you should never feel embarrassed or uncomfortable bringing them up. Medications and special vaginal inserts can help address these problems, so you can enjoy sex as much as you did before the transition.
Weight gain
Some women gain weight more easily during menopause. Weight gain could be due to changes in your body and side effects from specific treatments.
Menopause diagnosis
In most cases, a formal diagnosis of menopause is not necessary, as women notice the signs and symptoms on their own. However, doctors can do blood or urine tests to measure levels of the hormones follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol to determine if you have started perimenopause or have passed menopause.
Menopause treatment
Not all women require treatment for menopause. However, if menopause symptoms are severe or interfering with your quality of life, your women’s health provider can recommend options for treatment.
Hormone replacement therapy
Your body produces lower levels of estrogen and progesterone during the menopausal transition. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) replaces some of these hormones to help ease symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. The two types of HRT include:
- Estrogen therapy: This type of hormone therapy provides estrogen only.
- Estrogen progesterone/progestin hormone therapy: If you haven’t had a hysterectomy, you also need to take a hormone called progestin along with estrogen. This helps reduce the risk of endometrial cancer that can happen with estrogen alone.
Hormone therapy can be taken as pills, gels, sprays and skin patches. For vaginal dryness, estrogen is available as a tablet, vaginal ring or cream.
Research has shown that HRT can put you at slightly higher risk for breast cancer, endometrial cancer, heart disease and other conditions. Talk to your provider about the risks and benefits of these treatments.
Medication
Other medications that can address symptoms include:
- Low-dose birth control pills to regulate hormone levels
- Low-dose selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for hot flashes
- Over-the-counter lubricants and moisturizers for vaginal dryness and irritation
Lifestyle changes
Making healthy lifestyle changes can help ease or prevent many menopause symptoms.
- Eat a healthy diet: Eating a heart-healthy diet filled with fruits, vegetables and lean proteins can help prevent heart disease and help you reach or maintain a healthy weight.
- Don't smoke: Smoking can raise your risk for heart disease, stroke and other conditions.
- Exercise regularly: Getting regular physical activity is good for your heart and can help you reach or maintain a healthy weight.
- Increase calcium and vitamin D: Talk to your doctor about ways to increase calcium and vitamin D intake, which helps build strong bones.
- Strengthen your pelvic floor: Doing pelvic floor exercises like Kegels can help improve urinary incontinence.
Alternative therapies
Some alternative therapies, or integrative medicine, have been proven to help specific menopause symptoms. These therapies can be tried on their own or in combination with other treatments.
- Acupuncture: Research shows acupuncture can greatly reduce hot flashes for some women.
- Bioidentical hormones: These are plant-based hormones that mirror those produced by your body. Your provider can discuss these options with you.
- Yoga: Doing yoga exercises regularly can help with hot flashes and psychological symptoms.
Find specialized care for menopause
We help you manage menopause with services at a location that fits your needs. We offer several locations for your care, including specialized women’s health centers in Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, Grapevine, Temple, and many more across North and Central Texas.
Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center - Fort Worth
1400 8th Ave , Fort Worth, TX, 76104
Baylor Scott & White Clinic - Austin North Burnet
2608 Brockton Dr , Austin, TX, 78758
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Clinic - Brenham Hwy 290
604 US 290 , Brenham, TX, 77833
- Monday: 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Friday: 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Saturday: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Clinic - Cedar Park
910 E Whitestone Blvd , Cedar Park, TX, 78613
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Monday: 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Saturday: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Clinic - College Station Rock Prairie
800 Scott and White Dr , College Station, TX, 77845
- Monday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Clinic - Pflugerville Medical Center (Building 1)
2600 E Pflugerville Pkwy Bldg 1, Ste 200, Pflugerville, TX, 78660
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Monday: 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
- Tuesday: 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
- Wednesday: 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
- Thursday: 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
- Friday: 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Clinic - Pflugerville Medical Center Building 2
2600 E Pflugerville Pkwy Building 2, Pflugerville, TX, 78660
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Monday: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Clinic - Round Rock 302 University
302 University Blvd , Round Rock, TX, 78665
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Clinic - Santa Fe
1402 W Ave H , Temple, TX, 76504
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Monday: 7:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday: 7:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday: 7:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Thursday: 7:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Friday: 7:00 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Clinic - Temple
2401 S 31st St , Temple, TX, 76508
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Clinic - Temple Professional Plaza II
1713 SW H K Dodgen Loop Bldg II, Ste 100, Temple, TX, 76502
- Monday: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Austin
5245 W US Hwy 290 Service Rd , Austin, TX, 78735
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Brenham
700 Medical Pkwy , Brenham, TX, 77833
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Buda
5330 Overpass Rd , Buda, TX, 78610
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Centennial
12505 Lebanon Rd , Frisco, TX, 75035
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - College Station
700 Scott and White Dr , College Station, TX, 77845
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Frisco
5601 Warren Pkwy , Frisco, TX, 75034
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Frisco at PGA Parkway
7600 Better Way , Frisco, TX, 75033
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Grapevine
1650 W College St , Grapevine, TX, 76051
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Hillcrest
100 Hillcrest Medical Blvd , Waco, TX, 76712
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Irving
1901 N MacArthur Blvd , Irving, TX, 75061
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Lake Pointe
6800 Scenic Dr , Rowlett, TX, 75088
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Lakeway
100 Medical Pkwy , Lakeway, TX, 78738
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Marble Falls
810 W State Hwy 71 , Marble Falls, TX, 78654
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - McKinney
5252 W University Dr Highway 380 at Lake Forest Drive, McKinney, TX, 75071
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Pflugerville (Building 1)
2600 E Pflugerville Pkwy Bldg 1, Ste 100, Pflugerville, TX, 78660
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Plano
4700 Alliance Blvd , Plano, TX, 75093
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Round Rock
300 University Blvd , Round Rock, TX, 78665
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Temple
2401 S 31st St , Temple, TX, 76508
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Waxahachie
2400 N Interstate 35E , Waxahachie, TX, 75165
Baylor Scott & White OB/GYN Clinic - Waco
120 Hillcrest Medical Blvd Office Building 2, Ste 201-2, Waco, TX, 76712
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Obstetrics & Gynecology - Frisco
4461 Coit Rd Ste 205, Frisco, TX, 75035
- Monday: 8:00 am - 4:45 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:45 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:45 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:45 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Obstetrics & Gynecology - Frisco at PGA Parkway
16050 Everwell Ln Professional Pavilion I, Ste 200, Frisco, TX, 75033
- Monday: 8:00 am - 4:45 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:45 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:45 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:45 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Obstetrics & Gynecology - Grapevine
1631 Lancaster Dr Ste 370, Grapevine, TX, 76051
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Obstetrics & Gynecology - Rockwall
1005 W Ralph Hall Pkwy Ste 115, Rockwall, TX, 75032
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Obstetrics & Gynecology - Rowlett
9500 Lakeview Pkwy Ste 100, Rowlett, TX, 75088
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Obstetrics & Gynecology - Waxahachie
2460 N Interstate 35E Ste 225, Waxahachie, TX, 75165
- Monday: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Thursday: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Friday: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Park Lane OB/GYN Associates
9101 N Central Expy Ste 250, Dallas, TX, 75231
- Monday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Specialty Clinic - Harker Heights
907 Mountain Lion Cir , Harker Heights, TX, 76548
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Specialty Clinic - Killeen Hemingway
2405 S Clear Creek Rd , Killeen, TX, 76549
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Specialty Clinic - Lakeway
200 Medical Pkwy , Lakeway, TX, 78738
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Specialty Clinic - Marble Falls
800 W State Hwy 71 , Marble Falls, TX, 78654
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Specialty Clinic - Salado
213 Millcreek Dr Ste 190, Salado, TX, 76571
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Surgicare - Dallas
4020 Junius St , Dallas, TX, 75246
- Monday: 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Surgicare - Garland
530 Clara Barton Blvd Ste 100, Garland, TX, 75042
- Monday: 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Women's Health Group
3600 Gaston Ave Wadley Tower, Ste 1158, Dallas, TX, 75246
- Monday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Women’s Health Specialists - Waxahachie
2460 N Interstate 35E Ste 165, Waxahachie, TX, 75165
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health
3500 Gaston Ave , Dallas, TX, 75246
Expert advice from our blog
Scrubbing In® is a place where hands-on healthcare discussions are happening every day with the people whose own hands are on the front lines of patient care—the doctors, nurses and medical staff who are saving lives and advancing medicine.Frequently asked questions
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Can you get pregnant during menopause?
It is possible to get pregnant during perimenopause. Only when you have gone an entire year without having your period and are officially at menopause can you no longer get pregnant.
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Does menopause make you tired?
Many women feel more tired during the menopausal transition due to a lack of quality sleep.
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Can menopause cause nausea?
Nausea is not a common symptom of menopause. However, it can sometimes be a side effect of hormonal treatment.
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Can menopause cause dizziness?
Dizziness is a common symptom of menopause. Research shows this may be linked to anxiety.