“Menopause is like puberty in reverse. A lot of women aren’t expecting it.”
Dr. Elizabeth Lunsford, an OB/GYN (obstetrician and gynecologist) with Riverside Partners in Women’s Health Gloucester, is knowledgeable about both menopause and perimenopause. A woman reaches menopause after the completion of her last menstrual cycle.
“Menopause is when they go a full year without a period,” said Lunsford.
Women can experience a litany of uncomfortable symptoms during menopause, and they are not just limited to hot flashes. Menopausal women can also experience joint pain, brain fog, anxiety and more. Most women also gain 15-20 pounds during menopause.
They are also at greater risk of heart disease, high cholesterol and osteoporosis due to the drop in their estrogen levels during menopause.
“It’s not just treating hot flashes,” said Lunsford.
To prepare for menopause, Lunsford recommended that women explore hormone therapy with their health care providers. According to Lunsford, hormone therapy...