Perimenopause in Houston, TX
Just before menopause, a woman’s body goes through a transitional stage known as “perimenopause.” Women in Houston and surrounding areas of Texas, including Cypress, Sugarland, and Katy, who experience difficult symptoms of perimenopause seek the professional expertise of board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Farhina Imtiaz of North Cypress Women’s Center.
What is Perimenopause?
The word “perimenopause” refers to the stage just before menopause. During this time, a woman’s body is adjusting to changes to levels of estrogen and other hormones. As you may know, hormonal changes bring about a range of symptoms that can be very difficult to manage on your own and can greatly decrease your quality of life. Dr. Imtiaz supports your efforts to maintain a balanced and healthy life transition by providing expertise in perimenopause management.
Perimenopause Treatment Benefits
Perimenopause is a natural process that occurs just before menopause. The degree of symptoms is varied – some women have no symptoms whereas others find the symptoms to be severe. Some women, though, have complications during the transition and these complications can trigger some health issues. Perimenopause treatment at North Cypress Women’s Center helps prevent and treat:
- Heavy bleeding
- More frequent periods as defined by periods that are less than 21 days apart
- Longer bleeding times, as defined by bleeding that lasts more than seven days
- Spotting and/or bleeding between periods
- Mood and psychological changes related to perimenopause
- Lack of sex drive or lack of vaginal lubrication
- Loss of sleep or interrupted sleep
- Hot flashes or night sweats
- Lack of energy
What Areas of My Life are Affected by Perimenopause?
In addition to irregular and heavy periods, perimenopause may affect other areas of your life, such as:
- Mood
- Ability to sleep
- Issues related to the bladder
- Vaginal elasticity and lubrication which can interfere with sexual activities
- Bone loss
- Reduced fertility
- Unhealthy cholesterol levels
How is Perimenopause Treated?
Perimenopause is treated in much the same way as menopause. Dr. Imtiaz works with you to find a combination of medications and supplements that ease the symptoms of perimenopause. She may recommend:
- Drugs that are proven to control hot flashes
- Bioidentical Hormone therapy
- Antidepressants to help short-term with mood changes
- Estrogen to regulate levels in your body
Perimenopause Treatment Preparation
The best way to prepare for your perimenopause consultation is to keep a diary of your symptoms for at least one month before the appointment. You should note any physical, mental and emotional changes, even if you do not see a connection to perimenopause. Perimenopause symptoms develop slowly over time, so you may have been experiencing gradual changes that were mostly unnoticeable until you reflect back a few months or years.
Perimenopause Treatment Recovery
Perimenopause treatment is tailored to your unique needs, so it will take some time to find the right combination of medications, supplements and lifestyle changes. You should be patient with your body and try to see the small improvements rather than the symptoms that still exist. Given time, your body will adjust.
How Much Does Perimenopause Treatment Cost in Houston?
Most treatments for perimenopause are covered by insurance, but you will have some out-of-pocket expenses. Our patient coordinator will help you understand your portion of the cost, as well as our convenient payment options that include cash, major credit card and CareCredit® financing.
Is Perimenopause Treatment Right for Me?
If you are at least 30 years old and have noticed changes in mood, menstruation, libido and other areas of life, we recommend that Dr. Imtiaz evaluate you. If she determines that you are experiencing the effects of perimenopause, she will recommend treatments to help ease the symptoms.
Perimenopause Consultation
Perimenopause is a natural yet challenging stage in a woman’s life. Many women do not understand why they feel the way they do, so they do not seek the advice of a clinical perimenopause expert. If you are having unusual symptoms that point to perimenopause, contact us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Imtiaz.
At certain stages in her life, a woman will experience changes to hormone levels that affect her quality of life. Perimenopause is one such stage that occurs just before menopause. At North Cypress Women’s Center, board-certified (gynecological) surgeon Dr. Farhina Imtiaz specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of perimenopause for women in Houston and surrounding areas of Texas, including Cypress, Sugarland, and Katy.