Support for Your Transition to and Through Menopause

Mature woman sitting on couch experiencing menopausal symptoms like sweating and hot flashes Hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal dryness, pain during sex, weight gain, interrupted sleep—these are all associated with menopause and many women wrongly assume it’s all just a part of growing older.

At Moreland OB-GYN, we don’t necessarily accept these menopausal facts of life — not without getting to know our patients holistically. That’s why we have the distinction of having two Menopause Practitioners certified by the North American Menopause Society on staff, dedicated to serving women making the transition to and through menopause.

Below, we outline some general menopausal facts and delve into the importance of finding the right menopausal support team to help you successfully manage menopausal health.

The Facts About Menopause

About 1.3 million women become menopausal in the U.S. each year, typically between the ages of 51 and 52, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

The most common marker for knowing if you are experiencing this change is going 12 months without a period. The time leading up to that point is called “perimenopause,” and the time after is called “post-menopause.” Women are spending up to one-third of their lives—or longer—in some state of menopause.

For some women, that can mean many years of discomfort, depression, pain, and feeling out of balance.

What Is the North American Menopause Society (NAMS)?

Founded in 1989, the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the health and quality of life of all women during midlife and beyond through an understanding of menopause and healthy aging. Its multidisciplinary membership includes experts from medicine, nursing, sociology, psychology, nutrition, anthropology, epidemiology, pharmacy, and education.

NAMS recognized a need to set essential standards for health providers, assuring high-quality care for women during menopause and beyond. As such, it developed a competency examination. Those who pass the exam have demonstrated their expertise in the field and are awarded the credential of NAMS Certified Menopause Practitioner (NCMP).

Why It’s Important to Have NAMS-Certified Providers Caring for You

At Moreland, we are committed to being a premier destination for women seeking care related to menopause. We are proud to have two providers who are NAMS Certified Menopause Practitioners, which reflects our commitment to all patients.

Our NCMPs’ approach dovetails with Moreland’s philosophy:

Look at the whole-health, big picture when it comes to a woman’s quality of life.
Share knowledge and expertise with other Moreland providers.

We go beyond evaluating the physical effects of menopause and consider each client’s emotional, psychological, cultural, and familial conditions.

For example, many women of menopausal age find themselves in the situation of being “sandwich caregivers,” meaning they’re caring for their children as well as their own parents with little or no time left to care for themselves. Dealing with the effects of menopause and lack of care for themselves, can lead to risk of chronic medical conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.

By talking with and listening to our patients, learning about all facets of their lives, as well as employing NAMS’ research and resources specific to menopause, we can be proactive, preventive, and promote better health and quality of life for women during midlife and beyond.

We believe we can help all of our patients age comfortably and gracefully.

Get a Jump Start on Your Journey to and Through Menopause

You don’t necessarily have to live the effects of menopause as a fact of life. With a little research, some work, and help with your Moreland OB-GYN provider, you may be able to better manage your unique version of menopause with grace and dignity.

To aid you as you navigate new milestones, here are some additional resources that you may find helpful:

Preventive Health Care: You have a unique opportunity to positively impact your future health through the choices made today by focusing on preventive health care and healthy habits. Improve future wellness through early perimenopause, perimenopause, and early menopause.
Perimenopause: Symptoms, Relief & How to Find a Perimenopause Doctor: Most women are familiar with menopause, but few realize that there’s a stage in life that you can go through before called perimenopause. This article provides information and tips for women who may be experiencing perimenopause or experience it in the near future.
Vaginal Dryness: Causes and Treatments: Vaginal dryness can occur in women of any age. The good news is, it’s not something you’re destined to live with. Learn the causes and treatments in this blog.
Osteoporosis Guidelines: Symptoms, Doctors, Treatments, and More: Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones are thin, weak, and more likely to break. A majority of women will suffer from osteoporosis in their lives but doctors can help monitor and treat your osteoporosis needs.
Women’s Nutrition : What is Considered Healthy Food?: Eating fads come and go, but what foods should you eat and how do you tell the difference between healthy and unhealthy foods? Learn more now about healthy foods for women's nutrition and preventive health tips in this article.
Women’s Hormones : The Main Causes of Changes in Your Health?: As women approach or reach the age of 40, many experience lower energy, weight gain, irritability, lower sex drive, or other symptoms which leave them feeling ‘different.’ This article explains that hormones may be the cause but there may be more to it.
Bioidentical Hormones: The term “bioidentical hormones” is used to describe a type of hormone replacement where the hormone given has the same molecular structure as the hormones your body used to produce prior to menopause. How can this help you as your body changes? Learn more with this resource.
60+ Positive Affirmations for Women: Positive affirmations are positive phrases and statements that are repeated to help challenge negative thoughts and encourage positive changes in your life. From motivation to self-esteem, finding joy in the little things, or removing negative self-talk, positive affirmations are designed to help individuals learn to see the positive side of life.
NAMS Menopause & Me: A guide to menopause, learn how to check your symptoms and treatments, and navigate a healthy midlife with tips and solutions.

Choose a Compassionate, Caring Health Partner in Your Journey Through Menopause

As you wade through the waters of womanhood, look to the providers at Moreland OB-GYN. We are dedicated to providing women with compassionate OB-GYN care throughout their life.