Why getting your hormones checked is important to your overall wellbeing

Have you entered the perimenopause years? Are you suffering from symptoms such as night sweats, pain during sex or vaginal dryness? Getting your hormones checked may lead to solutions. The physicians at Athens OBGYN can order a blood test to test your estrogen, progesterone and other hormones, to find out if a hormonal imbalance is causing your problems. You can rely on our experienced OBGYNs if you are thinking about hormone replacement therapy and testing.

How perimenopause and menopause affect your hormones

In the years before menopause, which occurs once you stop having periods, you are dealing with perimenopause. During your 30s and 40s, your hormone levels begin to change. As your body moves closer to menopause, your ovaries produce less and less estrogen and progesterone. This leads to symptoms that can vary from mildly annoying to debilitating. Every woman is different, so getting your hormones checked is an important step in taking care of your overall health.

Perimenopause hormone shifts cause several changes

If you experience any of the following symptoms to the degree that they seriously affect your quality of life, you may consider getting your hormones checked.

• Hot flashes that occur several times a day or night
• Night sweats that wake you up and cause sleep problems
• Vaginal dryness that causes pain during sex and affects your relationship
• Urinary tract issues that cause you to urinate frequently or develop chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Bone loss that leads to osteopenia or osteoporosis
• Depression or anxiety that affects your ability to work or interact with others

Talking about hormone replacement therapy and testing

Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, helps some women, but it’s not the only answer for menopause management. Hormone replacement therapy is beneficial for some women, but not for others. For example, if you have had endometrial or breast cancer, a heart attack, stroke or liver disease, you should not have HRT. Our physicians also don’t recommend it for women who have blood clots or who are pregnant. Regardless, getting your hormones checked is an important first step in creating a treatment plan for managing menopause.

Make an appointment with our team if you are considering getting your hormones checked

The physicians at Athens OBGYN have the expertise and experience to manage menopause and perimenopause. Our team takes the time to talk through every aspect of hormone replacement therapy and testing with you, ensuring that you understand what’s involved. Don’t just suffer through perimenopause and menopause. Let us help you find ways to thrive. Contact us for an appointment.