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Menopause Specialist

Certified North American Menopause Practitioner (NCMP) & Board Certified Internal Medicine Physician in Lafayette, CO

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Menopause

Menopause marks an important time of change in any woman’s life. At Zephyr Health in Lafayette, Colorado, Certified North American Menopause Practitioner (NCMP) Janna Gelderman-Moffett, DO, provide a number of treatments to make this transition as easy as possible for you. Whether you’re experiencing symptoms of low estrogen levels or simply need guidance on your next chapter, Zephyr Health offers the quality care you deserve. Call or book an appointment online to learn more.


What is menopause?

Menopause is the end of a woman’s reproductive years, when she stops menstruating permanently. It officially starts 12 months after your final period. 

While many women feel relief when they stop menstruating — not worrying about pregnancy or painful cramps can be a blessing — menopause also brings about hormonal changes that can trigger many uncomfortable symptoms.

What happens during menopause?

Menopause isn’t an overnight experience. The entire menopausal transition can take years and typically begins around ages 45-55, though some women do experience earlier symptoms. It affects every woman differently and can last as long as 7-14 years. 

The four stages of menopause include:

Pre-menopause

Pre-menopause occurs during your child-bearing years. During this time, most women experience regular menstruation and don’t show symptoms of menopause.

Perimenopause

Perimenopause is the first major shift into a woman’s menopausal years. Depending on your lifestyle factors and medical history, perimenopause typically begins around age 40 and can last from a few months to several years. During this stage, you may experience more irregular periods, hot flashes, low libido, and difficulty conceiving.

Menopause

Once you reach menopause, your ovaries no longer release eggs. This means you can’t become pregnant and your menstrual cycle ceases completely. Hormone fluctuations from depleting estrogen levels can lead to more frequent hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and other common menopause symptoms.

Post-menopause

Post-menopause marks any time after you’ve started menopause. At this stage, your menopause symptoms should slowly begin to subside. However, because your estrogen levels are still depleted, proper treatment is essential to prevent osteoporosis, heart disease, and other common health concerns in post-menopausal women.

What are the treatments for menopause?

While menopause itself isn’t a disease, you can treat its symptoms. At Zephyr Health, Dr. Gelderman-Moffett offers hormone therapy for menopausal women. This treatment uses chemicals that mimic your natural hormones to restore your estrogen levels.

Correcting this hormone imbalance can help relieve many uncomfortable symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, dry skin and hair, and mood swings. This treatment is also customizable, so Dr. Gelderman-Moffett can tailor the hormone levels to your unique needs.

After an initial consultation, Dr. Gelderman-Moffett can determine whether hormone creams, patches, gels, injections or oral pills are right for you. She monitors your progress for about six months and makes any necessary adjustments to your treatment protocol.

To learn more about menopause, call Zephyr Health or schedule an appointment online today.