Hot flashes, disrupted sleep, vaginal dryness, and changing periods can leave you wondering what is happening. You do not have to manage these changes on your own. Davie OBGYN can help assess your symptoms and discuss options for relief.
Understanding Menopause and Perimenopause
What is menopause?
Natural menopause is usually identified after 12 months without a period when there is no other cause. Perimenopause is the transition leading up to it, when hormone levels fluctuate and cycles may change.
Common symptoms and red flags
- Hot flashes and night sweats.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Vaginal dryness or painful sex.
- Changes in periods.
- Mood or concentration concerns.
- Urinary discomfort.
When to get urgent care: Not every new symptom is caused by menopause. Bleeding after menopause—including light spotting—needs prompt evaluation. Heavy bleeding with faintness or shortness of breath needs urgent care.
The Office on Women’s Health explains menopause basics, and ACOG reviews abnormal bleeding.
Why an in-person evaluation matters
An evaluation helps assess symptoms, medication risks, and other possible causes. Vaginal discomfort or unexpected bleeding may require an examination and additional testing.
A single hormone test often cannot confirm perimenopause because hormone levels vary.
What to Expect at Your Visit
- Review symptoms, cycle changes, and their effect on daily life.
- Discuss medications and personal and family health history.
- Consider an exam and selected tests when needed.
- Review treatment preferences, benefits, and risks.
- Plan follow-up to adjust treatment.
Ultrasound is available on site when indicated, such as for certain bleeding concerns; it is not a routine test to diagnose menopause. The Office on Women’s Health discusses diagnosis.
Personalized Menopause Treatment
Lifestyle and symptom support
Sleep routines, exercise, and identifying personal hot-flash triggers may help. Vaginal moisturizers and lubricants can improve comfort.
Hormone therapy
Systemic estrogen is an effective treatment for hot flashes and night sweats. Patients with a uterus generally need progestogen with systemic estrogen to protect the uterine lining.
Low-dose vaginal estrogen may help local dryness and discomfort. Treatment choice depends on your history, age, symptoms, and time since menopause.
Nonhormonal medication
Selected antidepressants and other nonhormonal medicines can help some patients. Your physician can explain monitoring requirements and side effects.
Hormone therapy is not appropriate for everyone, including many patients with certain cancers, blood clots, stroke, or liver disease. FDA-approved products are preferred over routinely compounded hormones. ACOG reviews benefits, risks, and alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need hormone blood tests?
Often not for typical symptoms at the usual age. Testing may help when symptoms occur early or the diagnosis is unclear.
Is hormone therapy safe?
It can be appropriate for selected patients after an individual review of benefits and risks.
Can I still become pregnant during perimenopause?
Yes. Ovulation may still occur. Menopause hormone therapy is not birth control.
Do I have to use hormones?
No. Nonhormonal options and symptom-specific treatments are available.
Are compounded “bioidentical” hormones safer?
They have not been shown to be safer or more effective than FDA-approved hormone treatments. ACOG explains this distinction.
Menopause Care Built Around You
Davie OBGYN offers board-certified care for patients in Davie, Cooper City, Weston, Plantation, and Pembroke Pines. We can help you choose a plan that reflects your symptoms, health history, and preferences.
For an emergency, call 911. Not sure what you need? See our patient resource center.
Medically reviewed by Rahil Malik, MD, FACOG, board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist. Last reviewed: September 26, 2026. This page is general information and does not replace a visit with your doctor.