Signs of Menopause You Should Never Ignore

Most women expect menopause to bring on hot flashes and brain fog, but other symptoms can catch you off guard. Understanding how your body is changing will help you make informed, confident choices about your care.

Board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, Lia LaBrant, MD, FACOG, located in Beverly Hills, CA, is an expert in guiding women through menopause. She provides personalized care to address both common and lesser-known changes.

Here’s what she tells her patients about managing menopause to ensure long-term wellness and maintain an active life.

What happens during menopause

Menopause begins when you haven't had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. Most women enter this stage between the ages of 45 and 55. The transition phase leading up to this point is perimenopause, which can last anywhere from four to eight years.

During this time, your ovaries gradually produce less estrogen and progesterone. This hormonal shift affects multiple systems in your body because estrogen receptors exist in your brain, heart, bones, and urinary tract. While some changes are simply inconvenient, others can significantly increase your risk for certain chronic diseases.

Symptoms you shouldn't ignore

Some physical and emotional changes require prompt evaluation to prevent long-term health complications. Don’t dismiss these symptoms as just part of aging:

• Abnormal uterine bleeding: While skipped periods are normal, bleeding that is unusually heavy, lasts longer than seven days, or occurs more frequently than every 21 days requires evaluation. Postmenopausal bleeding, even a single instance of spotting after a year without periods, is a primary warning sign that we need to investigate immediately to rule out endometrial hyperplasia or uterine cancer.
• Severe mood changes and sleep disturbances: Chronic insomnia and intense mood swings affect your mental health and cognitive function. Sleep fragmentation during menopause frequently worsens depressive symptoms and anxiety.
• Extreme joint pain and bone loss: Rapid drops in estrogen accelerate bone loss, which can lead to osteoporosis. If you experience sudden bone pain or loss of height, it can indicate a significant reduction in bone density.
• Heart palpitations and chest discomfort: Estrogen helps keep your blood vessels flexible. When hormone levels drop, your risk for cardiovascular disease rises. Always have new heart fluttering or shortness of breath checked by a medical professional.

How we manage your health together

Managing menopause is different for every woman, but often requires a combination of targeted medical therapies and sustainable lifestyle adjustments. Your customized plan may include any combination of the following: 

Hormone replacement therapy: For many, prescription estrogen or combined estrogen and progesterone therapy provides effective relief from severe hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. Systemically administered hormone therapy remains the most effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms and prevents bone loss when started within 10 years of menopause.

Non-hormonal medications: If you can't take hormones, alternative options may be prescribed, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or newly approved targeted medications that reduce the frequency of hot flashes.

Cardiovascular and bone support: Regular screenings, including bone density scans and lipid panels, are essential. We also recommend incorporating resistance training and key nutrients into your daily routine to protect your skeleton and blood vessels.

If you're experiencing distressing menopausal symptoms, Dr. Labrant can help. Contact her office for a consultation today.