Notice
Road and parking lot construction in Madison, Wis. may result in travel delays and route changes to UW Health clinic and hospital locations. Please plan accordingly.Read more
Road and parking lot construction in Madison, Wis. may result in travel delays and route changes to UW Health clinic and hospital locations. Please plan accordingly.Read more
Symptoms and diagnosis
Each woman’s menopause experience is different. Reaching menopause can take years. It starts with perimenopause in the late 30s. Most women reach menopause between the ages of 45 and 55.
Your symptoms might be mild or severe. They can change over time. Symptoms include:
Anxiety
Changes in sleep patterns
Depression
Fatigue
Headaches
Hot flashes
Irregular or no menstrual period
Lack of sexual arousal
Mood swings
Muscle and joint pain
Night sweats
Osteoporosis
Vaginal dryness
In some cases, your doctor might do blood tests to check your hormone levels. Tests can also check for other related conditions. Common tests check for:
Estrogen
Follicle-stimulating hormone
Progesterone
Thyroid-stimulating hormone
Treatments and research
Menopause treatments reduce and prevent your symptoms. Our goal is to help you feel more like yourself. Therapies can also lessen the impact of age-related changes that occur naturally with menopause.
Lifestyle changes you can make include:
Avoid caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods
Dress lightly and in layers
Eat soy foods
Get plenty of exercise
Perform Kegel exercises daily to strengthen the muscles of your vagina and pelvis
Practice slow, deep breathing when a hot flash starts
Remain sexually active
Try relaxation techniques like yoga, tai chi or meditation
Use water-based lubricants during sex
Your doctor might suggest other treatments depending on your health and the severity of your symptoms, such as:
Bisphosphonates to prevent or treat osteoporosis
Hormone therapy
Low-dose antidepressants
Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs)
Vaginal estrogen
Meet our team
The menopause care teams at UW Health include gynecologists, a certified menopause practitioner and family medicine doctors.
About our clinic
If your menopause symptoms are severe, our clinic can help. You might benefit if:
Other medical conditions make your menopause worse
Routine treatments do not reduce your symptoms
Your symptoms impact your ability to complete regular activities
Your symptoms put you at risk for other health issues
The area’s only certified menopause practitioner leads our program. Your menopause care team listens to your concerns and goals. We talk with you about your symptoms, health risks and lifestyle as we make your care plan.
We provide the latest in hormone therapy, natural supplements and attitude and lifestyle adjustments to reduce symptom severity. We help you feel like you again.
It’s important to continue regular check-ups with your primary care doctor. This helps prevent other health conditions that can occur with menopause, such as coronary artery disease, osteoporosis, urinary incontinence and weight gain.
Talk with your doctor about your menopause concerns. They can refer you to our clinic.
Location