Menopause occurs when a woman no longer has her period for a full year. While menopause can occur in a woman’s 40s, these days the average age is 51 for women in the US. With the drop in estrogen production that occurs with menopause, many women experience hot flashes, vaginal dryness, night sweats, and other unpleasant symptoms. Of course, another concern that OBGYNs have for menopausal women is the onset of osteoporosis, a condition that causes a weakening of the bones.Osteoporosis can happen to anyone
You don’t have to have a family history of bone disease to be impacted by osteoporosis. While a family history of bone disease can certainly put you more at risk, we also see many otherwise healthy women develop osteoporosis during their perimenopausal and menopausal years.
Other risk factors for osteoporosis include:
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Smoking
While not all menopausal women will develop osteoporosis, one in two postmenopausal women will have osteoporosis. This is because estrogen protects the bones, and as estrogen production drops this also increases the chances for osteoporosis. It’s also important that women during this stage of life are getting enough calcium to keep their bones healthy.
If you aren’t sure that you are incorporating enough calcium into your diet, it’s important to talk with your OBGYN about whether or not to supplement. The body also needs enough vitamin D to absorb calcium, and with the number of Americans with vitamin D deficiency and suboptimal levels, it’s also important that you have your vitamin D levels checked regularly to make sure you are getting enough.
There are preventive measures you can take now
Most women assume that once they have osteoporosis there is nothing they can really do to prevent permanent damage. This is simply not true! Ways of strengthening and supporting good bone health include:
- Getting regular exercise that includes weight-resistance training
- Eating a healthy diet that includes enough calcium and vitamin D, as well as protein, magnesium, vitamin C, and vitamin K
- Quitting smoking, if you are currently a smoker
- Limiting alcohol consumption or avoiding it altogether
If you are experiencing symptoms of menopause, you must have an OBGYN that you can turn to for care, support, and answers during this time. An OBGYN can also provide you with the right treatment options to help prevent and manage osteoporosis.
In the US, more and more women are deciding to have children later in life. Of course, as women wait until their mid-to-late 30s or even 40s to have children some certain risks and complications are more likely to occur during pregnancy. Women who become pregnant at or over the age of 35 years old are considered advanced maternal age (or a geriatric pregnancy). In these pregnancies, your OBGYN may deem you high risk, as certain issues are more likely to occur in older pregnant women over the age of 35.Okay, so you just turned 35 years old. Should you be concerned about getting pregnant?
Well, not necessarily. It isn’t like everything changes overnight. OBGYNs have been providing care to pregnant women of all ages so they know that when it comes to assessing risk everyone’s needs are different. Just because a woman is 35 years old doesn’t necessarily mean that she will face challenges during pregnancy.
A lot of it has to do with her genetics, medical history, and current health. Women in their 30s and 40s who are in great health may not ever face complications or problems, but it’s still important to recognize these risks ahead of time so that you and your OBGYN can find ways to prevent them from happening.
Your Health is Key to Conception (and a Healthy Pregnancy)
Your health is going to play one of the biggest factors in conceiving after age 35; however, it is important to note that the number of eggs your body produces does decrease with age. The decline occurs in the early 30s with a more serious decline after 37 years old. So, does this mean that you won’t be able to conceive naturally?
Not necessarily. Some women can still easily become pregnant in their early 40s; however, if you’ve been trying to conceive for several months and you’re having trouble, it may be time to talk with your OBGYN.
Possible Complications in Advanced Maternal Age
Women who get pregnant after 35 years old are more at risk for developing certain complications such as high blood pressure or gestational diabetes. Pregnant women over 35 years old are also more likely to face ectopic pregnancies, Down syndrome and other genetic disorders, stillbirth, and preeclampsia.
It’s important to speak with your OBGYN if you are trying to conceive, as certain tests can be performed to check for chromosomal and genetic abnormalities. You may also need to come in more regularly for checkups throughout your pregnancy.
If you are thinking about becoming pregnant and you are over the age of 35, it’s a good idea to speak with your OBGYN to find out if there are certain things you can do before becoming pregnant to keep you healthy and less likely to face complications. Your OBGYN is going to be an integral part of the care you receive both before, during, and after your pregnancy.
Vaginal agenesis is a rare congenital condition that impacts the development of a baby’s reproductive system. As a result, a baby girl may be born without certain reproductive organs or a vagina. While this condition may be diagnosed after your child is born, often this condition isn’t recognized until puberty. While young women with this condition will still go through puberty, they will not have a period and the majority will not be able to get pregnant. An OBGYN may be the first person to diagnose this condition and they will become a valuable part of you or your daughter’s treatment plan.While the genetic cause is still unknown, research has found that 90 percent of children with Mayer-von Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser’s Syndrome (MRKH) also have vaginal agenesis. This congenital disorder may vary from child to child. Some young girls may not have a vagina or uterus while other girls may have part of a uterus but no vagina.
We understand that this can be distressing for both the patient and their family. Despite this genetic abnormality, the patient is still considered female. Of course, this can be confusing and a lot to process, which is why an OBGYN can be a great doctor and specialist to turn to for help, support, and care during this time.
While most patients with vaginal agenesis will not be able to carry a child, if they do have a uterus then they can become pregnant when they choose to have a family. This is something that your OBGYN can discuss once the patient becomes an adult.
Additional testing may need to be performed by your gynecologist before deciding which type of treatments are best for the patient. In most cases, treatment won’t be necessary until the late teens or 20s.
Surgery: If patients don’t see results with self-dilation then surgery is often the next step. There are a variety of techniques that can be used during a vaginoplasty, and your gynecologist will fully discuss them with you, so you decide together on the ideal surgical technique to provide the optimal results.
While everything from stress to overexercising could lead you to skip a period, if you begin missing multiple periods you may be wondering what’s going on. Could you be dealing with amenorrhea? Primary amenorrhea occurs if a teen girl hasn’t gotten her period by age 15. Secondary amenorrhea occurs in women who have missed three periods in a row despite having had their period regularly in the past. If you have missed several periods in a row, it’s important to talk with your OBGYN to find out what might be affecting your cycle.Pregnancy is one of the most common reasons a woman stops getting her period; however, it’s certainly not the only reason. Some of the reasons why a woman may suddenly stop having periods include,
- Low body weight
- Sudden weight loss
- Stress
- Thyroid dysfunction
- Eating disorders
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Certain chronic health problems such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Certain medications (e.g. birth control)
Your gynecologist can treat conditions such as PCOS and primary ovarian insufficiency through hormone therapy and lifestyle changes; however, if your condition is due to thyroid problems or other health issues, your gynecologist may recommend seeing a specialist or your primary doctor to treat these conditions.
You may be surprised to discover that women can still get pregnant even if they aren’t having regular periods. This is why it’s important to talk with your OBGYN about birth control options if you are sexually active and are not planning to become pregnant.
Find out how an OBGYN treats and helps you manage endometriosis.
If you deal with unexplained or intense lower abdominal pain and cramping, particularly around your period, you may think that this is just a normal part of menstruation but it’s actually not. This could be a sign of endometriosis, a condition in which the tissue that lines the uterus is also present and growing outside the uterus. This can lead to adhesions and scar tissue, as well as pelvic pain and a host of other unpleasant symptoms. Fortunately, your Fountain Valley, CA, OBGYN Dr. Debora Sedaghat of OC Women’s Care can help you find the treatment you need to get your endometriosis under control.
How common is endometriosis?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reports that endometriosis can impact around 1 in 10 women in their reproductive years. While this condition is quite common and can affect women between the ages of 15-44 it is more common in women in their 30s and 40s.
Since endometriosis may make it more difficult to become pregnant, women who have endometriosis will want to turn to our OBGYN team for treatment options and to improve their chances of becoming pregnant.
What are the signs of endometriosis?
Painful cramping is one of the most common symptoms. These cramps usually occur around your menstrual cycle and can continue to get worse over time. Some women with endometriosis may also experience pain with sex or vaginal pain with bowel movements. Spotting between cycles is also more common in women with this gynecological condition.
If you notice abnormal spotting or bleeding, or painful menstruation, it’s a good idea to talk to our Fountain Valley, CA, team to find out what’s going on.
How is endometriosis treated?
Even though there is no cure for endometriosis, there are a variety of ways to help you treat and manage your condition. Hormonal birth control pills, shots, or intrauterine devices may be recommended to improve painful periods and breakthrough bleeding. If you are trying to become pregnant, hormonal treatments won’t be the best option.
In this case, our team will recommend a gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which is taken for a short period of time to reduce the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. This can also improve your chances of getting pregnant once you come off the medication.
Sometimes surgery is necessary if medications aren’t providing our patients with the relief they need. Surgery is typically not recommended unless you are experiencing severe symptoms or non-surgical treatment options aren’t working.
OC Women’s Care in Fountain Valley, CA, can help you better manage your endometriosis. Whether you’ve been diagnosed with this condition, or you simply suspect that you might have endometriosis, our OBGYN team can help. Call Dr. Sedaghat today at (714) 966-2112 to schedule an appointment.
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