logo

Menopause & Perimenopause

OB-GYN located in Falmouth, ME

Menopause & Perimenopause

Menopause & Perimenopause services offered in Falmouth, ME

Menopause and perimenopause are natural phases of life, but they can come with symptoms that feel anything but natural. At Higher Ground Women’s Health in Falmouth, Maine, patient-focused OB/GYN Lisa Parsons, DO, understands that menopause and perimenopause can be confusing times with challenging changes and that’s why she provides highly personalized direct care to guide you through it. Dr. Lisa can help you accept and embrace this next phase of your life through treatment that eases your symptoms and compassionate support whenever you need it. Call the office or book your appointment online today. 

Find a space where you have the time to discuss your symptoms of hormone imbalance , sleep disturbance, sexual function, and also all the GOOD that comes during this time period in our lives!

Menopause & Perimenopause Q&A

What are menopause and perimenopause?

Menopause occurs when you haven’t had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. It happens as fertility tapers and ends, usually in your 40s or 50s. Early menopause means completing menopause before age 45, while premature menopause means completing menopause before age 40. 

Perimenopause happens before menopause. This transition into menopause lasts around four years on average, though it can last as little as a few months.

You can also enter menopause suddenly after ovary removal surgery or chemotherapy or radiation to the pelvis. 

Regardless of the age you go through it or the circumstances around it, menopause is normal, and every woman experiences it eventually.

What happens during menopause and perimenopause?

During perimenopause, your hormone levels particularly the essential female hormone estrogen become unstable and settle at far lower levels. You also lose other hormones, including progesterone and testosterone, though they have less intense effects than estrogen loss. 

These estrogen level changes can lead to inconvenient and uncomfortable symptoms. About 85% of women experience issues such as:

  • Hot flashes
  • Night sweats
  • Fatigue
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Decreased libido
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Mood swings
  • Brain fog
  • Weight gain
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Headaches
  • Insomnia

During perimenopause, your periods become less frequent until you eventually have no period for a full year (menopause). Your periods during perimenopause may be particularly heavy or light or may be shorter or longer than before. 

How are menopause and perimenopause symptoms treated?

During perimenopause and menopause, your needs can change and grow considerably, so highly personalized medical care is more important than ever. That’s exactly what Dr. Lisa provides through the Higher Ground Women’s Health direct care program. 

An affordable monthly fee includes an annual well-woman exam, wholesale medications (such as hormonal management therapies), wholesale lab testing, and 40% off office-based procedures. 

You’ll also get unrestricted access to Dr. Lisa’s support and guidance through her physician line and email. 

Many women opt for hormonal management, which replaces estrogen. This relieves symptoms and helps protect against some of the damaging health effects of estrogen loss, like thinning bones. You could also need antidepressants or other medications.

Dr. Lisa supports you in making lifestyle and health changes that help you feel confident and optimistic about menopause. She’s here to support you in a safe, unhurried, and comfortable environment.  

Schedule your appointment by calling Higher Ground Women’s Health or clicking the online booking today.