The Menopause Center, made possible through the partnership of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, is a unique center dedicated solely to the care and treatment of women with menopause symptoms, conditions, and related health issues.
Located in Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women in Houston, part of the renowned Texas Medical Center, The Menopause Center offers comprehensive care to address every aspect of a woman’s health affected by menopause, in one convenient location.
Patient care is provided by ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ of Medicine specialists in menopause in collaboration with a wide range of other gynecology specialties. We offer evidence-based treatment for proven results and expert guidance on the latest menopause therapies, trends and research findings.
Helping Women Feel Their Best
Menopause occurs when a woman’s ovaries stop releasing eggs and producing female hormones. This change in hormone levels can cause symptoms such as hot flashes, sleeplessness and mood swings.
Even if there are no obvious symptoms, it’s important for women to understand the effects of menopause and aging on their overall health. For example, loss of the female hormone estrogen can weaken a woman’s bones, increase cholesterol levels that contribute to coronary artery disease, cause urinary tract changes, vaginal changes, and emotional changes.
Our board-certified specialists care for the full range of menopause symptoms and related health issues, including:
- Anxiety
- Bladder irritability
- Bone loss (osteoporosis and osteopenia)
- Cardiovascular changes
- Depression
- Hormone replacement therapy
- Hot flashes
- Incontinence (loss of bladder or bowel control)
- Irregular periods or changes in flow
- Mood swings
- Night sweats
- Nutrition and weight management
- Overactive bladder
- Pelvic floor disorders (pelvic organ prolapse)
- Sexual dysfunction/low libido
- Sleeplessness
- Vaginal dryness and painful intercourse
- Vaginal infections
We also help women stay on top of the preventative screenings, immunizations and checkups that are critical to healthy aging, and provide the latest guidance on lifestyle habits to help women feel their best during the menopause years.
Specialists for Every Need
Our patients have access to ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ of Medicine specialists that include:
- Gynecologists to treat all conditions of a woman’s reproductive system
- Urogynecologists for treatment of incontinence, overactive bladder, and pelvic organ prolapse
- Reproductive psychiatrists for the treatment of mood disorders, anxiety and depression
- The Vulvovaginal Health Clinic for treatment of diseases of the vulva and vagina
- Gynecologic oncologists for treatment of cancers of the female reproductive system, which can cause treatment-induced menopause
- Pelvic floor physical therapy to improve pelvic function
- Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery specialists
Commonly Asked Questions About Menopause
Menopause is the stage in a woman’s life when she stops having her monthly period. It is a normal part of aging that marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the average age of menopause – defined as the absence of menstrual periods for one year – is 51. The normal age range is 45-55 years old.
While menopause is a natural biological process, not a medical illness, treatment is available for the symptoms of menopause that can disrupt a woman’s life.
Menopause occurs when the ovaries begin to stop functioning. The ovaries are the reproductive glands that store and release eggs. They also produce the female hormones estrogen and progesterone that together control menstruation. At menopause, the ovaries produce much less of these hormones and they don’t release eggs.
Other causes of menopause include:
- Surgical removal of the ovaries, which may trigger severe symptoms because the hormone levels decrease all at once. Note: While a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) ends a woman’s monthly period, it will not cause menopause unless the ovaries are also removed.
- Chemotherapy and radiation therapy
- Primary ovarian insufficiency, a condition in which the ovaries fail to produce normal levels of reproductive hormones
Symptoms of menopause brought on by changes in estrogen may include:
- Irregular periods and changes in flow
- Hot flashes (sudden feelings of warmth that spread over the upper body)
- Vaginal dryness and painful intercourse
- Night sweats
- Sleeplessness
- Mood swings
- Increased abdominal fat
- Bladder irritability and worsening of bladder control (incontinence)
- Vaginal infections
Menopause is commonly divided into two stages:
- Perimenopause – When a woman first starts to experience menopausal signs and symptoms like hot flashes but is still having her period. Perimenopause may last 4 to 5 years or longer.
- Postmenopause – When 12 months have passed since a woman’s last period, she has reached menopause. The years that follow are called postmenopause.
The reduction of estrogen in the body after menopause increases a woman’s risk of:
- Osteoporosis – when the inside of a woman’s bones become less dense, making them more fragile and likely to fracture. Estrogen signals cells in the bones to stop breaking down, preserving bone mass.
- Coronary artery disease – narrowing or blockage of arteries that surround the heart muscle, caused by plaque buildup associated with high levels of cholesterol. Estrogen helps maintain healthy levels of cholesterol in the blood.
Treatment is individualized and focused on relieving the symptoms that come with menopause and may include:
- Hormone therapy, to relieve hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and slow bone loss. Women should talk with their doctor about the risks and benefits of hormone therapy
- Other medications to reduce hot flashes and prevent or treat osteoporosis
- Pelvic physical therapy to reduce pelvic discomfort and improve pelvic support
Healthy lifestyle habits can help prevent or reduce the symptoms of menopause, including:
- Regular exercise
- Plenty of sleep
- Strong pelvic floor muscles through Kegel exercises
- A healthy, balanced diet, including calcium and vitamin D supplements as needed
- Not smoking
- Regular checkups