Menopausal Counselling in Mumbai

Menopause is the point at which periods have stopped for twelve consecutive months, typically between 45 and 55, and the years of symptoms leading up to it are called perimenopause. Falling oestrogen causes hot flushes, night sweats, disturbed sleep, mood changes, vaginal dryness and accelerating bone loss. These are treatable — with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) where suitable, and with effective non-hormonal options where it is not. Dr. Poonam Nautiyal provides menopause consultations in Mumbai, including a proper individual risk assessment before HRT.

Also searched as: menopause, hot flashes, HRT, periods stopping

What menopausal counselling involves

Perimenopause often begins in the early forties, years before periods actually stop, and it is regularly mistaken for stress, thyroid trouble or depression. Women are frequently told this is simply part of getting older and left to cope. It does not have to be. Symptoms can be treated, and the two things that quietly matter most in the long run — bone density and heart health — can be protected if they are addressed at the right time rather than a decade later. HRT has a reputation shaped by a study from 2002 whose findings have since been substantially reinterpreted; for most healthy women within about ten years of menopause and with troubling symptoms, the benefits outweigh the risks. But that is a decision to reach individually, after reviewing your own history, and there are good non-hormonal options for women who cannot or would rather not take it.

What this includes

Effective treatment for hot flushes and night sweats.
Proper individual assessment before prescribing hormone replacement therapy.
Screening and prevention for osteoporosis, the bone thinning that follows menopause.
Treatment for vaginal dryness and discomfort during sex — common, and very treatable.

Frequently asked questions

Is hormone replacement therapy (HRT) safe?

For most healthy women who start it within about ten years of menopause and have troubling symptoms, yes — the benefits generally outweigh the risks. It is not suitable for everyone, which is why a personal history and risk assessment come before any prescription.

At what age does menopause usually happen?

Most commonly between 45 and 55, with an average around 51. Symptoms often begin several years before periods actually stop. Menopause before 40 is called premature ovarian insufficiency and does need investigation.

How do I protect my bones after menopause?

Falling oestrogen speeds up bone loss. A DEXA scan measures bone density, and calcium with vitamin D plus weight-bearing exercise forms the foundation of prevention. Specific medication is added where the scan shows it is needed.

I still get periods but feel terrible — is that menopause?

It may well be perimenopause, the transition phase. Cycles become irregular while hot flushes, poor sleep and mood changes begin. It is worth being assessed rather than assumed, since thyroid problems and anaemia can look very similar.