Menopause care with a certified menopause practitioner
Dr. Yasmin and Dr. Rajesh are both Menopause Society certified Menopause Practitioners (MSCP). We provide perimenopause and menopause management, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT) management and the use of bio-identical hormones, with visits long enough to look at your whole picture.
Perimenopause is a transition phase leading up to the final menstrual period. It is marked by changes in the menstrual cycle along with other physical and emotional symptoms, and it can last from two to ten years, with an average of seven. No two women have the same journey, which is part of what makes it hard to diagnose with standard symptoms.
Common signs of perimenopause
- Hot flashes, the most commonly reported symptom: a warm sensation over the scalp, face, neck and upper chest lasting 1 to 5 minutes, sometimes with sweating, chills or dizziness.
- Mood swings, trouble concentrating and trouble sleeping, including short-term memory difficulties, forgetfulness, sadness and irritability.
- Menstrual cycle irregularity: cycles that are shorter, heavier or longer, due to irregular ovulation and fluctuating hormones.
- Other symptoms such as low sexual desire, vaginal dryness with intimacy, frequent urination (overactive bladder) and midsection weight gain.
“My labs are normal. Am I in perimenopause?”
During perimenopause your estrogen levels fluctuate, so a single lab test may not reflect where you are in your journey toward menopause. A menopause specialist may order a few serial labs to see trends in estrogen and FSH. That’s why perimenopause is very difficult to diagnose with lab tests alone, and why time with an expert matters.
Female hormone optimization
You do not need treatment if you are coping well with your symptoms. But if symptoms bother you and affect your daily quality of life, it may be time to see a menopause specialist to consider hormones tailored to your individual needs, with a very detailed account of the risk factors in your personal health.
This is a phase of life that calls for a sensitive, shared decision-making process. It takes time and expertise to build the right care plan for symptom relief while avoiding adverse effects, which is exactly what our longer, direct-pay visits are designed for.
Severe symptoms shouldn’t be ignored. Late diagnosis and treatment of perimenopause and early menopause can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and cognitive decline.
Read Dr. Yasmin’s article: What I Wish Everyone Knew About Perimenopause →
What to expect at your first visit
Your first menopause visit with us is unhurried, about 60 minutes. We start by listening: your symptoms, menstrual history, sleep, mood, sexual health and what matters most to you. We carefully review your personal and family medical history, including risk factors such as heart disease, blood clots and breast cancer, because they help determine which options are safe for you. A physical examination may be part of the evaluation; for North Carolina patients, it takes place in person at our Raleigh office. We may recommend lab work, keeping in mind that hormone levels fluctuate during perimenopause. Together we discuss options, which may include hormone therapy, non-hormonal approaches and lifestyle changes, and every plan is individualized. You leave with a written plan of care, and we follow up through the patient portal.
What patients say
Dr. Yasmin has been my doctor for the past several years. Fortunately, a local gyn referred me to Dr. Yasmin because she did not know how to treat my complex and multiple symptoms. I went into my first visit with Dr. Yasmin with very high expectations and throughout my time of being a patient of Dr. Yasmin’s, she has always taken fabulous care of me. Challenges I have dealt with include vulvodynia, painful intercourse, and hot flashes. Due to an abnormal breast biopsy, I have to be very cautious with any hormones. Dr. Yasmin has been very conscientious about hormones and worked with me to control my symptoms and improve my quality of life. Dr. Yasmin’s treatment enabled me to be pain free and enjoy a healthy sex life. I am a physician with a very complex medical history and could not recommend Dr. Yasmin more highly.
Lynne
Dr. Yasmin is AMAZING! I had seen a few different providers before her, and she was the first one to accurately diagnose my problem. I am no longer having pain, burning, red, irritated skin in the vaginal area. My quality of life and sexual intimacy issues were thoughtfully, compassionately, and thoroughly treated (even after menopause). She got to the “root” of the problem, because of her extensive knowledge, and caring/compassionate attitude. MUCH quality time was spent with me. I would highly recommend her, and I continue to “see” her through Telemedicine (even though she moved to another state)! She is definitely “one in a million.”
Wendy H.
How you can be seen
North Carolina: in person at our Raleigh office or by telemedicine. Wisconsin: by telemedicine only.
Schedule a consultation today
Now is the time to sit down with a doctor who will take the time to get to know you and learn about your medical concerns in a thorough and thoughtful way.